For today's story, I am going to be talking about this new book that I just finished called, "A River of Darkness". I think that this an amazing memoir of someone's life, and it's in the first person too. Although the author isn't someone particularly known throughout most people the reason he's special is that he's one of the few people that have ever escaped North Korea. Before, the security of people trying to escape the wretched country wasn't top notch, now Kim Jong Un is trying his best to prevent anyone from leaving the place. In addition, folks that try to head towards China will be immediately sent back because North Korea and China had a treaty ever since the 1900s. Before South Korea was in the same place as their Northern version but after a while, their economy has massively grown and is an amazing tourist attraction for folks from other countries.
Anyway, I just wanted to give you some background information about the history before summarizing, "Masaji Ishikawa's" life. So Masaji is actually a native to the Japenese with his mother and 3 sisters. However, his father is from South Korea and was said to be one of the most terrifying people in the neighborhood (remember, back then fists and muscle were the definition of "strong"). Anyway, one day the North Korean leader "Kim II Sung" invited all Koreans back to North Korea, promising them countless amounts of paradise and good food. Masaji was very skeptical and so was his mother. The father wanted to go to North Korea because it was his native country and since some of his pals were going too. Unfortunately, once they boarded the ship and caught sight of the place everyone already knew the mistake they had made. It looked so desolate with barren land and nothing "good".
Masaji and his family were given dog meat as a token for deciding to come to North Korea and he hated it. His father didn't seem to care and wolfed down everything like a pig. Later on, the neighbors in the village they lived in were jealous because of all the Japenese products that they had. To Masaji and his family they were barely called, "expensive", but to the natives, they were "luxuries" that could be sold for food. Since most children need to go to school Masaji was a bit nervous since he was the only Japenese student in this academy. When he got there all the kids started calling him, "Japenese Bastard" because they were jealous of him or thought he didn't belong to them. When Masaji came home he saw that his father was becoming a lot nicer towards his mother and sisters ever since they returned to North Korea. He is happy for the both of them.
Unfortunately, after 2 months his father realizes how he was deceived by Kim II Sung and should have listened to Masaji and his wife. The man should have never tried to go ahead and come to North Korea knowing that the leader was always untrustworthy towards the beginning. And for once in his life, he actually started crying. Masaji never saw his father crying since he was always called, "The Tiger" back in Japan for being tough, ferocious, and violent. So Masaji was actually thinking that his father was learning his ways and starting to become more sensible. At school, the teachers were trying to brainwash the students into believing that Kim II Sung knew what he was doing and that he was the best leader. They also talking about the U.S imperialists and how they were the reason North Korea was disbanded with South Korea in the first place. Masaji wouldn't let himself fall for lies and couldn't to pretend he believed the teachers. But what would his life be like in North Korea from now on?
Anyway, I just wanted to give you some background information about the history before summarizing, "Masaji Ishikawa's" life. So Masaji is actually a native to the Japenese with his mother and 3 sisters. However, his father is from South Korea and was said to be one of the most terrifying people in the neighborhood (remember, back then fists and muscle were the definition of "strong"). Anyway, one day the North Korean leader "Kim II Sung" invited all Koreans back to North Korea, promising them countless amounts of paradise and good food. Masaji was very skeptical and so was his mother. The father wanted to go to North Korea because it was his native country and since some of his pals were going too. Unfortunately, once they boarded the ship and caught sight of the place everyone already knew the mistake they had made. It looked so desolate with barren land and nothing "good".
Masaji and his family were given dog meat as a token for deciding to come to North Korea and he hated it. His father didn't seem to care and wolfed down everything like a pig. Later on, the neighbors in the village they lived in were jealous because of all the Japenese products that they had. To Masaji and his family they were barely called, "expensive", but to the natives, they were "luxuries" that could be sold for food. Since most children need to go to school Masaji was a bit nervous since he was the only Japenese student in this academy. When he got there all the kids started calling him, "Japenese Bastard" because they were jealous of him or thought he didn't belong to them. When Masaji came home he saw that his father was becoming a lot nicer towards his mother and sisters ever since they returned to North Korea. He is happy for the both of them.
Unfortunately, after 2 months his father realizes how he was deceived by Kim II Sung and should have listened to Masaji and his wife. The man should have never tried to go ahead and come to North Korea knowing that the leader was always untrustworthy towards the beginning. And for once in his life, he actually started crying. Masaji never saw his father crying since he was always called, "The Tiger" back in Japan for being tough, ferocious, and violent. So Masaji was actually thinking that his father was learning his ways and starting to become more sensible. At school, the teachers were trying to brainwash the students into believing that Kim II Sung knew what he was doing and that he was the best leader. They also talking about the U.S imperialists and how they were the reason North Korea was disbanded with South Korea in the first place. Masaji wouldn't let himself fall for lies and couldn't to pretend he believed the teachers. But what would his life be like in North Korea from now on?
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