In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park (Book 19)
09:10:00
“Why does this person, who doesn’t even speak our language, care so much about us that he is willing to risk his life for us? It moved us both to tears. I said a silent prayer of thanks as we became a part of the night.”
I thought I knew a great deal about North Korea and it's appalling human rights record. I'd read all about the famines, executions, escape attempts and propaganda. But I'd never actually read a survivor's story. I think that's why In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park touched a nerve with me, and completely changed how I see the worldwide problem that is North Korea.
Yeonmi no longer lives in North Korea, as she managed to travel to South Korea. I feel like this is a gross understatement though - by travel, I mean struggle through Chinese human trafficking until she had enough money to pay to crawl across the Goji desert into Mongolia. That's not even half her story, but you're going to need to read her book if you want the whole picture.
With every page I became engrossed in North Korean culture; I truly started to understand why so many North Korean's choose to defect, and why others choose to stay. Famine, constant surveillance, executions and poor prospects may force people out, but patriotic propaganda, lack of knowledge, sincere belief in the communist regime, and fear all play a part in why people stay put. I had to constantly keep reminding myself that what I was reading was reality, not a piece of intense, dystopian fiction. This is probably Park's greatest asset as a writer and young advocate for human rights; having trouble assigning reality to such a brutal experience soon gave way to a feeling of utter disgust and an urge to do something myself.
Yeonmi Park now spends her time campaigning for a greater awareness for human rights in North Korea - something that she hopes In Order To Live will help her do. Even after contending with every horror imaginable, she also volunteers with think-tanks and charities, in the hope that she can repay the world for the kindness that strangers showed her when she was in need. Park is an eloquent, knowledgable woman, wise beyond her years, who is not afraid to risk her life and speak out about the oppression that she suffered and thousands of others still suffer in North Korea today.
Beth x
(Thank you Penguin Random House via Netgalley for providing me with a copy of In Order to Live in exchange for an honest review.)
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