A quote that relates specifically to our book group and this blog is found on page 197.
"The level of repression in North Korea was so great that no organized resistance could take root. Any anti-regime activity would have terrible consequences for the protester, his immediate family, and all other know relatives...It was impossible to start a book club or conduct a political discussion. Any free exchange of ideas would invariable lead to forbidden territory. In any group of three or four people, there had to be at least one spy for the various intelligence agencies."
I made a list of the individuals whose stories were shared in the book. I wanted to remember and acknowledge their names (knowing most are probably aliases), hoping that in some small way, I would be able to honor their suffering and their resilience.
Mi-Ran, a teacher
her father Tae-Woo, died in 1997, came to North Korea as a POW
her sisters Mi-Hee and Mi-Sook, both arrested, sent to prison, probably died there
her sister So-Hee, who actually started the whole process to leave North Korea
her brother Sok-ju
her mother (couldn't find her name)
Jun-Sang, a scholar & scientist (Mi-Ran's boyfriend)
Song Hee-Suk (Mrs. Song), a highly resourceful woman
her husband Chang Bo, who starved to death
Oak-Hee, her oldest daughter, who left North Korea without her 2 children
her second daughter (didn't find her name), eventually left with her husband and sons
Yong-Hee, her third daughter, eventually left with her young daughter
Nam-Oak, her son, who also starved to death
Kim Jieun (Dr. Kim), a female doctor
Kim Hyuck, an orphan, a survivor, a hoodlum of sorts
Even after reading the book, I can't imagine the lives of the people in North Korea at this time. Or, maybe the problem is that I can imagine their lives. I am so humbled. I don't know what else to say.