In Order To Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom - Yeonmi Park

21/02/18

❤❤❤❤❤/5

Genre: Novel/Autobiographical/Political
Published: 29th September 2015
How long did it take me to read: 2 days

This book was both the worst and the best thing I have read to date. The tale follows Yeonmi's real-life account of her struggle to leave North Korea. It was painful to read, but educational nonetheless. I don't know what it is about autobiographical novels, but slap a 'real-life story!' sticker on the front of a book and I will most likely pick it up. However, this novel felt different. I felt like I was reading something that couldn't be real. This horrible place Yeonmi was describing, where she was censored and kept away from the real world couldn't really exist. How could it?

I think what kept me hooked on this book was how rooted in Yeonmi's life I was. I followed her everywhere, she described every harrowing event in detail so much so that I could physically picture them happening. Sometimes I didn't want to see what she was describing, but I suffered through it because she, herself had to go through it also. I have labelled this book above as a 'political' novel, as well as autobiographical. I felt I was being educated on a way of life on every page. Yeonmi's feelings about her way of life and her love for her family were so well communicated, I felt like she was confiding in me personally.

Usually, this is where I would say, 'let's talk about the plot', however, the plot is a difficult word to use when describing this book. It isn't a plot, we are reading someone's real-life journey. I am going to try hard not to spoil anything massive within this novel, but I do want to talk about some of the twists that are included within. I guess I am trying to warn you, that before picking up this novel, be prepared to cry and be thankful for where you live.
Make yourself a cup of tea, take a big breath and begin.

Yeonmi suffers through many of the worst life traumas that can be thrown at her. Some of her family members make the journey out of North Korea, some don't. I won't spoil who sadly doesn't make it, however, there is a beautiful selection of personal photos halfway through the novel that will lend hints. I can't say much without spoiling everything within the book, but what I will say is the main feeling I got from this book was admiration. Yeonmi and her family were so brave. They fought against every power telling them not to go, but they knew that if they didn't they would regret living a life of fear.

One of the only thing that got me through this novel (apart from a cup of tea) was my adorable bookmark from Stitch and Wood. I have been using this bookmark EVERYDAY since it arrived through my post. I am so in love with it. I tend to read many sad books and when I open my page and see the cute, smiley design,  it can't help but lift my mood. How enchanting is this design? The amount of effort that clearly went into this bookmark is amazing, thank you so much StitchandWood, I will link their Etsy below.

Overall, I gave this book a five-star rating because of how harrowing the tale was. It sat with me for a long time afterwards and in my opinion, that is the sign of a good book! I would recommend it to a friend, but I would have to make sure they were in the right head space to read something as distressing. However, I feel that Yeonmi Park's brave story should be passed on.

Thank you StitchandWood!

Check out StitchandWood: Etsy
Check out StitchandWood: Instagram