Every Sunday we are taking a look at the world of books. I read a lot and always want to share my opinions on what I read, so I thought it would be fun to write reviews. Today we are looking at a travel book about a really interesting country…
North Korea Journal (2019)
Michael Palin
Synopsis
The book behind the Channel 5 documentary – a glimpse of life inside the world’s most secretive country, as told by Britain’s best-loved travel writer.
In May 2018, former Monty Python stalwart, author and intrepid globetrotter Michael Palin spent two weeks in the notoriously secretive Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, a cut-off land without internet or phone signal, where the countryside has barely moved beyond a centuries-old peasant economy, but where the cities have gleaming skyscrapers and luxurious underground train stations.
His resulting documentary for Channel 5 was widely acclaimed. Now he shares his day-by-day diary of his visit, in which he describes not only what he saw – and his fleeting views of what the authorities didn’t want him to see – but recounts the conversations he had with the country’s inhabitants, talks candidly about his encounters with officialdom, and records his musings about a land wholly unlike any other he has ever visited – one that inspires fascination and fear in equal measure.
Written with Palin’s trademark warmth and wit, and illustrated with beautiful colour photographs throughout, the journal offers a rare insight into the North Korea behind the headlines.
– from Waterstones
Positive Points
This is a book that is a really insightful read as it goes into depth about North Korea and Michael Palin’s adventures for the television show. It tells you about different areas and also things such as the food, the train journeys and the people that he meets along the way.
Negative Points
Even in this book it feels like parts of the narrative have had to be edited to make sure that it keeps the country happy.
Overall Review
This book has a lot of sections that make it a really interesting read and you feel like you are learning along the way. You do wish at times it was a little more in depth but apart from that I would say give it a go.
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