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A River in Darkness

By: Masaji Ishikawa, Risa Kobayashi - translator, Martin Brown - translator
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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Publisher's summary

A New York Times bestseller and Amazon Charts Most Read and Most Sold book.

A Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Memoir & Autobiography.

The harrowing true story of one man’s life in - and subsequent escape from - North Korea, one of the world’s most brutal totalitarian regimes.

Half-Korean, half-Japanese, Masaji Ishikawa has spent his whole life feeling like a man without a country. This feeling only deepened when his family moved from Japan to North Korea when Ishikawa was just thirteen years old, and unwittingly became members of the lowest social caste. His father, himself a Korean national, was lured to the new Communist country by promises of abundant work, education for his children, and a higher station in society. But the reality of their new life was far from utopian.

In this memoir translated from the original Japanese, Ishikawa candidly recounts his tumultuous upbringing and the brutal thirty-six years he spent living under a crushing totalitarian regime, as well as the challenges he faced repatriating to Japan after barely escaping North Korea with his life. A River in Darkness is not only a shocking portrait of life inside the country but a testament to the dignity - and indomitable nature - of the human spirit.

©2000 by Masaji Ishikawa. (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2017 by Risa Kobayashi and Martin Brown.
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What listeners say about A River in Darkness

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Cruel reality of humanity.

Read it none stop, as a father I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be in a situation like that. It's so sad. It served me to look at my life and remember that I have so much more than I deserve. I hope someday people that have gone through horrible things will be somehow compensated. recommended if you would like to get a lil perspective on life.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting, Heartbreaking and Inspiring

When I rate this 5 stars, an "I Love It" box pops up. It should say "I'm 5-Star Horrified by This". Incredibly shocking to think people still have to un-live like this. What a story and what a man. Utmost respect for the author and his family. Read it and weep, though his unwavering hope for a better life is truly inspiring,

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Haunting and humbling

Whether your first book on an NK defector's life or like me the 12th it makes you want to weep for what you have and what they never did.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A River in Darkness

This was a sad book, a heart breaker. It makes you feel like you should do something but what. I feel so blessed to have the life I have.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An amazing story of survival and family!

This book was full of gut wrenching moments and painful heartaches. Though everything this man went through was true you can't help but wish and wonder what life would be for him if he could have been with his family in Japan after escaping that dreadful place. Regardless I was relieved he and many others have escaped to freedom and can live their lives. This book really opened my eyes as to what goes on in North Korea then and even now. I have watched videos and read stories online, but nothing compared to Mr. Ishikawa's journey through hell and back. (Much respect to you Sir!)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Man's Tale of Hell on Earth

An extraordinary tale of a man's struggles in life. A hell on Earth. An unfortunate tale of how many struggle through life today.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Truly horrifying.

Reminds you to appreciate the good things you have in life. Also to not trust Kim Jung Un!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic story

A very interesting look into the life of a person that has truly suffered. How the class system works in Japan and Korea. Snd how it brands a person for no reason at all but for where they are from.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Can’t Stop

So riveting!
Its such a personal story on the NorthKorea no one knew about. Sad that such a situation may still exist.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Overwhelming

The devastating cruelty of communist dictatorships is born by simple people. As a political refugee from communist Cuba I can relate to the anguish and desire to escape. I too left Cuba when I was 13. However I was lucky to leave with my family so the author's story is too me overwhelming.

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