A very readable book about one woman's experience teaching in North Korea. I was worried at the first couple of chapters as it seemed a bit self-indulgent and boring. But after about 25 or 30 pages the book became more interesting. Her insights on what it was like to live under constant surveillance provided an effective way to help understand in a small way what it must be like to live in North Korea. Nothing too heavy but an interesting and entertaining read. My favorite bits were her times with the students: their favorite words, what they did (and didn't) like chatting about over dinner, how they had fun with each other, what they most wanted to say to their families back home if they had had a postal service. Expected but less enjoyable were the musings about her own homesickness. I sincerely hope nothing horrible happens to the staff and students of the university in question as a result of being "featured" (with pseudonyms, but still...). I feel a little guilty and complicit just being a reader. It is a rare experience of interest to the reading public. But the nation in question is also an extremely unpredictable and punitive place. Too late to un-read this book...
Very insightful - an excellent read for anyone wanting a first hand account of life in North Korea.
—Dacil
Interesting, but didn't warrant an entire book; this would have made a great New Yorker essay.
—annamaxmarc
Great insight into North Korea. Very timely book.
—donesha
Excellent writing and eye-opening.
—jasmine9
fascinating, and incredible.
—Kev
