Winner of 2010 BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction
Five words from the blurb: North Korea, repressive, secretive, survival, stories
Nothing to Envy is a frightening insight into the lives of ordinary people in North Korea. By interviewing those who managed to escape the oppressive regime Barbara Demick has created a comprehensive picture of what life is like for those living under the thumb of a powerful dictator.
More than 2 million North Koreans died during a famine in the 1990s, but their plight was made harder by the fact they could trust very few people. Under constant fear of being reported to authorities each individual had to find their own food, often by committing a crime that, if caught, could have lead to their execution.
It isn’t necessary to know anything about the country in advance as this book explains the situation perfectly, without a hint sensationalisation. Details of the slow decline in living standards are mesmerising in their horror and I think everyone should read this book so they can understand what occurs at the limits of humanity.
I have always been fascinated by North Korea and so I expected to love this book from the very first page. Unfortunately I initially felt a bit overwhelmed – so many people were introduced that I found it hard to keep track of them all and I longed for a bit of emotion to be injected into the statistics.
Luckily things improved quickly and by page fifty I was hooked. I began to recognise each person as their story was continued and it was impossible to not be moved by their increasingly difficult lives.
I thought I had a reasonable idea of what went on in the country, but I was shocked by some of the details of their existence.
North Koreans learned to swallow their pride and hold their noses. They picked kernels of undigested corn out of the excrement of farm animals. Shipyard workers developed a technique by which they scraped the bottoms of the cargo holds where food had been stored, then spread the foul smelling gunk on rooftops to dry so that they could collect from it tiny grains of uncooked rice and other edibles.
This book is one of the most important pieces of journalism to be written in recent years and it has just become one my favourite nonfiction titles.
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The thoughts of other bloggers:
Nothing to Envy is a truly astonishing book. Reading Matters
Readers, even those who don’t often read non-fiction, will find themselves completely absorbed in these stories. Olduvai Reads
The book is fascinating, sad, and frustrating all at the time, which is the best sort of narrative nonfiction. Sophisticated Dorkiness
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I’ve been thinking about getting this book for my dad (and to read it myself, of course) after hearing about it from Kim. North Korea is such a mysterious country of which we can only ever get fleeting glimpses (and lots of rumours). Seems like it’s a book everyone should read.
sakura, I think you and your Dad will love this book so I hope you decide to get a copy soon. I think the mysterious nature of North Korea will continue to intrigue us. I just hope that life gets better for them soon.
I completely agree, this is a very important book. I read this not knowing a lot about North Korea and it completely shocked me. The fact that Barbara Demick got the accounts from defectors makes this an even more impressive feat of reporting. Highly recommended.
hellybee, Yes. The accuracy of her reporting and the efforts she has gone to to check everything is impressive. I’m sure that most (if not all) is true. So sad.
I have wanted to read this book ever since I discovered its existence… I think Tony would be tempted to refer to it as “Poverty Porn”, but at the same time, I think the fact that N. Korea is so veiled and shielded from the Western world makes it incredibly intriguing to us. I’m not sure if I’m in the mood/mental space for such a serious, heavy read, but it’s undoubtedly an important book and I know I will read it eventually.
Steph, “Poverty porn?!” I haven’t heard that term before, but I think I suffer from an addiction to it! There is something about reading how people cope in these terrible situations that gives me the strength to know I can cope with any minor things that go wrong in my life.
I read this last year and thought it was, at times, a heartbreaking and informative look inside a country that has been shrouded in secrecy for a long time. I would say that Demick’s prose style isn’t particularly the most polished writing I’ve come across but then again it allows the stories to take centre stage.
A Damned Conjuror, I agree that Demick’s writing isn’t outstanding. I didn’t really notice when I was reading it, but when I went back to look at quotes some of the phrasing was quite awkward. Her book is so good that it can get away with it!
Thanks for this review Jackie, I got the book after I read Kim’s review of it and then popped it in Mount TBR and this review has reminded me how much I wanted to read it. I find non fiction tricky but all I have heard about this is good and your review clinched an imminent read.
Simon, I haven’t read much non-fiction in the past, but I’m making more of an effort this year. I think this book is ideal for those who often struggle with nonfiction – I’m sure you’ll like this one.
Oh, this sounds like something I should check out! Great review!
Kailana, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it
I read this book a couple months ago (the same week their leader died) and found it fascinating. Like you I thought I had some idea of what life was like in North Korea, but I was amazed at how it really is.
Helen, I think you chose the perfect week to read this, but I hope that Demick produces an update for this book in light of Kim Jong-Il’s death. I’d love to know how things have changed now his son is in power.
I should read this. I need to read this.
You do!
Hi, I have also read this and agree – it’s brilliant. There’s a couple more North Korea-related books out at the moment, The Orphan Master’s Son and Escape From Camp 19. Barbara Demick has actually praised the former, which is probably the highest praise you can get!
markbooks, Demick praised The Orphan Master’s Son? Really?! I’ve just finished reading it and I was a bit disappointed. Demick’s book is league above Johnson’s.
I’m glad that you got the book from Sue Ryder Charity shop and that you love it enough to give it five stars! I love reading such books, it makes me put my own problems in perspective and not dwell over it as if it’s the biggest thing on earth! I read the library copy and after finishing it I ran off to Waterstone and bought a copy. It’s clean and crisp and haven’t been read for the 2nd time yet.
JoV, I’d forgotten that we got this book together – I’m very pleased we found a copy. Enjoy rereading your new copy
It’s amazing what levels of inhumanity humanity can inflict on each other, in the name of some political idealogy, demoacracy? communism? or might is right. I think this book is an eye opener.
Reading Pleasure, Yes. It is shocking. I think more people should read this to know what is happening in this country.
I’m certainly glad you brought this to my attention. I’m very interested in reading it. I can’t say I know much about North Korea.
Caroline, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book. I hope that you decide to get hold of a copy.
Jackie – here’s the link to Demick’s review of ‘The Orphan Master’s Son’: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/17/orphan-masters-son-adam-johnson-review
mark, Thanks for the link! Yes, very interesting. Reading between the lines I think she has a similar opinion to me. The first half is amazing, the second half not so good (unrealistic) I’ll try to write my review in the next few days.
I’m glad you liked this book — it was extremely well-written, and one of my two favorite non-fiction books from last year. Jeff Talarigo’s The Ginseng Hunter is a decent fiction book I also read last year about North Korean refugees escaping into China, but I give the edge to Nothing to Envy because of the impact of true stories.