The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee

I appear to be on a non-fiction kick of some kind.  It's weird, I sometimes seem to get really into one topic and I'll read everything I can on that topic - I did it at one point with Henry VIII, with the Fundamentalist Mormon Cult, Evangelical Christianity/Quiverfull cults, and North Korea.  So, when a new book comes out on any of these topics I am all over it and I was very excited when this title came across my desk.

I've read a few other memoirs by people who have escaped North Korea but this was the first by someone who enjoyed a relatively privileged life there before they left.  I think the largest difference is that this is the first time I've heard someone talk about their strong desire (and attempt to make plans) to move back.  Obviously, this plan never happened and I can't think it would have ended well, but still.

Another thing that struck me was how easy their family lead their double life as stand up North Korean citizens and also ran a successful smuggling business - and how there was no conflict of interest in their minds.  Obviously, I have never lived in communism but this is a common theme I've heard of from people who have.  It seems that "communism" (and I don't think we can really call North Korea communist, but that's another conversation) in practice can't meet the needs of it's people adequately and the need for a grey or black market is part of the system - it's how the people get their needs met.

Anyway, this was a well written book by a woman who has lived an incredible life and has shown herself to be tough as nails - she's about my age and now I feel like a schmuck only speaking one language and complaining about my life.  So thanks for the public shaming, Hyeonseo Lee.  Four illegal South Korean pop CDs out of five.