Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick

Focusing on several North Korean defectors, Nothing to Envy describes life under Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and (a tiny bit) Kim Jong-un, focusing particularly on the famine in the 90s. It’s quite fascinating to get a glimpse of what life was like for a handful of people, both before and after defection. They represent a wide range of North Koreans including, among others, a scholar, a kindergarten teacher, a doctor, and a true believer. I highly recommend this book to older teens and adults interested in or learning about everyday life in DPRK.

5 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2018: 74
Pages Read in 2018: 17,695
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