Title: Long Road Home
Author: Kim Yong with Kim Suk-young
Genre: Non-fiction(Memoir)
Source: Library
Hardcover: 184 pages
Publisher: Columbia University Press (June 1, 2009)
Set in: North Korea
Rating: 4 out of 5
My thoughts:
Kim was an ideal North Korean citizen. He had a high post in the government, made a lot of profit, worshiped their leader, put his country above his family and was basically living an ideal life with his wife and 2 kids. Everything was perfect, until it wasn’t.
Kim was an orphan and war orphans had an advantage in North Korea as their parents gave their life serving the country. Family background played a very important role in North Korea and even the 2nd and 3rd generations had to pay for something their parents or grandparents did or supposedly did.
Kim’s world came crashing down when it was discovered that he was the son of an American spy who was executed by the Government. He was immediately arrested and sent to prison for what his father did, a father whom he did not even remember.
What happened to Kim and possibly many North Koreans was shocking to say the least. I can only question the sanity of someone who can put 2nd and 3rd generation loyalists for something they did not do. I might have understood a demotion but not putting him into one of the countries worst prison.
Kim did manage to escape to South Korea and eventually to the US, but before that he had to spend 6 years in hell. His journey from North Korea to South Korea was nerve breaking. I kept praying they don’t catch him even though I knew they don’t. The author brings to light the lives North Koreans lived and probably some of them still do under this horrific regime. He wants the world to know what is happening in the closed country.
The author is the only person who escaped Camp 16 and 14 and has lived to tell his story. There are not many books written about North Korea and this one is definitely worth reading.
VIOLET CRUSH 
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in North Korea (or South Korea actually!) I am always curious about North Korea so I’ll keep an eye out for this one.
I’m shaking just reading your review. wow.
You should read his descriptions of the prison, horrifying.
Wow, that sounds like an amazing story! When I read books like that, I always wonder if I’d have been brave enough to survive that kind of ordeal.
Now I’m wondering what happened to his wife and two children. . . .
I keep wondering about that too.
Oh wow, that’s terrible
I agree; it’s completely crazy to punish someone for something their father did.
Reading the review sent such a chill through my spine. I don’t know what the book will do to me . But these stories need to be told and read ..
Sounds like an amazing memoir! I can’t believe I’ve never seen this book before….
I know very little about North Korea simply because very little is written about it. Now I’m glad you wrote this review because then I can check it out. Thank you, Violet!
This seems like a horrifying, but necessary, read. I can’t imagine what he and so many other North Koreans have gone through.
This sounds like a heart-wrenching story. I am so glad the author made it out, but so sad that he had to suffer so much. It really is terrible, what man will do to man and the reasons behind it. Thank you for bringing this book to my attention.