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How I Became a North Korean
How I Became a North Korean: A Novel | Krys Lee
18 posts | 9 read | 72 to read
With How I Became a North Korean, Krys Lee takes us into urgent and emotional novelistic terrain...with heart and passion, Lee forges a world no other writer could create, one where the only response to longing and loss is learning to trust and hope again. Adam Johnson Yongju is an accomplished student from one of North Korea's most prominent families. Jangmi, on the other hand, has had to fend for herself since childhood, most recently by smuggling goods across the border. Then there is Danny, a Chinese-American teenager whose quirks and precocious intelligence have long made him an outcast in his California high school. These three disparate lives converge when they flee their homes, finding themselves in a small Chinese town just across the river from North Korea. As they fight to survive in a place where danger seems to close in on all sides, in the form of government informants, husbands, thieves, abductors, and even missionaries, they come to form a kind of adoptive family. But will Yongju, Jangmi and Danny find their way to the better lives they risked everything for? Transporting the reader to one of the least-known and most threatening environments in the world, and exploring how humanity persists even in the most desperate circumstances, How I Became a North Korean is a brilliant and essential first novel by one of our most promising writers. This is one of the best books I've read in a good long while. While North Korea is at the center of the novel, the themes of love, family and our debt to our fellow human beings will resonate universally. Gary Shteyngart From the Hardcover edition.
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TracyReadsBooks
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Today‘s reading…

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TracyReadsBooks
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Excited about today‘s book mail. Tagged book continues my exploration of South Korean literature. Super excited to dive into the latest installment of Spy x Family to see what kind of mischief Anya is up to. Forgotten sisters is a book set in Chicago with a story about ghosts and sisters and other awesomeness. Rules for Rule Breaking is a YA college visit road trip RomCom. Mixed bag, lots of good reading (hopefully).

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KendallHershey
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Pickpick

Loved this read! I find most books about North Korea to be interesting, but this book in particular was really good.

VeganCleopatra I've read many books on NK but somehow never came across this one. Probably because I've only read NF but this one sounds interesting. 4y
91 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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jhod
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Found a new 50p a book charity shop!
#bookhaul
#mounttbr is getting bigger!

Cathythoughts Nice finds 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻TBR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (edited) 6y
AceOnRoam Beautiful flowers 😍 6y
rockpools That sounds good! 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Those flowers 💐 beautiful 6y
122 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Laura317
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I read this. It is horrifying how people treat other people. Just when you think you've seen prejudice, someone takes it to a whole other level of ugly. I'm wondering how/why this kind of abuse is allowed to continue.

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Laura317
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Library once again has derailed by #tbrbingo I'm determined to finish my In Farleigh Field before starting this though. Anyone read this yet?

Megabooks Loved, loved it!! 7y
40 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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CAGirlReading
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Krys Lee gave an absolutely fabulous talk. I wish I had more time to speak with her afterwards! Definitely can't wait to read this one! #baybookfest

83 likes2 stack adds
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

5⭐️ There's a reason this has a 100% rating on Litsy. It's amazing, but quite a punch to the gut. There were definitely some 😭😭😭 at the end. Be ready for some 💔💔💔 too. Don't let that stop you from reading it though.

Book 2 of the #pantlessreadathon 🇰🇵👖🚫

EvieBee Stacking it! 7y
TheWordJar Sold! Stacked! 7y
Megabooks @EvieBee84 @TheWordJar Great! I hope you love it! 7y
Soubhiville Nice! 7y
Megabooks @Soubhiville It's awesome! 7y
113 likes22 stack adds5 comments
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Megabooks
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Up next and #currentlyreading! I can't wait to dive into this one. 👍🏻🇰🇵

NatalieR I have a glass piece like yours on the left. It's like a bag of water with a fish inside. 🐠 Small world! 😉 7y
Megabooks @NatalieR Fun! Small world indeed. 😃 I love my glass figurines. I also love that I have my grandparents' glass display case to put them in! 7y
92 likes8 stack adds2 comments
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Fumbl3z00
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"Then came the cliques that treated prom - a night on which girls across the nation wiped out their savings to resemble a cream puff - as if it were a national security issues." Accurately describes how some see prom.

Fumbl3z00 Heads up, I suck a quote pictures. Everyone else's always look so good, so I thought I would try one. But to no avail. 7y
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Seonjoon
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Pickpick

A difficult but important read. There are some flaws with the telling of the story, but the driving need to have North Korean stories told which begin to communicate the complicated lines of race, culture, politics, and human dignity that all rush together in East Asia and the Koreas creates a compelling, and tragic, story of three lives intertwined at the borders between countries, people, and the push-pull of fear & hope.

21 likes5 stack adds
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Seonjoon
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We went to the library, I came home with another book...oh well! I'm so excited by the Asian literature in translation out there these days, as well as by Asian American lit that's really getting some good attention. I 💜my public library so much. #ReadHarder2017 #weneeddiversebooks

Megabooks I have this in my TBR. I need to move it up! 7y
8little_paws Very interested to hear how you like this one 7y
BookishFeminist I started this and really enjoy it! Intriguing book. 7y
Seonjoon @8little_paws @BookishFeminist @Ebooksandcooks Ooh...can't wait to compare notes/thoughts! 7y
23 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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TheWellAccompaniedBook
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Pickpick

This has kept me up late.

20 likes1 stack add
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BookishFeminist
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We never pay him any attention 😂😂😂 No peace for reading around here.

#dogsoflitsy

MrBook 😻😻😻 7y
kylienoele He's so handsome! 😍 7y
Baileeandme ❤🐾 7y
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Hooked_on_books What a face! 🐶💜 7y
BookishMarginalia Awwwwwww! 7y
Suzze I'm in love. Can he feel me petting his snout through the computer? 7y
8little_paws Beautiful!! 7y
Bookworm83 Adorable!! 7y
booksandsympathy Yes, I'm sure with that sweet face, he never gets ANY love. 7y
beaniebankbeth @BookishFeminist Who is this floof? 😍 7y
Sue How can you resist that face? 7y
DebinHawaii Sweet boy! 🐶❤️ 7y
BookishFeminist @beaniebankbeth It's Miles! One of Adam's dogs 😀He's such a brat. 7y
BookishFeminist @Suzze 😂😂 He probably can! He's a sucker for attention and can probably sense it from miles away 7y
BookishFeminist @Sue I can't and he knows it 😂 He's being a brat because he knows I'm a sucker 7y
BookishFeminist @booksandsympathy Nope! Never. Such a neglected pooch 😂 7y
Suzze @BookishFeminist 💕💕💕 7y
beaniebankbeth @BookishFeminist Hey Aaadam! We miss you & need you to come stay in SoJo soon, okay? Hugs & happy new year. 😊 7y
whatthelog Omg what a cutie 😍 please give him a cuddle from me! 7y
britt_brooke What a sweet face! 💕 7y
165 likes22 comments
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BookishFeminist
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Relaxing with a book and a Spygirl latte at a local coffee shop. ☺️ It's made with lavender and honey. 📖☕️

#booksncoffee

slategreyskies That sounds so delicious! 💜 7y
BookishFeminist @slategreyskies It is! I crave them when I'm away ☺️☕️ 7y
ChasingOm Lavender lattes and shortbread are the only time I like lavender in food. 😄 7y
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readinginthedark That sounds so good right now! 😍😋 7y
Leniverse What, no candied bacon this time? Did you at least get a proper twig/spruce of lavender? 😆 How is that book, btw? I'm seeing mixed reviews. 7y
celtichik That latte sounds amazing! 7y
BookishFeminist @ChasingOm Agreed! I don't typically like lavender but love it in lattes. Never tried it in shortbread but that sounds good! 7y
BookishFeminist @readinginthedark @celtichik It was! It really hit the spot 7y
BookishFeminist @Leniverse 😂😂 Nope, no candied bacon thankfully. I didn't get garnish and I am A okay with that. I'm enjoying the book so far. It's well written :) I'll definitely let you know how I end up liking it! 7y
Leniverse @BookishFeminist Thanks! I'm reading around the world, and while North Korea is a long while away, I like to have options ready so I'm always on the lookout. :) 7y
Imbookenit Their best drink by far! How fun!!! (edited) 7y
moranadatter Love the latte art! Talented barista. 7y
133 likes4 stack adds12 comments
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BookishFeminist
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Omg I'm dying. We stopped to grab coffee and read for a while and when my latte came it came with a literal candied bacon garnish. I can't, I thought I was just getting a holiday spice drink. 😂😂😂 🥓☕️

On a side note the book is really good and we've been to four, yes, FOUR bookstores today and bought 9 books plus some last minute Christmas presents 📚📚

Leniverse This bacon proliferation is crazy. They keep adding it to things where bacon does not belong. Coffee is the most extreme one I've seen yet though. 😂 7y
ScientistSam Wow! I'm speechless! 7y
BookishFeminist @Leniverse @ScientistSam I mean doesn't every latte need a side of meat?! 😂😂 This latte had nothing to even do with bacon, we were shocked when we got it. The effort they went to to make candied bacon garnishes!! 7y
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jessdean 😋 7y
moranadatter Where in the world did you get that? And I thought the fluorescent orange breading on the cheese curds at the Minnesota State Fair was weird! 7y
BookishFeminist @kmdartist Dunn Bros 😂😂 it's not even a super local coffee shop it's a chain! 7y
moranadatter 😂I like bacon as much as the next non-vegetarian, but yikes! 7y
BkClubCare Happy Bacon Day 🥓 7y
vivastory Too much! That's totally bizarre, especially in Dunn Bros. Did you make it to Magers & Quinn? 7y
BookishFeminist @vivastory Right?! 😂😂 I was confused when he handed it to me. I didn't yet, but maybe tomorrow! 7y
Matilda I would start drinking coffee if they came with bacon 😂 7y
beaniebankbeth @BookishFeminist you might be in the Midwest if... 7y
Godmotherx5 Crud. Our Dunn Bros. closed a while ago. I liked that place. 7y
BookishFeminist @beaniebankbeth Right?! This wasn't even supposed to be a bacon drink. I couldn't stop laughing when I got it! So ridiculous 😂 7y
BookishFeminist @Matilda 😂😂😂 if you ever visit Minnesota it might!! 7y
BookishFeminist @Godmotherx5 sad!! I love Dunn Bros. they're a great coffee shop! 7y
WordWaller What bookstores did you visit? (: (: (: 7y
BookishFeminist @WordWaller B&N Roseville, Source Comics, and two Half Price Books 🙈 We need to hit Magers and Quinn & Birchbark before we leave!! 7y
146 likes6 stack adds18 comments
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TheWellAccompaniedBook
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Just picked this up from the library. May need to begin immediately.

22 likes1 stack add
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Mary-Michelle
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Pickpick

Interesting characters, great plane read. Picked up at a conference; finished on the plane and will be setting it free in the next terminal for someone else to enjoy.