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In Order to Live
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom | Yeonmi Park
Yeonmi Park has told the harrowing story of her escape from North Korea as a child many times, but never before has she revealed the most intimate and devastating details of the repressive society she was raised in and the enormous price she paid to escape. Parks family was loving and close-knit, but life in North Korea was brutal, practically medieval. Park would regularly go without food and was made to believe that, Kim Jong Il, the countrys dictator, could read her mind. After her father was imprisoned and tortured by the regime for trading on the black-market, a risk he took in order to provide for his wife and two young daughters, Yeonmi and her family were branded as criminals and forced to the cruel margins of North Korean society. With thirteen-year-old Park suffering from a botched appendectomy and weighing a mere sixty pounds, she and her mother were smuggled across the border into China. I wasnt dreaming of freedom when I escaped from North Korea. I didnt even know what it meant to be free. All I knew was that if my family stayed behind, we would probably diefrom starvation, from disease, from the inhuman conditions of a prison labor camp. The hunger had become unbearable; I was willing to risk my life for the promise of a bowl of rice. But there was more to our journey than our own survival. My mother and I were searching for my older sister, Eunmi, who had left for China a few days earlier and had not been heard from since. Park knew the journey would be difficult, but could not have imagined the extent of the hardship to come. Those years in China cost Park her childhood, and nearly her life. By the time she and her mother made their way to South Korea two years later, her father was dead and her sister was still missing. Before now, only her mother knew what really happened between the time they crossed the Yalu river into China and when they followed the stars through the frigid Gobi Desert to freedom. As she writes, I convinced myself that a lot of what I had experienced never happened. I taught myself to forget the rest. In In Order to Live, Park shines a light not just into the darkest corners of life in North Korea, describing the deprivation and deception she endured and which millions of North Korean people continue to endure to this day, but also onto her own most painful and difficult memories. She tells with bravery and dignity for the first time the story of how she and her mother were betrayed and sold into sexual slavery in China and forced to suffer terrible psychological and physical hardship before they finally made their way to Seoul, South Koreaand to freedom. Still in her early twenties, Yeonmi Park has lived through experiences that few people of any age will ever knowand most people would never recover from. Park confronts her past with a startling resilience, refusing to be defeated or defined by the circumstances of her former life in North Korea and China. In spite of everything, she has never stopped being proud of where she is from, and never stopped striving for a better life. Indeed, today she is a human rights activist working determinedly to bring attention to the oppression taking place in her home country. Parks testimony is rare, edifying, and terribly important, and the story she tells in In Order to Live is heartbreaking and unimaginable, but never without hope. Her voice is riveting and dignified. This is the human spirit at its most indomitable.
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Shannon_McKinney
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Pickpick

It‘s incredible to think Yeonmi is less than a year older than me. She‘s an incredible human, and has a story of perseverance. The world needs to read this, and see the atrocities of North Korea. You‘re remembered & heard Yeonmi.

27 likes1 stack add
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Booksintherain
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The first book ,in order to live, is about Yeonmi Park‘s escape from North Korea, and the second book, while time remains, is about like her thoughts on America

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KateReadsYA
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Pickpick

Reading this has opened my eyes to so much. I cried when I finished it and will be thinking about Yeonmi's story for a long while. She endured so much trauma and pain, and it's so sad that there are so many people enduring the same and more. Humanity can be cruel. I'm so glad she is making a stand.

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KateReadsYA
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I never read non-fiction, but I feel it's important I read her story.

BookLove4Ever Her story is something. ❤️ 11mo
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Night_Reader
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Glad she's safe now but horrible to know that millions of people are still going through what she went through.

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Beatlefan129
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Pickpick

I don‘t think you can really rate a book like this which is someone telling the story of what they went through. A very powerful story, definitely hard to read at times. She is a courageous person for coming forward despite the risks to herself and her family.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I sent you a little happy! I hope you got it and it‘s not lost ❤️ 2y
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WriterAtHeart
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Pickpick

An engaging read about a young woman who tries to escape North Korea to only find herself being a trafficked in China. But through the help from some unlikely sources, and a drive to learn, Yeonmi Park finds herself in Seoul, rebuilding her life when so many people told her that she would amount to nothing.

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lilpumpkin2.0
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April 16, 2022 What a powerfully written autobiography written by the 21 year old author. It was such an outstanding and mesmerizing story that came from the heart. I was really empathizing with her because she endured so much during her young years -- from losing her father that she loved and cared for -- to losing her sister and her father. Reading this was a game changer! GO PICK IT UP AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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lilpumpkin2.0
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April 5, 2022 New autobiography alert ‼️ I have been in the process of ordering new books to add to my TBR pile and I was happy to found this one at my local Books Inc. I am also trying to steer away from fiction because (for me) they are more for sntertainment. I dont find thati learn much from them. Thus i have been trying to ease into more nonfiction (like biographies, autobiographies, worldly books etc)

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keepingupwiththepenguins
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Pickpick

This isn't a literary memoir, but I think that actually works in its favour. It feels more authentic, allowing Park‘s story to stand for itself. Plus, it gives the reader the opportunity to connect a lot of the broader dots for themselves.It‘s a powerful reminder of the voiceless cost of large-scale war games. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/in-order-to-live-yeonmi-park/

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TheBookAddict
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BookLove4Ever
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Pickpick

Read as part of a book swap. I told my trading partner I don‘t like sad and depressing books and this is what I got, lol. I already know how horrible North Korea is. Super messed up place. But I powered through it and what the author has been through is unimaginable. I feel blessed to have been born in the US. Good read if you like biographies and nonfiction. 👍

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bio_chem06
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Some really deep material tonight. Had to add a Burt head to lighten this book a little.

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BekaReid
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating and harrowing read. I appreciated Yeonmi Park sharing her story and bringing attention to the suffering and oppression in North Korea, the hardships of escape, and the struggles of adjusting to a new life.

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janerzy
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I watched couple of North Korean defectors movies in the past, but this book unveils far greater than anything I had imagined, about the propaganda, about people‘s living conditions there even in early 2000s, and about the brutal reality of the journey to escape. It‘s both fascinating and cruel hearing her stories. It‘s despairing and sad, yet it shows us the bravery for survival, and the courage to face the truth in order to re-live. Bravo. ⭐️ 4

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ScientistSam
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Pickpick

This book is a fraught and frank account of one young woman's childhood in North Korea, escape to China only to be trafficked, and eventual escape to South Korea. It focuses more on her escape and time in the hands of traffickers, but every step of her story is something she stands as witness to. We can't fight for justice if we're not aware of the injustices, and Park has bravely shared her story in order to shed a light in this darkness.
4⭐

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Centique
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Pickpick

My elderly father has been frail for the last few years and I keep him supplied with books. After a few years of war books, mountaineering books, sea faring books, I‘ve started pushing him a little out of his comfort zone. He turned it back on me by insisting I read this book straight after he finished!
I‘m so glad I did. I had heard Yeonmi‘s speech and been so moved but there is so much more in this book. ⬇️

Centique So much more to understand about dictatorship and brainwashing and about how market forces come to play in human misery. Well written and a page turner as well as heart breaking. 💔 5y
Reggie My dad who is all about war, horror, and gore (I don‘t want to get into it, but has a chip on his shoulder against Oprah, lol) surprised the hell outta me when he read An American Marriage and liked it. This is cool. And sounds good. 5y
Centique @Reggie that‘s great! Good on him 😊 Mine won‘t read fiction unfortunately. And I don‘t think he knows who Oprah is. 😂😂 5y
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readtheworld
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Pickpick

Just finished this memoir on audio. I‘ve read a few other books about North Korea (Without You There Is No Us, Nothing to Envy) and this one fills in another heartbreaking perspective on the difficulty and danger in escaping. Much of the book deals with the years after Park and her mother crossed the border to China and were trafficked as wives for Chinese men. Trigger warnings apply.

#24in48 #memoir #audiobook #northkorea

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readtheworld
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Just hit 10 hours for #24in48. My day tomorrow will be much busier so I‘m trying to get as much reading in tonight as I can. I keep switching between this audiobook and The Book of Essie in print — both are such page-turners.

#24in48 #readathon #audiobook #memoir #northkorea #hour10 #libby

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AishReads
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When #JennaFischer A.K.A #PamBeesly picks out your next book. I got this instantly off the #libby app and I‘m hooked! Especially since I‘m in the process of trying to go move to South Korea to be with my husband. #YeonmiPark is three years younger than me but has endured more than I can imagine. I have to keep reminding myself that this isn‘t a story of the past but of the present!

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Martta
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My North Korea themed books. I've read already two this year and these remain still unread.

Almost all of my books are now back to the shelves. Such a tough work! 😂

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LondElle89
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Just started this today and I'm hooked! It's been a while since I've been captivated from a book. This firsthand account of being a North Korean defector is fascinating and heartbreaking at the same time. I think will definitely be a 2018 favourite.

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BookishRedhead
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Pickpick

Touching every time I read it. Definitely a favourite.
Just as heartbreaking as the first time I read it.
Re-reading forever

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BookishRedhead
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Two women who I admire. Both stories are touching and heartbreaking but they give you a feel of if they can go through that then you can go through anything.

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Susanbones
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Pickpick

OMG. Intense book. I 👏🏻 could 👏🏻 not 👏🏻 put 👏🏻 it👏🏻 down 👏🏻. Very easy flow and easy to read despite the intensity of the topics discussed. Go read this like right at this moment!

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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
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#MarchInBooks #photochallenge @maich

#autobiography

"A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom"

Secretive societies fascinate me. ??

90 likes6 stack adds
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NatalieJess07
Pickpick

Life changing. Nothing else fits this book and her story.

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Yellowpigeon
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Both of her grandparents lost limbs in separate accidents when they were young. They both decided to scope out the rehab facilities for similarly injured people for potential mates. Love her grandmother's "Love at first site"

Suet624 Wow!!! 6y
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Conservio
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Powerful quote... I always knew North Korea was BAD... but Yeonmi Park didn‘t even understand the concept of a favorite color.
#speechless #northkorea #memoir

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Conservio
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Some of my reading companions. #puppiesoflitsy

BookMaven407 🐶💕 6y
7 likes1 comment
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Conservio
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Reading this while the husband watches the #huskers. #gobigred #procrastination

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Kristy_K
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One of my favorite non-fiction reads this year is on sale on the Kindle and Nook!

I️t is harrowing and heartbreaking, but Park‘s strength and courage is amazing.

https://www.amazon.com/Order-Live-Korean-Journey-Freedom-ebook/dp/B00SI0B5EY?_bb...

#northkorea #memoir #biography

ClairesReads So good! 6y
new2kindle Just picked this up on kindles deal of the day for 99p bargain 6y
Kristy_K @new2kindle It‘s an amazing book. Enjoy! 6y
new2kindle @Kristy_K North Korea is very relevant at the moment so this should be an interesting read. Thanks for the reply 👍 6y
40 likes4 comments
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Conservio
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Library haul. 1) looks like a cute YA 2) a non fiction about a woman's escape from North Korea 3) a TBR. #toomanybooks #library #YA

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youneverarrived
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I don‘t think I would have ever thought about using audio books if it wasn‘t for Litsy. I decided to give the free audible trial a go a few months ago and now it‘s my new favourite thing. The only problem is the books are generally expensive but I‘ve just been using my monthly credit to listen. #lookwhatyoumademedo but in the nicest way 😂😊#uncannyoctober

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llwheeler
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Welp I can hardly ever resist the buy 3 get the 4th free sales at Chapters, so... #bookhaul! One for my nephew for thanksgiving (adorable 😍) , and three for me. The Nadia Hashimi books because I really enjoyed A House Without Windows. The Yeonmi Park memoir because I read it a while ago from the library and decided it was an important enough read that I needed my own copy.

janeycanuck The Pearl That Broke Its Shell is wonderful. I haven't read her others yet but both are on my TBR. Enjoy!! 6y
llwheeler @janeycanuck I might read that one first then, thanks ☺ A House Without Windows was so good, I recommend it. 6y
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Gina
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Pickpick

This book is an honest and brutal look at the reality inside North Korea. It talks bout the overlooked human trafficking happening on China's boarder completely taking advantage of these people in desperate need. It is a must read to fully comprehend the atrocities playing out across the ocean from us.

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Gina
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I love walking with her through her self discovery.

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Gina
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Well that's interesting...

5 likes1 stack add
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Gina
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Oh I like that...

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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

I teared up many times while reading this. I cannot fully comprehend the evils in this world &how people like Park not only survive it, but thrive afterwards.

I don't know much about North Korea outside of what I see on the news. This look at the way of life there is truly terrifying. Equally as scary are the ways people take advantage of &treat the North Koreans trying to escape. Park went through some truly horrific &heartbreaking events. 5⭐️s

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BookishRedhead
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Tempted to Re-read

sprainedbrain This looks really good. Stacked! 7y
BookishRedhead @sprainedbrain it's amazing. Very touching too 7y
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Martta
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Found these yesterday!

DeeLew I know why the caged bird sings. 😍💕 7y
18 likes1 comment
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cariashley
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Pickpick

What a harrowing but deeply important story about life in North Korea and what this woman went through to escape it. Not to mention timely. Fair warning, parts of this are very, very hard to read. The audio was excellent.

Libby1 Excellent book. It puts at the forefront the terrible plight of the ordinary people of North Korea. 7y
LeeRHarry This was such a good read - was just thinking about it today due to current events. 7y
cariashley @Libby1 @LeeRHarry I know. It's one of those books that staggers you, showing how strong people can be in the face of adversity. 7y
RaimeyGallant Sounds interesting! 7y
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cristiana_de_sousa
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Pickpick

Que história mais poderosa! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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spilledinklove

When you have so little, just the smallest thing can make you happy

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Kyliejohood
Pickpick

Wow. I am so inspired. This author has strengthened my resolve that we must fight oppression. And if everyone stands silent who will be left to fight? A moving story that will leave you stunned by your privilege. Love the line "we all have our own deserts to cross". 4 stars only because the audiobook reader too awhile to get used to!

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BookishRedhead
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Two of the best biographies about escaping North Korea I have ever read

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Chelsibno
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Pickpick

Park's memoir is a heartbreakingly honest work. The struggles that Park and her family went through brought me to tears as I listened. Park's drive to survive and succeed resonated with me, especially her emphasis on education in later chapters. I hadn't known much about North Korea and appreciated learning more about life there. Eji Kim did a great job narrating. Her accented speech helped to capture Park's voice. #2017Book23 #audiobook #memoir

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Chelsibno
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The high school library where I'm doing my practicum has its own 2017 reading challenge that I'm taking part in. I've already got three of these covered. I was a bit on the fence about whether or not super hero titles counted under "books with someone's name in the title," but I finally decided not to count those. #readingchallenge #2017readingchallenge