Pyongyang, by Guy Delisle

I’ve been a little interested in North Korea for a while now — interested in the difference between the published reports and the actual situation on the ground — and in how little is actually written about the country. So I generally pick up books about North Korea when I see them at Kepler’s or Border’s.

When I opened this one, I was a little surprised: it’s a graphic novel (except for the novel part) — really a graphic memoir of Guy’s visit to PyongYang where he was an animator for several months. It’s an extremely interesting & quick read — and the graphics really help give a sense of his experience. The emptiness of the hotels & streets; the massiveness of the monuments to their dear leader.

Great & fun read. Also very easy to read for someone with a 3 month old baby in the house.

2 comments

  1. I totally agree with you.
    I bought this graphic novel quite by chance because I want interested by the title. I am indeed fascinated by North Korea and above all by every distopian novel. Even if in this case we are not talking about dispotia, but cruel and grotesque reality…
    A great book, I read in a day!
    Gigi

  2. I totally agree with you.
    I bought this graphic novel quite by chance because I want interested by the title. I am indeed fascinated by North Korea and above all by every distopian novel. Even if in this case we are not talking about dispotia, but cruel and grotesque reality…
    A great book, I read in a day!
    Gigi