Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden

Escape from Camp 14 (Center Point Platinum Nonfiction)

by Blaine Harden

A New York Times bestseller, the shocking story of one of the few people born in a North Korean political prison to have escaped and survived. Blaine Harden's latest book, King of Spies, will be available from Viking in Fall 2017.

North Korea is isolated and hungry, bankrupt and belligerent. It is also armed with nuclear weapons. Between 150,000 and 200,000 people are being held in its political prison camps, which have existed twice as long as Stalin's Soviet gulags and twelve times as long as the Nazi concentration camps. Very few born and raised in these camps have escaped. But Shin Donghyuk did.

In Escape from Camp 14, acclaimed journalist Blaine Harden tells the story of Shin Dong-hyuk and through the lens of Shin's life unlocks the secrets of the world's most repressive totalitarian state. Shin knew nothing of civilized existence-he saw his mother as a competitor for food, guards raised him to be a snitch, and he witnessed the execution of his own family. Through Harden's harrowing narrative of Shin's life and remarkable escape, he offers an unequaled inside account of one of the world's darkest nations and a riveting tale of endurance, courage, and survival.

Reviewed by leahrosereads on

5 of 5 stars

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I feel so awkward giving this a star rating that I almost didn't.

I just don't know how to accurately review someone's life. Sure, I've read some biographies and nonfiction, and last year around this time, I read [b:The Complete Maus|15195|The Complete Maus (Maus, #1-2)|Art Spiegelman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327354180s/15195.jpg|1658562]. And it pretty much broke my heart.

This story did the same. It was such an informative and necessary read. I would recommend it to anyone. Harden did a good job at showing the reader Shin's story, while also showing the atrocities that are continuing to go on in North Korea.

It wasn't entertaining, and I didn't find any joy in reading this story. But, it was thought provoking and a reminder to always keep my eyes and heart open, and to never close my mind to the pain and human sufferings that go on all of the world.

When I can, I need to do what I can to help always.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 4 January, 2016: Finished reading
  • 4 January, 2016: Reviewed