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The World Is Bigger Now: An American Journalist's Release From Captivity In North Korea . . . A Remarkable Story Of Faith, Family, And Forgiveness (2010)

by Euna Lee(Favorite Author)

3.64 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0307716139 (ISBN13: 9780307716132)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Broadway

review 1: Euna Lee was one of the American Korean journalists who were captured and kept in captivity by the North Koreans. She was ultimately freed through the intervention of Bill Clinton after five months in captivity and conviction as a "criminal" under the North Koreans.The details are a bit overdone with her emotional state and missing family. She makes a great case that there are good people in all countries and she met some there who had a humanitarian streak in them. At the same time, there is indoctrination done everywhere and the North Koreans have raised it to a new level.It was an interesting read and worth the time.
review 2: Euna Lee chronicles the events that resulted in her captivity in North Korea, her experience as a captive and her ultimate release. W... morehile there are good and important parts in this book, I felt too much space was devoted to never sent letters home, text relating to missing/loving family, prayers and guilt feelings. These could might comprise one third of the book.Lee, appropriately begins with her life. She tells of her family and how she came to be a Current TV journalist. The next part on the North Korean refugees took me right in. Lee and her partner Laura Ling uncovered important information. I am sure there was more to say about this and would have liked to read it.It is hard to tell if they were brave or foolhardy to walk out on the semi-frozen Tumen River, but I believe Lee when she says it was her career orientation. She wanted to make the best documentary, and the river crossing footage was important in telling the story. The footsteps of the guide (disguised by wearing her shoes) was a creative way to illustrate the peril of crossing the river and would have been a stirring segment.The best segments of Lee's captivity are the reports of her living conditions and the types of interrogation and intimidation she suffered. Lee emphasizes her reactions to it all, her crying, illnesses, fear, etc. There is a lot of text (mentioned earlier) devoted to unsent and received letters and her prayers. While she honestly tells of her emotions regarding Laura Ling, she only lightly shows how this relationship was manipulated. For instance, the book could use a report of her and Ling comparing notes to see how much NK received from each of them, and how much had to come from outside sources.The description of the people and place was rudimentary. Did she see any other prisoners? While it might be dangerous to Sunshine to divulge a relationship (which is hinted at with the bouquet and the uncertain good bye protocol) something of her condition, her age, her role/status in the prison would be of interest. In the end, she mentions a TV near her cell. If it was there the whole time, what did the guards watch (Lee does speak Korean)? What was the daily conversation of the guards? It seemed that they were living there too (almost like the prisoners) but this is not clear. Officer Lee seems to be good at his job as an interrogator. Lee calls him a "good person". With the advantage of sharing his native tongue, I would expect more nuance in his description, if only some commentary on how he learned English and keeps his skills honed. Did she learn anything about his "career" and how he got into it?As a journalist, I was surprised that Lee seemed to have no interest in the negotiations regarding her release (before or after the fact). She says nothing of the role of the Swedish ambassador. Why did Officer Lee tell her to beg him to help? How did it happen that Bill Clinton was selected to escort her home? What did the US give up to get her out? Even if this is classified, there should be some acknowledgment of the effort. Similarly, there is no follow up on whatever consequences might have fallen those who's names and images wound up in the hands of the North Koreans.This book will be of interest to those interested in North Korea. It would also be good for introducing young people into the methods and risks of good journalism. less

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