A couple of months ago ( yes, I’m quite behind on my posts for this blog-hobby of mine ), I hosted my Book Club for lunch and a discussion based on the true story of a woman’s escape from the North Korea.  Here’s a look back at it.

THE TABLESCAPE

Traditionally Koreans eat their meals at a low table while sitting on cushions on the floor.  However I chose to keep my group comfortable at the normal height of a table and chairs that we are used to.

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A CLOSER LOOK AT TABLE DETAILS

Simple white dishes, white flowers

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I put several maps on the table with cities (circled) that were significant in the book to the author, Hyeonseo Lee.  I thought it would be helpful for our group to see the actual locations in North Korea, South Korea, and China while we discussed the book.

(Source of all maps and photos:  Google)

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School children in North Korea must wear uniforms.  Their school days are filled with the state’s ideology.

They are taught and expected to behave with extreme reverence for Kim Jong-un ( when the author was a girl, it was his father, Kim Jong-il).

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Photos of Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s current Supreme Leader

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“Rocket Man” – President Trump’s ‘affectionate’ nickname for Kim Jong-un

… Kim Jong-un sure does like to use his binoculars

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LUNCH IS SERVED

In keeping with the spirit of the book, I served a Korean dish.

Easy Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef)

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Rice is typically is served

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Fresh fruit may be served as a side dish or possibly for dessert

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Dessert

Since it was autumn, I served a classic fall dessert (not Korean), Carmel Apple Pie

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THE BOOK

Overall this book got high marks from our group.  I rated it only average-plus.  I think one of the main reasons I didn’t give it a higher rating was I expected it to be more like Not Without My Daughter (a book – also a true story) that I read many years ago which I found so intense while I was reading it, I could barely put the book down.  There were also times in this book I felt the Ms. Lee’s detailed escape dragged on too much.

I thought the most interesting parts of the book were reading about everyday life living in North Korea under Kim Jong-il’s reign.