Name: Marta's review of North Korea Journal by Michael Palin
Item: North Korea Journal
Rating: 5
Author: Marta

Michael Palin

THE BOOK BEHIND THE HIT 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 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.

North Korea Journal

Alex lee 

Marta

In the book "North Korea Journal", Michael Palin describes his experience in North Korea while working on a documentary project. It was my first time reading a book about North Korea and I hadn't heard of Michael Palin before. Until then I had mostly read about South Korea with only occasional mentions of North Korea's culture.
Even though I read mostly fiction, I really enjoyed learning about North Korea. Michael Palin provided detailed insight into his trip to North Korea. I appreciate his openness towards the North Korean culture and the way he approached difficult topics in a respectful manner and with very little bias.
The book manages to have a nice balance of objective information and descriptions as well as personal impressions. Additionally, there were a lot of pictures taken during the trip, which helped make the content memorable. Thanks to this book I came back knowing more than I did before reading it.

Well, I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did!

See ya!

Here are some of my favourite quotes:

"Activity on either side of the train is modest and the whole place feels sleepy."
"She is a modern woman, she dresses to look good, but also accepts the prevailing view that the West is far too obsessed with bare flesh."
" ' The monument is 9.4 metres long symbolising the year 1994; the length of his signature is 7.7 metres to symbolise the date, July 7th; and the monument is decorated with eighty-two magnolia flowers, which are the flowers of our country. They represent his age, eighty-two.' "
"I will be like your daughter,' she says."
" 'Criticising our leaders is like criticising ourselves,' she persists."
"As I tip back my glass of soju I look up into the heavens and am rewarded with one of the most piercingly clear views of the galaxy I have ever seen."

Alex lee &
North Korea Journal by Michael Palin

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Alex lee &North Korea Journal by Michael Palin

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Alex lee &
North Korea Journal by Michael Palin