The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea

As tensions between the U.S. and North Korea escalate, I cannot fathom a more pertinent story to inform the rest of the world of the plight of North Koreans...in their own country as well as much of Asia, and the rest of the world really. A very intimate and honest reflection regarding self-discovery, human rights and the experiences that have shaped her own attitudes towards others. I honestly cannot think of a single thing I would change (with the exception of only a couple minor typos...inconsequential really). Not only is the story incredible and all-consuming but it is so totally well written from start to finish. Thoroughly engaging and easy to follow. Absolutely void of ANY lulls which, for me anyway, is almost unheard of! I did not endeavor to read this in one sitting but it pretty much turned out that way because I literally could NOT tear myself away. The only breaks I took were self-enforced so that I could take a breather from the intense storyline. And no, it was not lost on me that this brave young woman and her family could not just stop to take a breather while living this gut-wrenching saga. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! I almost NEVER give a book a 5-star review because, let's face it, there's always room for improvement, right? Not so with this one. Easiest 5-star rating EVER! Now, I've got to catch up on some much needed sleep I missed while immersed in this woman's quest for the dream of freedom, claiming her own basic human rights and reunion with her family. But before I go, a personal note to Ms Lee. Well done and welcome out of the darkness that was your birth country. You are an extraordinary young woman, daughter, sister, and world citizen with a voice for oppressed persons the world over. My life has forever been changed and challenged after reading your story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Ms. Lee (not her real name in order to protect family & friends back in North Korea) clearly loves her native country but loves her family more than anything. As a girl, her family moved from their home town of Hyesan to the much larger city called Hamhung. This metropolis is where a synthetic fibre used in uniforms called Vinylon was invented. In a bit of unintentional irony she tells us that it held dye badly, shrank easily, was stiff and uncomfortable to wear, but was marvelously fire resistant. TV in North Korea features programs devoted to bland music, government propaganda, or soap operas that always have an underlying political message. The enemies of NK are South Korea, Japan, and worst of all, us Yankee bastards. Western style music is illegal and anyone found possessing cassettes or DVDs containing such music is severely punished. When the Great Leader Kim Il-sung died in July 1994, people were photographed in large groups weeping for their loss. Ms. Lee was in grade school at the time and the children were also expected to mourn the loss. Kids were punished if it was detected or thought by authorities that they didn’t cry hard enough. In grade school there were classes dealing with communism and being a good citizen. The children had exercises where they had to denounce another student for some infraction which could often lead to trouble for the accused and his or her family. Ms. Lee and another girl made a pact; they would alternately denounce each other in such a way that it would not get either one in trouble. Ms. Lee eventually decides to escape and spends several years in China, learning Mandarin and trying to improve her life’s quality. When she takes the plunge and arrives in Seoul she is granted asylum but only after a long and intense interrogation. Asylum granted, she had to start her education from ground zero because her earlier schooling was vastly inferior. She also witnessed the shock of other North Korean women students when they learned North Korea had invaded the south, not the reverse, and were beaten back by the hated Yankee bastards. They realized that everything they were told by their Great and Dear Leaders was nothing but lies. This is a gripping, harrowing and ultimately inspirational tale of one woman’s courage and perseverance to better her own life and well as the lives of her mother and brother. The book is more than a simple memoir and reads like an exciting mystery that you can’t put down until you reach the end.

It was both interesting and informative to learn about life in North Korea. I like that aspect of the book very much. I felt that the author told her story well, for the most part, but it does leave you wondering how anyone could be so 'lucky' in so many instances. I'm sure it wasn't just 'luck', but the way the story is written, that's what it seems like. She always has just enough money to get out of a situation, or meets just the right person, or escapes an inevitable disaster. True, there are many hardships, and times when it takes her months or even years to resolve a problem, but it almost starts to feel miraculous. I do applaud her bravery and ability to solve problems, as well as her ability to endure hard times and maintain what seemed to be a positive outlook most of the time. Overall, a good read and some history that all of us should know about.

The book should have ended when she got to Seoul. The fact that it was worth reading up to that point is what kept it above one star. After that, it's pure garbage and disappoinment. It's not hard to read between the lines and realize what a self-serving person she is, and how her only accomplishment and identity in life are being someone who left North Korea. I am an emigrant and worked hard to establish myself in a new and unfamiliar country for the sake of a better life; she used men for support and money constantly, and seems to whine about the most insignificant of struggles (and likely exaggerates and lies about much of her account). Some people truly struggled to get out of North Korea, and their reward for years of abuse and sometimes loss of all human rights was brutal death. She barely touches on those people's experience. It's insulting that she thought it was necessary to write this book. As I said at the start, if she had stopped at the part where she got to Seoul, I would have left with a favorable impression of this book. She's clearly a good liar; she could have just said the story ended there, then went on with her little TED talks. Rarely does a book leave me with such a bad aftertaste.

I loved everything about this book. As a 20 years-old European Boy unfortunately I knew very little about the North Korean’s Regime. The writer is one of the bravest woman I’ve ever read about and I’m so sorry about everything she and her family have been through BUT extremely happy they succeeded in doing it. Such a great story, it shows the cruelty of the regime and the courage and genius of a girl who chooses FREEDOM. Highly recommended. Read the book. Educate yourself. Feel blessed to have freedom in your life.

Received in perfect conditions.

such a heartwarming story for freedom

Very good read and kept me interested from the first page. It was a shame that she was separated from her Mum and Brother for so long but all worked out in the end despite the tribulations leaving a Communist State.