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)

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What made the experience of listening to Nothing to Envy the most enjoyable?

It was an informative and interesting look into a world much different than our own

Engrossing

This story was so engrossing, I forgot I was on my treadmill. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to the people in the story. Fascinating.

Still Eye Opening

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Even though I've listened to NPR stories about the severe, authoritarian North Korean government, I really had no idea about what was/is happening there. I can't imagine crying more at the death of my president than that of my spouse and/or parents. Especially if I was out eating weeds and starving to death while my government wouldn't give me rice because it had been donated by the U.S. (our flag on the bag).

What other book might you compare Nothing to Envy to and why?

I might compare Nothing to Envy to 1984 because of the way citizens had to hide their feelings about their government. I'm sure there is a better book to compare it to (fiction vs. non-fiction) but I'm not claiming to be "well-read".

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

The narrator, Karen White, does an excellent job of bringing these folk's lives out, without over or under doing the painfulness. I would have to say that she was the perfect choice for this book because if the person had been monotone, I would have struggled listening to the history (as I sometimes struggle with non-fiction keeping me awake).

Any additional comments?

I really hope that people will read this book, if for no other reason than to appreciate their own lives more (however, please don't think that sentence means that this book shouldn't be read for its quality all by itself--It is amazing what Demick has been able to show with her storytelling ability). The U.S. government is corrupt but at least we can still catch them at it and go after them.

The real North Korea

I’m always interested in stories from those who lived in North Korea. This was well written and entertaining. My only complaint is the narrator gasps for air as she tells the story.

Powerful stories of North Korean Refugees

The book focuses on several refugees and their families from Chongjin, fleeing the deplorable conditions brought on by the famine in the 1990's. The author spends a little time establishing the main character's lives and conditions under the pre-famine dictatorship before giving a detailed and thorough accounting of the social and economic collapse of the DPRK during the famine. The stories are heartbreaking and all too familiar for those who've studied or lived on the Korean peninsula. Outstanding, emotional narration by Karen White covering Barbara Demick's award-winning prose.

good

loved it. incredible to see north Korean lifestyle. very sad at parts, "happy" at the end

Eye Opening Perspective

Humbling and depressing perspective into the personal, cultural & economic impacts of North Korean social authoritarianism.

Great story

Simply put this was a great book. The stories of the people are compelling. The narrator was pleasant to listen to. And learning about how frickin’ miserable it is in North Korea was as surprising as it was not. You know it’s gonna be bad but you just don’t really know.

Heartbreaking and Eye Opening

As I listened to this book, it truly feels like we are living in parallel universe. It is unbelievably insane and unnecessary the hardships and experience North Koreans go through. This book was brilliantly made - described situations respectfully while also maintaining the humanity of its focus.

Fascinating Portraits

"Ordinary lives," perhaps, but not ordinary people. The description of life in North Korea during the famine years is riveting, and the individual stories are deeply touching and ultimately inspiring. If this were a work of fiction, it would be a great novel. But as always, real life is more fascinating than fiction. This is journalism at its best.