Nothing to Envy - Real Lives in North Korea

suecsi · 08-09-2010, 10:58 AM

I'm 52% through this according to my Kindle locations and am hooked.

At times I am nearly in tears thinking of the awful conditions described and how even being in love can be so dangerous.

There is no overt political agenda with the book other than to express what life is really like for ordinary people - so it makes a great change from all the rather dry political and economic literature I've read over the years as part of my studies.

ardeegee · 08-09-2010, 12:01 PM

Thanks for the headsup on the book. I'm always fascinated by North Korea, The Most Insane Place On Earth (I call it Wackyland.)

A video recommendation (the other parts are there, too):

Actually, I see that there are several of the documentaries on NK on Youtube, but that was the one that came to mind (I had seen it outside of Youtube. It should be watched.)

Also worth reading, this graphic novel.

jgaiser · 08-09-2010, 08:32 PM

Sounds interesting, but...

Kindle version is $13.99 and paperback is $10.80. Publishers win again and ebook loses. I'll see if I can find a copy at Powell's...

Marcy · 08-09-2010, 08:43 PM

I got this at Fictionwise back when I could massage my micropay into real deals. It was heartbreaking.

The part that hit home most to me was the pediatrician when she encounters the dog dish when she first gets to China. After all she'd been through and witnessed, I could see how that bit really was devastating.

Another good book I'd recommend about North Korea is The Aquariums of Pyongang. It doesn't tell as much of North Korea because it's really only the story of one boy and his family, but it is horrific as well.

I like to read something like this when I'm upset or pissed about something in my wonderful life. It makes you realize how lucky you are to have been born in a country that is not North Korea, Afghanistan, etc.

-Marcy

ardeegee · 08-09-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

I got this at Fictionwise back when I could massage my micropay into real deals.

Obscenely priced at Fictionwise now.

Marcy · 08-09-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Obscenely priced at Fictionwise now.

Isn't everything?

I was very sad to see the destruction of my favorite online bookstore. I used to buy at least 10 books/month there and haven't bought a single one in the past few months.

-Marcy

shanghaichica · 08-10-2010, 11:36 PM

Thanks for the info on this book. I've read 3 other books in the subject but this one I haven't come across. Amazon UK have it at a really good price and I can't seem to get it from another store without jumping through hoops. Will have to be one for the kindle when it arrives.

Marcy · 08-11-2010, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanghaichica

Thanks for the info on this book. I've read 3 other books in the subject but this one I haven't come across. Amazon UK have it at a really good price and I can't seem to get it from another store without jumping through hoops. Will have to be one for the kindle when it arrives.

You can read it on your iPhone with the Kindle app, if you really can't wait.

-Marcy

suecsi · 08-11-2010, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Sounds interesting, but...

Kindle version is $13.99 and paperback is $10.80. Publishers win again and ebook loses. I'll see if I can find a copy at Powell's...

Wow - £4.24 in UK last week.

suecsi · 08-11-2010, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

....It was heartbreaking.

The part that hit home most to me was the pediatrician when she encounters the dog dish when she first gets to China. After all she'd been through and witnessed, I could see how that bit really was devastating.
-Marcy

That got me too ....I was nearly in tears to think that a dog in China ate better than a person in North Korea -and I think of how lucky we are ...

SeaBookGuy · 08-24-2010, 12:58 PM

I used an Audible credit ($11) to listen to this book - one of the best uses of a credit since I joined there. Highly recommended!

08-09-2010, 10:58 AM	#1
suecsi Rock Chick Posts: 429 Karma: 4965 Join Date: May 2009 Location: near Heathrow Device: Kindle 2i, Kindle DX, Kindle 3G	Nothing to Envy - Real Lives in North Korea I'm 52% through this according to my Kindle locations and am hooked. At times I am nearly in tears thinking of the awful conditions described and how even being in love can be so dangerous. There is no overt political agenda with the book other than to express what life is really like for ordinary people - so it makes a great change from all the rather dry political and economic literature I've read over the years as part of my studies.

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08-09-2010, 12:01 PM	#2
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	Thanks for the headsup on the book. I'm always fascinated by North Korea, The Most Insane Place On Earth (I call it Wackyland.) A video recommendation (the other parts are there, too): Actually, I see that there are several of the documentaries on NK on Youtube, but that was the one that came to mind (I had seen it outside of Youtube. It should be watched.) Also worth reading, this graphic novel.

08-09-2010, 08:32 PM	#3
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Sounds interesting, but... Kindle version is $13.99 and paperback is $10.80. Publishers win again and ebook loses. I'll see if I can find a copy at Powell's...

08-09-2010, 08:43 PM	#4
Marcy Guru Posts: 897 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	I got this at Fictionwise back when I could massage my micropay into real deals. It was heartbreaking. The part that hit home most to me was the pediatrician when she encounters the dog dish when she first gets to China. After all she'd been through and witnessed, I could see how that bit really was devastating. Another good book I'd recommend about North Korea is The Aquariums of Pyongang. It doesn't tell as much of North Korea because it's really only the story of one boy and his family, but it is horrific as well. I like to read something like this when I'm upset or pissed about something in my wonderful life. It makes you realize how lucky you are to have been born in a country that is not North Korea, Afghanistan, etc. -Marcy

08-10-2010, 11:36 PM	#7
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	Thanks for the info on this book. I've read 3 other books in the subject but this one I haven't come across. Amazon UK have it at a really good price and I can't seem to get it from another store without jumping through hoops. Will have to be one for the kindle when it arrives.

08-24-2010, 12:58 PM	#11
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I used an Audible credit ($11) to listen to this book - one of the best uses of a credit since I joined there. Highly recommended!

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