Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
P**N
Fantastic, clever and original format! Well worth reading!!
I ordered this specifically when all the furore broke about the banned film "The Interview" (Seth Rogen/James Franco) as it had been based on this book.I've never read a graphic novel before, and never felt moved to, but this was SO worthwhile! It's full of humour, incredibly drawn - down to the tiniest detail - and you feel as though you've been living his life with him and experienced Pyongyang and the repressive North Korean regime personally.My intention is to read more of his books, as they're very clever, very thought-provoking and contain the occasional funny 'quiz', giving even more insight into his experiences.I wholeheartedly recommend it.
N**T
An Amazing Book
I really enjoyed reading this book and I learnt a lot of things about North Korea that I did not know before. His stories, written almost like they are diary entries, are very interesting and its fascinating to see how he changes from the start to the end of the book, progressively becoming bolder. The art work is very simple so don't expect anything amazing in that department but it doesn't need to be because the narration and text drive the story.The only negative thing I can say about this is that a lot of chapters just fizzle out, meaning there is no amazing conclusion to what happened at the end of each tale that he is telling from his trip. But still I very much enjoyed the journey he took me on and I will be reading the rest of the books in this series.
B**D
Fascinating Insight
A fascinating travelogue into the world's most secretive state, albeit one now dated a good decade ago when Kim Jong Il still presided. This story of a French-born Canadian animator undertaking a supervisory job in North Korea would be an interesting read for anyone interested in the country in any form, but Delisle's brilliant graphics and sense of gentle humour make it even more enjoyable, and more accessible and fun for people less into the cultural/political side of things.This is a graphic novel aimed at adults, but it is worth mentioning that there is nothing unsuitable for older children here (no sex, no violence, no bad language)
T**E
Funny and interesting to read
I took this on holiday with me and it really is worth a read.The drawings by Delisle are, as always, impeccable and humorous. I haven't been to North Korea, so I have no idea if what he says is true, but he does express himself in a very genuine and understandable way.The jokes and side-thoughts by Delisle add to the read; it's a really enjoyable book. I am not a comic book or graphic novel fan... this was my first one and I have bought another of Delisle's books to continue whetting the appetite.
G**G
Really clever
I've bought my first book a month ago (the one about North Korea). Two weeks later I had already bought and read all of his books. It is extraordinary that he had been to so many countries where I worked and his ability to summarise all the details of the local life in such an elegant and simple way is extraordinary. Guy is probably the best cartoonist alive.I think this is the first book where he's comfortable with his own style (later on he'd follow the same style in Bhurma and Jerusalem). It is a great pleasure to read and to admire his art. The story itself is great and a spot on summary of life in the country.
C**A
Very nice!
I wanted to learn a bit more about North Korea in a relax way and this book met my expectations! The draws are very nice and it has a lot of interesting information about the misterious country. I read it in some hours and I highly recommend it to my friends!! Worth to buy
C**H
Magnificent
North Korea has become the centre of the world's attention ever since Trump took office and started his whole military-posturing thing; Delisle's magnificent book shows what the reality of life is there for people on the outside looking in, and I think that this book is rapidly becoming an indispensable text. Magnifiique!
P**P
Recommended. The fact he doesn't attempt to analyse
A lovely, observational depiction with gentle humour about a tricky subject. Recommended. The fact he doesn't attempt to analyse, but just naively reports what happens; diary-like, makes this a different take on the topic.
V**R
Bom livro
É incrível e assustador mas esse relato de viagem mostra como distopias clássicas como "1984" e "Fahrenheit 541" podem se tornar realidade.
M**D
Learning about North Korea
It’s interesting to learn that the subway is buried 90 meters underground and can be used as an atomic shelter among other things. I’d recommend this comic book to anyone desirous to get more familiar with North Korea, here portrayed from inside with some distant criticism.
M**I
ok
Sent an used copy.
W**H
If you cant film it, draw it
This book has gotten gazilion positive reviews, so it doesnt matter what am saying here. In a overtly protected North Korea, outsiders are limited to take pictures. So the best way to describe the situation there is through drawings.
B**E
Amazing graphic Memoir!
Canadian animator cum cartoonist Guy Delisle's graphic memoir of his two month stay for work in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea is probably the only illustrated travelogue of its kind capturing the absurdities of a totalitarian communist regime which shouldn't be existing in today's day and age- as a foreigner who has come for work Guy can only travel accompanied by a translator and guide....entertainment, food, travel, shopping everything is so stale and restricted that its totally stifling and the near obsessive way in which the dictator and his son are eulogised and worshipped in school text books, museums, all over the city and countryside, over loudspeakers, as portraits on walls and pins on everyone's chests can make you go crazy....indeed the North Korean civilians who survive and not sent to camps have been so throughly brainwashed that they are scared to lift a finger out of turn...Guy turns the story of this depressing nation into a black grey-in-pencil comedy through his everyday experiences with North Koreans, the city, the sights he gets to see and his experience working in an animation studio in Pyongyang ...a comic novel you shouldn't miss since in all likelihood you will never visit this country! Am now thinking of buying his Burma and Jerusalem Chronicles too!!!
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