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“A North Korean soldier would later recall a buddy who had been given an American-made nail clipper and was showing it off to his friends. The soldier clipped a few nails, admired the sharp, clean edges, and marveled at the mechanics of this simple item. Then he realized with a sinking heart: If North Korea couldn’t make such a fine nail clipper, how could it compete with American weapons?”
― Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
― Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
“They weren't scared, or dispossessed, or fragile. They were possible.”
― We the Animals
― We the Animals
“We hit and we kept on hitting; we were allowed to be what we were, frightened and vengeful — little animals, clawing at what we needed.”
― We the Animals
― We the Animals
“Even later, I will come to doubt whether I ever really believed such a book would not be found--maybe my words were for all of them, that they might discover themselves, and discover me.”
― We the Animals
― We the Animals
“A coal miner from Chongjin whom I met in 2004 in China told me, "People are not stupid. Everybody thinks our own government is to blame for our terrible situation. We all know we think that and we all know that everybody else thinks that. We don't need to talk about it.”
― Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
― Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
Luise’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Luise’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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