Book- JUCHE: The Demon Of Yodok
Author- Adria Carmichael
Rating-4.5/5
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Just when Areum, daughter of a privileged family in the totalitarian state of Choson, thought she was free from her personal prison, her world collapses around her as her family is taken away in the middle of the night to a hell-like camp in the mountains where people who have strayed from the righteous path are brutally re-educated through blood, sweat, tears and starvation.
There she has to fight for survival together with the family she hates and is forced to re-evaluate every aspect of her life until then: her deep resentment toward her twin sister; her view of her father in the face of mounting evidence that he's a traitor with the blood of millions of fellow countrymen on his hands; and even her love and affection for the Great General - the eternal savior and protector of Choson, whom she had always considered her true father.
PROTAGONIST'S CHARACTER SKETCH:
Areum is a future star athlete, who just became a member of national gymnastics team for the Government of Choson – a position that will allow her to leave her family, which she hates.
Areum's character is blinded by the Great General – founder and ruler of Choson - and she believes everything that he and the Regime say. Areum is selfish, arrogant, privileged, and always refuses to accept the reality of the totalitarian society she lives in. At times she turns into a real brat.
When she starts to face some major challenges in her life, like hunger, thirst, surviving and protection in the prison camp they are taken to, her immediate reaction is to resent her family because she isn’t able to live the life she enjoyed as she was raised in an environment where she never had to work to get things she wanted. As part of the elite, everything she wanted was served to her on a gold platter.
The thing I didn't like about this character was that she used to call her mother by her name, it's disrespectful.
Soon, however, life starts to challenge her belief system and question decisions she has made, and you will see a different side of her that is truly surprising.
MY TAKE:
This was my first book on North Korean history and I was really excited about it. The book is classed a YA dystopian novel with a very unique plotline. It's highly controversial that's why I would recommend the readers to not take this story at heart after all, it's fiction!
I am just in astonished by this novel and its author !! Based on the title of this book “Juche” I never ever foresaw the book to be so impactful, but rightly said “never ever judge a book by its cover” or in this case a title because I adore the cover. The story is about Areum who is a total brat up until the time she has to face some unexpected circumstances. I have always heard this phrase "blind faith it's dangerous" it suits the protagonist. She annoying but as you will progress with the book you'll understand the reason behind her attitude. I surprisingly like her character. The most disturbing part for me has to be the one where the protagonist and her family was trying to survive in the camp. It was vividly described and that's why I felt I was there too starving, fighting and trying to survive with them. It was like a whole new world, so different from ours. The world portrayed inside this story will make you feel more thankful of the real world we get to live in. It's fairly sensitive to read, and parts can be somewhat confusing, but it's all worth it not just for the terrifyingly brilliant political messages, but also the terrific characters.
The most commendable impact of the book is that it makes you reanalyze a lot about life and society, there were even times when I questioned the importance of history and what actually makes something reality.
As I said, the book is extremely controversial, the reason being the accuracy of the information. While reading Juche I was wondering how did the author do this?! I am highly impressed. The content is well researched and smartly fetched that's why I am a fan now.
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