The World Is Bigger Now: An American Journalist's Release from Captivity in North Korea . . . A Remarkable Story of Faith, Family, and Forgiveness Hardcover – September 28, 2010

If you are reading these Reviews, then you have just read a lot that I would be repeating, so I'll just try to add some. But I do want to tell you why I like this book so much and that is because she added a lot of inside information that the rest of us on the outside didn't know because we can't see in.

When freed, Laura Ling got together with her sister Lisa to write a book about their experience through it all. They are both two well known journalists in front of the camera. I think that's (possibly) why it took longer for Euna's book to publish and that was what I was waiting for as she had a story to tell as well, and I am grateful that she did. The two books by these journalists/correspondents are completely different from each other's writing of the events.
They were there to do this story 'in China', as no one has permission to step onto North Korean soil, unless invited by Dictator Kim Jong Il, that is.
Euna tells of her story as she produces and gets as much input in what amounts to as a short amount of time they have to be in China and located quite near the access to North Korea. I don't think they fully knew to the naked eye as to where the exact lines were drawn into the snow being unfamiliar with the area, but their driver/guide seemed to. So a driver and three correspondents from Current T.V., U.S.A. took chances with their lives, as well as other people's lives to give the world their first video documentary of a kingdom that is so remote and closed to outsiders. The documentary was about North Korean refugees and what plights they took for freedom. And once refugees escape North Korea for freedom in China by crossing the river, they were not always met and put into what they thought would be a mainstream of the outside world. And that is what these journalists went there to do...interviews even with persons who did not want to be named or viewed on camera. As well, they wanted to take much view in at a point of crossing...where North Korean defectors were apt to cross the river into China most easiest, and that place, where the river narrows, is where Euna and Laura's lives changed.

If you don't know the story, first they were captured, detained, interrogated and ended in signed confessions stating basically they were spying on North Korea. Admitting to that was from months of daily interrogations (separately), which they could no longer stand. And for that they were sentenced to so many years in N. Korea's notorious labor camps, which I must add I find sick to my stomach that they are still up and running inhumanely as I type this.
The two women had also been sacked with their possessions which included paper work of interviews, as well as video tape....both mediums very incriminating as it portrayed them as spies of North Korea. They had told the defectors whom they interviewed that they would keep them safe, and when the girls were caught they tried destroying as much media as they could. Materials that were not deleted was terribly hard for Euna to live with after promising them total privacy.

I highly recommend her book because not only does it tell the story as it happened to her and events leading up to the capture, but she also gives you a glimpse of what this closed-knit country was like and the people who all had to live without amenities that could certainly be available to them, but is not due to their civilization simply because of the paranoid little dictator, Kim Jong Il, who in fact received the title of ruler when his father passed away. And that brings me to a book that I really suggest that you read. It is great in material about this topic...North Koreans who defect. The name of this book is called, ESCAPING NORTH KOREA, and it is written by MIKE KIM.
It is a must read. It is one of my five top favorite books and I have a substantial home library of non-fictional reads! The book entails what it is like to live in North Korea, and what it is like for different people who try to defect: Some make it out for good, and some do not. There are so many variable situations at one's attempt to do so. Defecting from that country is not just black n' white...it is so gray. So please take a chance if you are interested in North Korea as it is such a well written book, whether you just want a fascinating read, for a school project, or whatever. You won't forget the contents, that's for certain!
But back to Euna Lee's book, I'm so glad that she wrote it for us (it was worth the wait in paper publication!) and I send Blessings to she and her family, as well as those in her native land of South Korea.

I did not start following this story until the verdict of the trial of Laura and Euna was reported. At that point I not only followed the story daily but searched the internet for as much previous information on the incident of March 17 as I could. Many questions and speculations swirled around events and the two jounalists involved in the story. Why did they go to the Tumin (it was not on their original itinerary)? Who made the decision to go? What compelled them to cross into North Korea? Were they sold to the North Koreans by the guide? And who was Euna Lee? We learned that she grew up in Korea, studied in America, a film editor at Current, a mother of a 4 year old married to a struggling actor. We also learned that this was her first field assignment, and most assumed it was for her language skills. Then, in spite of all the love and prayers for these women, the harsh criticism that their ill-fated adventure put the very people they were trying to help in harm's way.

This book answers those all of those questions and gives us a glimpse of a remarkably strong woman whose faith helped her endure the most difficult time of her life.

What makes this book a great read is Euna Lee's honesty. Here are a few examples of that honesty. She wasn't afraid to put into this book things that show her human failings. She discusses the less than perfect last night with Hana that she feels guilt over. Euna goes into great detail about the problems with the trip and the guide and the circumstances and discussion that led to the trip to the border. The book goes into detail about the interrogator pitted Euna and Laura against each other in an effort to get information that affected Euna's feelings about Laura.

We also learn of Euna's passion for the story of the Korean refugees. She talks about the documentary "Seoul Train" and how it motivated her and how she jumped at the chance to do a similar story. At one point she is so overwhelmed at a church service with the refugees that she ends up trying to film while sitting in a corner and weeping.

The book is also about Euna Lee's faith. But it is not a "God did this for me he wil do it for you" type of book. Going back to the word honesty, Ms Lee talks about her trying to live a Christian life, failing at times, but doing her best. As she is being led into captivity she wonders where this God she believes in is at. She alternates between hope in God and despair, wondering why God is allowing her to go through this time of captivity.

If you have read "Somewhere Inside", you should read this book as well. Both are about the same incident, but both are different stories. And I admit going back and reading sections of both to see the similarities and differences.

The regret that both women have stated is that the story they wanted to tell didn't get out. I would disagree with that. I would submit that a finished documentary shown on Current would not have informed as many people on the crisis in North Korea as their captivity, release and subsiquent books have.

About the best story I have recently read. Certainly much better and moving than Laura Ling's book that describes more out of normal people's lives. Compared to the Lings, Lee is an average person with typical life style and I identified much more with her story than Lings'. Had she been captured alone without the well-connected Laura Ling, I am sure she would have been freed much sooner.

I had previously read Laura Ling's (Somewhere Inside) from Amazon, and imediately ordered (The World Is Bigger Now) to learn the other side of the story, since the two were separated the entire time in captivity. Euna's description of her captivity, made my heart hurt, and brought me to tears.....I felt her pain of missing her daughter and husband, the fear of how she would survive the labor camps, and how she would change her life if she ever got home. I couldn't put the book down, even knowing the final outcome of returning home, it was so well written, I felt like I was there with her.

well i wanted to know wat she was going through wen se got detained in nk i only heard laura lings feelings and i was thinking wen will i here from euna so i was suprized that she wrote the book pretty much the same thing from the begining the the life events was sad but she made it throught people encoaragements in letters and her husband and her daughter it was a very good book

I could NOT put this book down. Finished it in less than a day. Very quick yet riveting read.

Great book. Would definitely recommend

Stunning. You get so caught up in the story, you forget where you are when reading it....