great book

great book powerful and heartbreaking well written and translated l listened for three nights in a row an enjoyable but difficult experience highly recommend this book

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Brutal, horrific & necessary

This is not an easy listen. The suffering of the author, his family, the whole nation of North Korea are laid out in uncompromising honesty. But it is definitely worth hearing. Even if you think you know about the problems the country has, this deeply personal account of a much bigger tragedy is eye-opening.

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Shocking revelation!

Finished this book very quickly as I couldn't leave it. Heart-rending account of a father's stark choice to try and ensure his family's survival.

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Bleak, brutal and bitter.

Firstly I wold like to address the comments of poor narration by other reviewers. I felt he was extremely good , certainly not flippant. I personally think that when language is translated from one to another there is sometimes an essence of that culture and language that is lost in translation.
Now to this harrowing but still amazing book. It describes very vividly the life of Masaji his brief time in Japan with his violent Korean father and gentile Japanese mother, then their return to the paradise of north Korea which they had been promised.
The utter desolation hit me when they crossed the bridge over to North Korea and the Red Cross workers were telling them if they did not want to go they could go back now.
Masajis life is more than harsh and he describes his schooling, growing up, family and life in general with brutal honest simplicity. I do not doubt what he says is true and wonder were he found the strength after all those years to leave, mainly because at that point they were starving to death.
Mans inhumanity to man is astonishing and I kept thinking of books I have read of WW2 concentration camps and felt there was little or no difference.
The corruption and propaganda of the North Korean regime brainwashing and disparaging its people is unbelievable and I feel for those still living in this desolate inhospitable climate in the 21st century.

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heart breaking. a story I'll never forget

I have read many books from North Korean defectors over the years while all are tragic and heart breaking this book is one that will live with me forever. I rarely cry but Masaji Ishikawa's story had me as a crying mess on more than one occasion.

you won't regret listing to this story and it's one that we should all listen to. I'll hug my family a little tighter tonight. thank you for sharing this with the world Masaji Ishikawa

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An utterly bleak story of an invisible man

Masaji Ishikawa's story is truly soul-crushing, the level of trauma is beyond comprehension, therefore read it with caution.

Ishikawa describes his life under the North Korean regime as gruelling, horrifically terrifying, and there are some completely hopeless moments where you think why even bother anymore.

His journey begins in Japan, the child of a Japanese mother and Korean father, he was forced at a young age to move to North Korea under the pretence of "returning" to his motherland, though he never believed so. His father, an originally extremely violent man became pacified as he realised the perilous situation he bought his family into. But they soon face the truth and brutality of their circumstances.

The narrator defects at a much later stage in life, living around 30 years under the dictatorship, but leaving his family behind. He questions whether he made the right decision in the end as the consequences are revealed and the reader is left writhing in agony at his pain.

It is not an easy read, but it is important to understand the level of complexity and the reality of the situation. An absolute must read.

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Harrowing

A harrowing story vividly told. I was holding back tears in more than one occasion

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Tragic, heartbreaking, incomprehensible suffering

A life of such tragedy that it is incomprehensible most of us. The story is like that of a movie, only it is all too real for so many people, living through it day by day, right now. I don't know how he carried on in those moments of absolute torment and hardship. I also don't know how he continues to to this day, with all that history. I hope he is as well as he can be , thank you for telling your story

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Heartbreaking story of courage

Masaji is one of the bravest man in the world. It is heartbreaking to learn (Yup I had no idea, so forever grateful for this book) how North Korea attracted people onto their territory. The discrimination is mind-blowing. An absolute read. Teens should read this at school.

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A peek into N Korea at an earlier time than most defection accounts

I have somewhat of an obsession with the accounts of defectors of North Korea, what sets this book apart is that it charts life in N Korea during the 1970’s, 80’s and into the 90’s. This book is much more about what it was like in N Korea during this time than the defection journey itself, but offers fascinating insight into the regime under Kim Il Sung. I think, The Girl with Seven Names and, In order to live, were better written and more compelling stories, a river in darkness is still well worth a read/listen.

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