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Title: The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag by Kang Chol-Hwan, Pierre Rigoulot, Yair Reiner ISBN: 0-465-01102-0 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: 03 September, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.55 (20 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Thank you 100xs-over to Mr. Kang
Comment: I'm surprised to read some of these critiques and find that individuals feel the need to discount this book for literary shortcomings and typos. The story itself is a strong one and I was more than willing to forgive this man for misspelling "kidnapings" in exchange for his horrific tale of the years lost in a North Korean concentration camp. It amazes me that some disregard these pages as "really nothing new" -- a very inhumane response to a very vivid and compelling account of abominable human rights injustices. This isn't fiction here; this REALLY happened and deserves the understanding that this man is sharing HIS story and not trying to write the next "War and Peace."
Kang Chol-Hwan has shared his amazing journey from one world to another. In order to share the reality of life under a loathsome, hateful regime that does nothing but systematically starve and kill its people, he risks the well-being of himself and loved ones. I read his story and was deeply moved. Being half a world away, it's difficult to fathom that such horrid injustices occur in our modern society.
I am a Korean-American and live a much more sheltered and protected life than many on this earth. I am deeply appreciative to my parent's for coming to the U.S. in order to give their children a better life. They were only children during the Korean War and had their fair share of hunger and hardships. They walked the long, death-ridden highway with the masses towards hopefully a better life in the South. They were among the fortunate. Many saw their families torn apart and kidnapped back to the North.
Reunification is inevitable. This seems to be the sentiments of many. It's only a matter of time before the North just can't hang on any longer without the help of its affluent sister in the south.
A great many thank you's to Mr. Kang for sharing his life.
Rating: 5
Summary: One of the very best resources on North Korea. Essential
Comment: I have read Aquariums several times and each time I think I have gained some new insight from it. It's not a deep work of insight so much as a very human true account of life in a terrible, terrible situation. It's also an invaluable aid to understanding North Korea and North Koreans, and the absolute hell that many of them have had to endure under the Kim dynasty. Honestly, Kang Chol Hwan and Soon Ok Lee (Eyes of the Tailless Beasts) are among the people on Earth who I most admire because people like them are definitely risking their lives to tell their stories. As Bush and company negotiate with North Korea on 'the nuclear issue' I can't help but think about the people in thse camps and pray that whatever deal occurs doesnt result in their mass murder.. all 200,000 of them.. Because they are only kept alive to be slaves till every last calorie is exhausted and Kim Jong Il doesnt want the world to know about the dark side of life in 'paradise'.
Kang is now one of the people behind the nkgulag.org organization.. If you speak Korean, check their site out.
Two NK Human Rights resources for English speakers are freenorthkorea.net and chosunjournal.com
Rating: 4
Summary: excellent.
Comment: this book was everything I hoped it would be. it was a sad story, but its words were not simlply used up in emotions. as I finished up the book, it really even inspired me to take action regarding north korea. how? that I don't know, but somehow. perhaps I should contact my congressman or find out about some agencies working with north korean refugees.
the stories about the camp were horrifying at times and well-written about. the flow of the middle chapters was not perfect, but its content, not to mention the rest of the book, totally made up for it. the chapters at the very beginning and the very end were especially good, particularly his description of his "happy childhood in pyongyang" and adjusting to life in south korea. excellent book worth my time. if you have any kind of interest in east asia or north korea in particular, you should definitely read this.
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Title: North Korea through the Looking Glass by Kong Dan Oh, Ralph C. Hassig, Kongdan Oh ISBN: 0815764359 Publisher: The Brookings Institution Pub. Date: 01 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Eyes of the Tailless Animals: Prison Memoirs of a North Korean Woman by Soon Ok Lee ISBN: 0882643355 Publisher: Living Sacrifice Book Company Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: The Great North Korean Famine by Andrew S. Natsios ISBN: 1929223331 Publisher: United States Institute of Peace Pub. Date: 01 January, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Inside North Korea by Norbert Vollertsen ISBN: 1893554872 Publisher: Encounter Books Pub. Date: May, 2004 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: North Korea: Another Country by Bruce Cumings ISBN: 156584873X Publisher: New Press Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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