Jia

A Novel of North Korea

De: Hyejin Kim

Narrado por: Ruth Oakes

Timely and unique, Jia is the first novel about present-day North Korea to be published in the West. It is easily a YA crossover novel as Jia follows the adventures of an orphaned young woman, Jia in the 1970s and 1980s - bitterly tumultuous times for North Korea and China. Jia has the grace of a dancer but the misfortune of coming from a politically suspect family.

©2007 Cleis Press (P)2012 Cleis Press

Very timely and enlightening story.

Would you listen to Jia again? Why?

Yes. I feel I will get even more from this story and painful history.

What did you like best about this story?

An entertaining way to learn history.

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

She brings the characters to life.

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

Too many to focus on one.

Horrible reader, mediocre story

Would you try another book from Hyejin Kim and/or Ruth Oakes?

I am positive I'll never read another Ruth Oakes book. I'm also pretty certain that I'll stear clear of a Hyejin Kim book. But then again, I'm a sucker for stories from North Korea, so I might give her another try if she'll write another North Korea book.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Ruth Oakes?

Anyone! Anyone is better! Her hoarse voice is totally annoying. Also, the narrative was full of faults. Ruth Oaks kept repeating sentences, so I think they have forgotten to edit the cut...

Any additional comments?

The story about Jia is very mediocre. It is interesting to read about growing up in North Korea, but the characters are so flat and impossible to believe in.