Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home

While I do not agree with some of the tactics that foreign correspondents use to make sure that they get stories, I do believe that we should thank them for the risk that they are willing to take so that light is shed on matters that the rest of the world may be ignorant about. I think that this is one of the points that this memoir is attempting to make. Another important topic is that diplomatic issues between the United States and other countries are far more complicated than a lot of Americans realize. I believe a lot of Americans live under a very protective shield and may not be aware of situations outside of the US; this book is important because it allowed me to see just how different some Asian cultures view the US. This insight is important if Americans wish to move towards a more global view of diplomatic relations. With that said, this book is a very detailed account of the problems that were encountered when Laura Ling and Euna Lee were held in North Korea after entering the country illegally. I must admit that throughout the book, there is an understanding by the authors that Laura and Euna did trespass in North Korea and broke the law. It is the severity of the punishment and the use of the crime as a political agenda that induced outrage among the authors. However, as I read the book, I never got the impression that the authors put down North Korea or disrespected the country. The book is written in the first person and alternates between Laura and Lisa Ling's accounts of their childhood and the events surrounding Laura's detention/imprisonment in North Korea. I felt a kinship with the ladies and a unique insight into the sisterly bond. I also felt that if I were going through some type of hardship in my life, I would want one of these ladies by my side. It is a very well-written book by journalists who know how to deliver details that are pertinent, useful, and heart-wrenching. While there may be criticism of the help that was received to assist Laura and Euna, it doesn't mean that this story should not be told. I was very impressed with this book and would highly recommend.

For those with who had lived under the Communist regime will not be shocked. I recommend this book to everyone. You will appreciate freedom much more and feel gratitude to be living in the US.

***** I bought this riveting personal memoir last night and couldn't put it down. It is the story of two incredible sisters, their family bond, and one sister's (Laura's) imprisonment in the Hermit Kingdom of North Korea while her older sister (Lisa) fights to get her free. The story is told in alternating voices, with one short chapter being told by Laura and the next chapter what was happening at the same time for Lisa. The story is told from the women's viewpoints; so not just the the stunning political and legal details of this story are shared, not just the vivid descriptions of the imprisonment, but the feelings and the thoughts of the two women are shared as well. Although this is non-fiction, it reads like a novel and is hard to put down. In addition, the humanitarian story that is the backdrop for this personal account--the situation of the North Koreans and the refugees who leave--is even more important and unforgettable. Laura and Lisa are journalists who believe that this more important story is vital for us to be concerned about and to act upon. At the time that Laura was being held (last year), North Korea was involved in a global nuclear showdown. North Korea considers itself still at war with both the United States and South Korea. North Korea's role in the world is unique and this book helps the reader to be introduced to their fascinating and repressive culture. The book details Laura's imprisonment, her "confession" of trying to overthrow the North Korean government, her treatment in North Korea, her trial, how she survived, her sentence, her imminent removal to a hard labor camp, and her rescue by President Clinton. Many, many other people helped with her release as well. The book includes descriptions of much that was experienced by Laura's colleague, Euna, but they were separated for much of the imprisonment, so the telling is strictly from Laura's perspective. The book tells a story that I think would appeal to any reader; this is an important book for everyone to read. Some things I will not soon forget: the journalists eating their notes so as not to implicate their victimized sources, recipients of an American medical mission thanking a Kim Jong Il portrait for their cures, North Koreans accusing Laura and Lisa Ling of trying to overthrow their government, Laura hitting herself in the bathroom to punish herself, Lisa wanting to involve Michael Jackson (and him wanting to be involved) right before he died, why the North Korean government has so much contempt for Christians, and so much more. Please read this important story, learn to appreciate even more about our freedom here, and learn how others are suffering in another part of the world. Highly recommended for all readers. *****

I bought this book early this morning planning to read it another day, but once I started I couldn't put it down. I wasn't very familiar with the events surrounding Lisa's sister's imprisonment until both she and colleague Euna Lee were pardoned. I practically held my breath from the moment of their capture until their release while reading. Laura's narrative is beautifully detailed and makes you feel like you're experiencing it all with her. Somewhere Inside pulls the covers on just how secretive and oppressive North Korea is under the regime of Kim Jong Il. The widespread starvation, inhumanity, and cult-like worship of Jong Il's dictatorship. Charged with "hostile acts" (giving the US a no holds barred view of what's really going on), Laura and Euna Lee's 12 year sentence of hard labor will make your heart drop. The narrative alternates between the sisters (Laura and Lisa), but isn't jarring. Trust me when I tell you you'll go through so many emotions while reading. Great job, ladies!

Chilling details of Laura Ling's time in North Korea. I enjoy reading and watching anything that gives me a look into this isolated world. Laura gets a chance, through telling her own story, gets a chance to shed light on the desperate situation people of North Korea. The intention of her trip to the China-North Korea border region was to give a face and voice to the people fleeing their home-land everyday, and the horrors they often face afterwards.