Format: PaperbackChange
Price:$10.07+ Free shipping with Amazon Prime
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
on September 17, 2016
This is the first person account of a courageous young woman who, at great risk, escaped from North Korea. After crossing the Yalu river, wending her way through China, changing her name often to mask her identity, learning Mandarin, conning numerous unsavory characters, bribing officials at every turn, in short, doing whatever it took to survive, ultimately makes it to freedom in South Korea. In addition to living through more than a decade on the run in hostile territory, she managed to go back to her point of departure and, at even greater risk, saves her mother and younger brother. Anyone who has ever wondered what life is really like in North Korea, China, or Laos will find in this book a vivid portrait of all. You will also find a young woman of great bravery, intelligence, and beauty, who is putting her freedom to good use. Somewhere Hyeonseo Lee also learned to master the cliff hanger, and her book, although non-fiction, reads like a crime/spy novel. I highly recommend it.
on December 2, 2016
This is one of several "I escaped from North Korea" books. Curiously, they all seem to be authored by females; maybe males don't attempt the escape. Lee's book is filled with stories of near escapes from the North Korean authorities. To those of us living in the U.S., some of the stories are just short of unbelievable. One is about the special cloth each family is issued by the government. That cloth is to be used for one purpose only: to regularly clean the pictures of the Dear Leader and his son. Those pictures are to be displayed on a prominent wall in each family's house with no other decorations on the wall. The government sends officials to homes regularly to inspect each family's pictures to make sure they are cleaning them. They also inspect the family's cloth to make sure it isn't being used for any other purpose. If violations are found, the family is hauled off the who knows where for hard labor. I watched Lee's TED Talk, and it's well worth the few minutes it take to watch it, especially if you've read the book. This would be a great book to have your cell phone attached spoiled brat teenage son or daughter to read replacing the "Eat all of your vegetable; kids are starving in China" admonition of the past.
on February 9, 2017
This is the amazing story of one young woman's journey to escape from the repressive regime in North Korea. Growing up in a tiny village in northern North Korea, just a stone's throw from the Chinese border, she knows only what the North Korean government wants her to know: that North Korea is the greatest country on earth, that the rest of the world is decadent and corrupt, that people in other countries are living in poverty, and that the American devils kill children, beat old people in the streets and kick dogs. When she decides to sneak across the border on a lark, she discovers that people in other countries live in relative freedom and aren't all mean and degenerate. She also discovers that she can't go back without being imprisoned and tortured. So begins her journey to freedom. living in constant fear of arrest and deportation, constantly changing her identity and moving from city to city to stay one step ahead of the police and immigration officials. Her story is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the desire to live free.
on July 29, 2015
The horrors that I read about in this book are difficult for a free Westerner to understand. I kept asking myself why don't these people rebel like so many others after decades of oppression. But then I don't understand brain washing and the total control of one's thoughts and activities. The courage of Hyeonseo to gain her freedom and all that she went through was so incredible. Wonderful book about a very difficult cultural to understand.
on September 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. After having spend a year in South Korea on two separate occasions (2 years total) with the Air Force, I have a healthy respect and admiration for the Korean people. Seeing how happy, healthy and prosperous the South Koreans are, it's heart breaking to think their fellow countrymen to the north are struggling so much.
Granted, a lot of what we heard in the military comes across as propaganda about they North, similar to their propaganda about the U.S. and South Korea. After reading "The Girl with Seven Names", what we heard in the military isn't far off at all. Matter of fact, what we heard most likely comes from North Korean refugees.
This book illustrates the struggles and hardships of North Korea. Point blank, they deserve better. When Korea does eventually unify, it will be far more difficult than the German unification. I hope I'm alive to see it, and maybe even be a part of somehow. But as long as the Kim dynasty reigns in North Korea, the people there will only know suffering and poverty. If they never experience anything different, they don't know how their lives can improve.
Buy this book, you won't regret it. It has prompted me to read other books from North Korean refugees. The stories are their own, but very similar.
Granted, a lot of what we heard in the military comes across as propaganda about they North, similar to their propaganda about the U.S. and South Korea. After reading "The Girl with Seven Names", what we heard in the military isn't far off at all. Matter of fact, what we heard most likely comes from North Korean refugees.
This book illustrates the struggles and hardships of North Korea. Point blank, they deserve better. When Korea does eventually unify, it will be far more difficult than the German unification. I hope I'm alive to see it, and maybe even be a part of somehow. But as long as the Kim dynasty reigns in North Korea, the people there will only know suffering and poverty. If they never experience anything different, they don't know how their lives can improve.
Buy this book, you won't regret it. It has prompted me to read other books from North Korean refugees. The stories are their own, but very similar.
on August 20, 2015
The book is very well written! I've had a fascination with North Korea recently and this is my third book. The first book I read was a very good book called "Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea", which is also very highly reviewed. It's one of my favorite books, actually. Great story telling, interesting facts, you can tell the author really did her research and interviewed many defectors extensively, so I am surprised to say that "The Girl With Seven Names" is just as good of a book. As others have mentioned, the difference in this book is the unique perspective offered. Without saying too much, the author came from a privileged family. With what I know from the other books I've read, I was shocked at some of what the author and her family were able to do. For example, her father crossing the border into China. Anyway, I don't have anything bad to say about it, so hurry up and get a copy!
on November 22, 2016
This is by far the best book I've ever read! It had me in tears at so many points. This girl knows how to tell a story! Every chapter was riveting! I didn't want it to end!
She demonstrated a mix of intelligence, practicality, realism, bravery, great instincts, an open mind, sound logic ... she has it all. How the North Korean government can do this to their people is beyond belief. They force good people to break the law just to survive. Then they get punished for it.
Her very clever names she assigned to her family members, like Uncle Opium, Uncle Poor, Aunt Pretty, Aunt Tall, and so on was not only funny, but gives you an idea about them at the same time.
The way she ends each chapter is spell-binding. But I didn't want to read it all at once either because I would not have it to read again the next day. But inside each chapter, and especially at the end of each spell-binding chapter, had me in serious tears at the thought of the hardship she faced, and how she faced it. I am so impressed with this girl!
I hope she manages to write another book. On anything!
She demonstrated a mix of intelligence, practicality, realism, bravery, great instincts, an open mind, sound logic ... she has it all. How the North Korean government can do this to their people is beyond belief. They force good people to break the law just to survive. Then they get punished for it.
Her very clever names she assigned to her family members, like Uncle Opium, Uncle Poor, Aunt Pretty, Aunt Tall, and so on was not only funny, but gives you an idea about them at the same time.
The way she ends each chapter is spell-binding. But I didn't want to read it all at once either because I would not have it to read again the next day. But inside each chapter, and especially at the end of each spell-binding chapter, had me in serious tears at the thought of the hardship she faced, and how she faced it. I am so impressed with this girl!
I hope she manages to write another book. On anything!
on July 14, 2015
In so many ways, Ms. Lee describes why and how a people can become a cult of such magnitude that is North Korea. Some of what she tells us has been told by other North Korean defectors. The informing, the deification of the ruling Kim, an entire education around fictitious stories of how the Korean people came to be saved by the Great Leader, the famine, the executions, the stores with brand names that are for media purposes, not for sale.
But she brings a 10 year diversion as an illegal in China, where she begins to realize North Korea maybe isn't the greatest nation it believes itself to be. All the while she survives in justifiable fear of discovery, using incredible mendacity when confronted by police, all the while painfully longing for the family she hadn't really intended to leave. When she finally decides maybe South Korea wouldn't be so bad, she devises a simple, relatively direct, kind of ingenious way to get there. There's so much more to this story than just this.
I think what makes this one unique is how well Ms. Lee expresses her growing awareness of the consequences of her actions, of her ever increasing involvement with people and cultures different from herself, the differences, and similarities, between North and South Korean cultures, and - perhaps most especially - her ever present guilt and gratitude at bringing her mother and brother out.
She doesn't shy away from how human traffickers work, how bribes work well in most countries, how North Koreans ultimately are disadvantaged and second class in South Korea, or how others encountered worse journeys than her own.
And, really, nicely paced, and well edited.
But she brings a 10 year diversion as an illegal in China, where she begins to realize North Korea maybe isn't the greatest nation it believes itself to be. All the while she survives in justifiable fear of discovery, using incredible mendacity when confronted by police, all the while painfully longing for the family she hadn't really intended to leave. When she finally decides maybe South Korea wouldn't be so bad, she devises a simple, relatively direct, kind of ingenious way to get there. There's so much more to this story than just this.
I think what makes this one unique is how well Ms. Lee expresses her growing awareness of the consequences of her actions, of her ever increasing involvement with people and cultures different from herself, the differences, and similarities, between North and South Korean cultures, and - perhaps most especially - her ever present guilt and gratitude at bringing her mother and brother out.
She doesn't shy away from how human traffickers work, how bribes work well in most countries, how North Koreans ultimately are disadvantaged and second class in South Korea, or how others encountered worse journeys than her own.
And, really, nicely paced, and well edited.
on February 20, 2017
A wonderful life story of an amazing girl who was determined to find the world outside of North Korea. She has gone through tremendous sorrow and suffering but in the end found a wonderful husband, a deep meaningful life helping her family and many others to know the truth that was hidden and still remains hidden to many. She's a dedicated, passionate, driven woman and a good example of perseverance, love and sacrifice.
The book is well written. I hated to put it down. It's straight forward, and easy to follow. There's a lot to follow going from country to country, this city, that province, here and there. A lot to follow. Such a rewarding ending! This will open your eyes. The suffering and lies in North Korea is eye opening. Also all the corruption involved in harassing poor immigrants and those already suffering is despicable. Very sad.
A very good book.
PRCS
The book is well written. I hated to put it down. It's straight forward, and easy to follow. There's a lot to follow going from country to country, this city, that province, here and there. A lot to follow. Such a rewarding ending! This will open your eyes. The suffering and lies in North Korea is eye opening. Also all the corruption involved in harassing poor immigrants and those already suffering is despicable. Very sad.
A very good book.
PRCS
