Thoughts on Barbara Demick's 'Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea'

I often find myself, when I watch or read the news, wondering what it must be like to live in the oppressive regimes of the world. How can the small number of oligarchs led by a 'national leader' manage to keep millions of people living in fear?

The book, Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick, doesn't really talk about that. Not directly, at least. But what it did to me was leave me engaged and ultimately feeling happy and heartbroken for people I will clearly never meet.

Demick writes in a narrative style that feels more like a story, but bouncing back and forth between each narrative, neatly tying each one into the other. Of course, when you live in a country like North Korea even those who may have considered themselves 'well off' are essentially living in a similar manner. That is, living in fear. And those not living in fear live brainwashed by the regime. Demick introduces the characters in each 'story' within their relationships to each other, leaving the reader wondering how the relationships will evolve, not to mention which ones will defect to China or the south.

As a journalist in South Korea for nearly a decade, Barbara Demick bases the book on research, trips to the pariah state, and multiple interviews with North Korean defects. One is of the secret relationship of a young couple from different social standing. (yes, another reminder that communist regimes have social classes) Their innocent romance carried on for years in the dark symbolized a life of repression as well as the energy crisis in the north. (which Demick cleverly points out the dark spot that represents North Korea when looking at a night view of Asia) We learn about the genuine love some North Koreas had for their 'Great Leader', first Kim Il-sun followed by Kim Jong-il. (the book needs to be updated to include Kim Jong-un) Needless to say the sincerity was built on propaganda, information and mind control. This comes from the story of a woman and her devotion to the regime and tireless efforts to 'do the right thing', until that is, she defects to the South. It is intriguing to read of the transition. The book certainly does have it's gripping moments, and not all at the points in which some of the individuals flee the regime.

Throughout the book we learn of the regime's reactionary policies as leadership dealt with the end of the Cold War, strained relations with China and Russia (coming from the detent that developed between Russia and China later on), energy crises, chronic famine, and the corruption that kept the economy spinning. Moreover, we learn about the resilience of the characters. Two million North Koreans died of starvation or hunger-related illnesses, but reading of the strategies so may used to survive is incredible.

The book ends on a review of the lives of the defectors several years after entering the south. Though an individual in a more democratic regime (I use the term 'democratic' loosely) may be compelled to feel happy for those who have defected and 'beat the regime' by making it out of the country, the epilogue shares some grim reminders that the ending isn't necessarily a happy one. The Koreas have been divided for so long the question remains whether a via reunification can happen, let alone whether it's universally desired. Learning of the challenges facing defectors is a true eye-opener. The emotional and psychological trauma continues on for many defectors, for a variety of reasons.

How can a person like myself, who grew up in Canada, can even begin to empathize?