Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea Barbara Demick
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

Most people don't even have electricity for more than a few hours a day, as you can see from this image that opens Nothing to Envy. This is a non-fiction work about North Koreans. So, let's start with my criticism, then. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (Four Stars) When I finished this book, I felt the same as I have after reading other books on North Korea. A gripping, astounding view into North Korea through the lives of six ordinary citizens---an important story that has never been told before. Ordinary Lives in North Korea the subtitle said. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick is a powerful book that details the lives of six men and women. Apparently life in North Korea is pretty grim. "Karen White delivers a stunning reading; her character interpretations are confident and well-rounded, and she forges a strong bond with the audience. But these are not ordinary lives at all! I think that Nothing to Envy gives me the perfect opportunity for doing that. €Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea” by Barbara Demick is in my top five! North Korea (officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is at a turning in its history. After a long period of reading nothing but novels and books for entertainment, I finally reminded myself that I am meant to be switching to nonfiction every once in a while. It was not a journey I'd expected to take. In fact, it was on a whim that I downloaded Barbara Demick's affecting nonfiction book, Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, to my Kindle on Saturday night. As a result, North Koreans think that they live in the best country in the world and that, as difficult as their lives may be, everybody else has it much worse. Thank you Jonah, I have also been referred to the February-March issue of Foreign Policy magazine. Nothing-to-envy.jpg December 30, 2009: I've been looking forward to this one.