The Armchair Traveler's Club discussion

What do you think of the book so far?

For those in the Treasure Valley, I noticed the Boise library and the Ada Lake Hazel branches both have a copy on the shelf right now.

Just finished This is Paradise - here's my review: A simplistic and straight-forward account of growing up in North Korea during the 90's famine. The author just tells it like he sees it, it's not extremely compellingly written - but it's simplicity in talking about such suffering is powerful in itself. However, I think this is a case of publishers only going with the tried-and-true formula of brutality, mind-control, and starvation - I'd like to see a first-hand account of North Korea from another perspective (maybe someone who lived in a southern city?). It feels too much like anti-North Korean propaganda - though I don't doubt its essential truth.

My review of This is Paradise: A simple and frank telling of life during a famine in North Korea. I agree with Alice that the writing style isn't compelling, but the way it's written brings a sense of humanity to the author's words. He doesn't try to sugar coat anything. The book does kind of feel like propaganda. For me, that feeling stems from there not being many stories of the happy times of life. I feel like even in North Korea there are everyday things that make people happy and there wasn't much of that included. Life isn't all suffering and despair. I also think that the brutality, brainwashing, and starvation is likely true, but I would have liked to see more of the happy side of North Korean life.

I read this book on a flight from Baltimore to Oklahoma City, so it is pretty easy to get through. The book definitely made me think of all the things I consider minor annoyances and the relative luxuries I have in my life. Reading how it would take weeks between trains making it nearly impossible for people to travel in NK made me consider how many times I've been annoyed that a flight was delayed by 20-30 minutes. Next time I'm stuck waiting, I'll work on changing my perspective of a "delay." I was surprised by the amount of daily violence. I can't imagine being punched in the face by a teacher or knowing that my dad got into fights. The author's stories of famine were heartbreaking. I can't imagine having friends and family die from not having enough to eat. It has occurred to me more than once, that the animals I care for eat better than a large percentage of the world's population. My neighborhood birds and squirrels get sunflower seeds, corn, peanuts and suet on a daily basis; all the cats I feed live on more than $2 a day. I'm very grateful to have the means to care for animals because they bring me a lot of joy. I think the book showed that when you're just trying to survive, kindness and compassion become luxuries you can't afford, and, as a result, it is hard to find happiness in even the little things.

Talia wrote: "My review of This is Paradise: A simple and frank telling of life during a famine in North Korea. I agree with Alice that the writing style isn't compelling, but the way it's written brings a sense..."
Talia - I just found a book called "Dear Leader" by Jang Jin-sung. He was in the DPRK elite before defecting. Might provide that other viewpoint of life in North Korea.

Alice wrote: "Talia wrote: "My review of This is Paradise: A simple and frank telling of life during a famine in North Korea. I agree with Alice that the writing style isn't compelling, but the way it's written ..."

I'll have to look in to that. It would be interesting to read about North Korea from another perspective.

I have to admit that I was feeling a little reluctant to read this one since I had had my fill of communist horrors with Wild Swans.

Still it was an interesting account, interesting to hear from a child's perspective. One thing that really struck me was hearing them say how free, uninhibited, well fed and generous the Chinese were. This would have been a couple of decades after China's cultural revolution. Things must have changed a lot since the China that was portrayed in Wild Swans.

I was disgusted by the talk of the executions. The thing that horrified me was the way that they had perfected a routine for executions in order to prevent making a mess. Tie them up just so, put the bag at their feet so that their brains will fall in, then shoot them so that when they slump over they will fall into the bag. There, all done and a quick easy clean up. Wouldn't want to make a mess while murdering someone. Hyok's manner of description is also void of passion. I guess it was a common experience, just an accepted part of life.

It reminds me of an interview I watched of a North Korean who had been born in a labor camp and escaped at age 23. He reported his mother and brother for some kind of offense against the state. He watched them executed and was so thoroughly indoctrinated he felt that they deserved it for breaking the rules.

The amount of indoctrination in North Korea was quite amazing. It seems as if the people there exist only for the convenience of their rulers. The conflict arises when the people start to think that their is some other purpose to their life.

It was shocking to think of the farms that were full of fish or fruits that were for export in order to earn money for the regime, while starving people dropped off and died in the thousands just next door.

I was happy to see that human mischief wasn't entirely destroyed, despite following the Great Leader and the Dear Leader the boys still managed to entertain themselves and have fun. Despite all of his indoctrination since birth, Hyok still wrote rebellious songs about the leaders in private.

The required 13 year military service would influence the way people felt about the soldiers. It's one thing to rise up against the police, and another to rise up against the entire generation of people aged 17-30. You're certain to have a friend or relative in there.

Hearing them gathering the feces for the fields was gross. I have heard of human sewage being used for fertilizer before, but I thought it involved some special treatment process. I'm surprised they didn't experience more food borne illnesses - though they did mention a cholera outbreak at one point.

In the end, this certainly confirms my impression of North Korea as one crazy place. Perhaps some day the two Koreas will be reunified. The documentary with the smuggled footage showed some promising signs. This type of reading also confirms that any problems I may have are strictly 'first world problems'!