Nothing to Envy

Ordinary Lives in North Korea

By: Barbara Demick

Narrated by: Karen White

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Barbara Demick's Nothing to Envy follows the lives of six North Koreans over 15 years - a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung and the unchallenged rise to power of his son, Kim Jong-il, and the devastation of a far-ranging famine that killed one-fifth of the population.

Taking us into a landscape never before seen, Demick brings to life what it means to be an average Korean citizen, living under the most repressive totalitarian regime today - an Orwellian world in which radio and television dials are welded to the one government station, a country that is by choice not connected to the Internet, a society in which outward displays of affection are punished, and a police state that rewards informants and where an offhanded remark can send a citizen to the gulag for life. Demick's subjects - a middle-aged party loyalist and her rebellious daughter, an idealistic female doctor, an orphan, and two young lovers - all hail from the same provincial city in the farthest-flung northern reaches of the country. One by one, we witness the moments of revelation, when each realizes that they have been betrayed by the Fatherland and that their suffering is not a global condition but is uniquely theirs.

Nothing to Envy is the first book about North Korea to go deep inside the country, beyond the reach of government censors, and penetrate the mind-set of the average citizen. It is a groundbreaking and essential addition to the literature of totalitarianism.

©2010 Barbara Demick (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A fascinating and deeply personal look at the lives of six defectors from the repressive totalitarian regime of the Republic of North Korea." ( Publishers Weekly)

History Repeats Itself

Barbara Demick, a Los Angeles Times journalist, has painted a harrowing picture of what life has been like in North Korea since the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic in 1948. Her narrative is based on interviews with several defectors from Chongjin, North Korea who told her their life stories and related the huge change in quality of life they experienced following Kim Il-sung's death in 1994. Up until then, everyone at least had a roof over their heads and sufficient food, but the famines of the 90s made what had been difficult living until then seem like ideal times in a country where food, electricity and housing are now considered luxuries even for the well-educated. This novel was published in 2009, prior to Kim Jong-il's death in December 2011, so of particular interest to me was the description of how the North Korean people reacted to the passing of his father Kim Il-sung in 1994, who had been considered as a god, due in no small part to the propaganda which was and still is all-pervasive. It was reported that the recent images of grieving North Koreans seen in the world's media had been staged, and Demick's descriptions of how people (over)reacted to Kim Il-sung's death do support this theory. That the North Koreans should so thoroughly grieve a man who's corruption has only brought them worsening inhumane living conditions show the extent of the oppression of the regime on it's people. All the same, Korean children continue to be taught a song that says they have "nothing to envy" the corrupt Western world, something which they wholeheartedly believe even into adulthood, so shielded are they from reality. Fascinating, and of course, very troubling reading which helps us uncover a bit of the mystery surrounding that part of the world.

The narrator does a good enough job, but I found the strong intake of breath with every sentence very distracting at first and wondered how I'd manage to focus on the narrative. It says a lot about Demick's abilities as a reporter that I was eventually able to block it out.

The Bleak Reality is Extreme but the Defectors Inspire

Whatever your political strength, the suffering of the people in North Korea is a travesty. Barbara Demick puts a face on it.

Compelling and fascinating

Would you consider the audio edition of Nothing to Envy to be better than the print version?

I think I would rather read the book, having listened to the narration.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I really don't have an answer for this. I did not care for the narration.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator had very strange voice modulations and emphasized words strangely. There was perhaps too much emphasis put on the pronunciations of the Korean words. It was like listening to Siri read, with that choppy, slightly monotone manner than computerized speech has.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

I was fascinated by the descriptions of the faith that people had in the North Korean regime to take care of their needs and their unquestioning loyalty to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Terrifying.

Any additional comments?

If vocal quality and narration style is something you really care about, you might want to just read the print version.

Something to Miss

Don't miss this book! Very interesting and sad. Hard to believe how a people can be so misdirected and denied basic human rights. Take a risk and listen to something that is out of your comfort zone. You won't be sorry. This book is informative and well written.

Really great read!

If you could sum up Nothing to Envy in three words, what would they be?

Makes an impact

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The stories for each of the different North Koreans were so well told it made is so easy to visualize and very gripping.

Which scene was your favorite?

The story of Meeh ran who became a teacher and had to see her students starving and dying.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think generally I was outraged listening to what these people have to endure under a dictator. It is so hard to comprehend when you live in a free nation.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend it. It will really give you perspective on life.

Great insight into a secret and horrifying world

Nothing to Envy provides the reader with insight into the opressive regime that controls North Korea and how the individual and family unit has been affected. A true cautionary tale of what happens inside a totalitarian regime and why it is so difficult to change.

Amazing Book

Would you listen to Nothing to Envy again? Why?

Yes- It was such a great explaination of times for those peopel

What did you like best about this story?

The Depth of the Characters and the hard choices before each of them

What does Karen White bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It is easier for me to visualize the descriptions when they are read to me

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

Loved this book and enjoyed the voice of the reader.

fascinating peak into North Korea

Gripping and shocking stories about living under totalitarianism, but not depressing and sometimes even humorous and relatable stories that speak to humans everywhere trying to just get along. She explains how one of the most bizarre dictatorships in modern history was able to happen, and why it will likely fall soon. Demick is very fair as she profiles people to show shortcomings and personalities for what they are. This book is solidly on the side of democracy, but Demick doesn't saint the people she writes about which makes you trust that she is telling you the truth about everything else. Never knew much about Korean history in general before this book, but now I'm hooked. Didn't notice a tick with narrator's breathing as others complained, but listened on speakers and not on headphones which might make the difference.

Wow

it was really beautiful. I learned so much in my heart for North Korea. I didn't want it to end. Thank you

Fascinating Look inside North Korea!

I love this book! It really gave a fascinating in-depth look at what life is like for every day people in North Korea through the stories for the defectors. Though the story was depressing at times it was also hopeful and supremely interesting. I was glued to it to the end.