First published 2009
Tracking six North Koreans over 15 years, this book reveals the human reality behind the repressive Kim regime. Demick's subjects fall in love, raise families, and struggle to survive as they realize their government has betrayed them. This groundbreaking account goes beyond the reach of government censors to show the emotional toll of living in an Orwellian police state. Fans of Demick's vivid reporting will appreciate this intimate look at the human cost of totalitarianism.
Genres: biography, history, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-narrative, social-commentary
Setting: Korea (North), North Korea
Period: 21st century, North Korea
Spiegel & Grau
Content warnings: emotional-abuse, violence