Somewhere Inside audiobook

Reading this memoir was a follow-up to other books on my reading table regarding North Korea's tendency to sacrifice all good-will in order to keep her people in a perpetual lockdown. The kidnapping, imprisoning and worse of all those who come or go without permission is just the tip of the punitive measures iceberg involved. Those who cross her are dealt hard blows at the hands of local oppressors, and the two Ling sisters are no exception. One can only hope the North Korean people can survive these years of cruel regimes. I'm always mystified by countries whose leaders feel they must divide in order to thrive - a united Korea would be stronger, healthier and happier. But then, it truly boils down to who is in power, doesn't it. . .remnants of the old familial "you're not the boss of me" rant. Compromise, cooperation, collaboration and tolerance yield best results, however achieved by governments. The authors' collaboration tells an exciting story, showing all the many moving parts that led to their final solution resulting in a positive outcome for all involved. Of all the books I've read on this topic, this has been the most engaging - but that may be because I have some memory of this occurring in my past, remembering old newscasts, etc. I'm always grateful to others for sharing their experiences in other lands and cultures in order to broaden our perspectives and help to better understand our global communities.

This book was just one more reminder of why I hate the North Korean government ... oh, and why I love Bill Clinton.Can you imagine being held prisoner in the Orwellian hellhole that is North Korea for six months, only to be brought home by Bill Clinton in a shiny private jet? Yet another reason of why Bill can call me Monica any time. :)

Investigative journalism through a very personal lens. Through reading this matter of fact version of what the sisters endured, the reader can peek into what it is like to be a prisoner in North Korean and simultaneously experience what is like to be the family of the captive. Extremely interesting.

This book was a very interesting read. It was an insiders point of view on being an American hostage in North Korea. Laura and Lisa Ling are news reporters. Laura was doing a story on the border of China and North Korea, and she hardly steps foot on North Korean soil before being captured. From the beginning of the book to the very end, you can experience how the two sisters felt. Their connections to people, quick thinking, and sisterly bond make a one-of-a-kind true story.

It isn't like me to not follow something in the media, but I have to admit that I didn't follow the arrest and prison journey of Euna and Laura, and after reading the book about their journey, I wish that I had followed it more closely. The book truly offered insight into realms of North Korea that I didn't realize existed. The moment that Euna and Laura descend down the stairs at the hanger, I was so excited and moved to tears that they were released. What did the book teach me? I would say much about policital diplomacy and the fact that sometimes you make mistakes in your field of work, and sometimes those mistakes can affect the entire country. I also would say that it also demonstrates the egotistical nature of journalists (of which I was once a member). They feel a bit infallible and will do anything to get the next svot for their news package. And in this case crossing the border for the big "interview" almost cost them their lives.

Having followed Lisa Ling's career for as long as I can remember and being alarmed when Laura was captured, I couldn't wait to read this. It didn't disappoint. I loved the fact that they each wrote their own story, so that each of them could convey the emotion and tension of the situation they found themselves in. I also enjoyed that it was realistic and didn't make them out to be superheroes. I already knew the ending so it wasn't a surprise but it was still tense and harrowing and a fantastic read.

I was one amongst millions of people who weeped and rejoiced upon their release. It's heartwrenching to read what had happen to these girls inside North Korea as recounted by Laura Ling and the accounts of Lisa Ling's efforts to secure the release of her sister.

This is an incredible account of Laura Ling's captivity in the DPRK in 2009. Told from both Laura and her sister Lisa's point of view (with different fonts to prevent confusion), I found this story very well told. One could actually feel like they were there at the compound with Laura, or really on the phone with political figures like Lisa was. One thing I liked in particular was how they were careful not to bash anybody, not even the North Korean government, yet their accounts were real, emotional, and heart-wrenching. At the time of these events, I was busy with a newborn and had no idea all this was happening. It was also very interesting to have a little insight on the everyday life of North Korean citizens, and the privileges of the elite class. Great read, and I suspect this will become one of my favorite all-time books.

Book 24 of 2020My 24th book of 2020! After reading If I Had Your Face, I wanted to read something easy and quick. My wife had read this book a while back and I figured it would be an easy read and it really was. I remember the incident very well as it was publicized especially Laura being Lisa’s sister. I didn’t really know the details on what they were doing that got them detained. It was really hard for me to read that part. I just wanted to scream, don’t do it! You guys are being dumb!!Well they paid for their mistake thought not as bad as some other people have. They got off really easy as far as I was concerned. The biggest question I have about the incident was, what happened to the guide? Felt like it was a total setup. Wondered if they ever tracked him down to get some answers. Regardless, felt like Laura showed a lot of weakness and would not have lasted all about few months in a North Korean labor camp. She’s owes her life to her sister Lisa who happened to have all these crazy connections and it was much more interesting to hear about the behind the scene stories on how all these negotiations work. It was interesting enough for me to finish this book in one day. Laura’s co-worker Euna Lee also wrote a book about the same incident and I think her story would be much more interesting as she understood everything what the North Koreans were saying. mybookcritic.com

I enjoyed this as an audio book on my commutes and walking the dog. It was very attention catching and I learned more about North Korea.

So fascinating to see inside a world we would never normally know of. Bravery and determination were exhibited by Laura and her entire family throughout this journey. Very eye opening.

I picked this book up because I recognized Lisa Ling's face on the cover. Having said that, I am not a watcher of "The View" and was not aware of this story while it was happening. I knew from the outset that the book would have a positive ending (from reading the back cover) but while I was reading it I really felt an element of suspense and worry about how things would work themselves out.Both Lisa and Laura Ling are journalists. Laura was part of a team of 3 who visited China on a tourist visa in order to do a story about defectors from North Korea.They opted to go this route because a journalist visa would not have allowed them to explore the country freely but would have put them under the scrutiny of their Chinese hosts. Knowing the risks, they set out with a Guide they had hired to take them to the people and places where they would find their story. They never intended to cross into North Korea, but their Guide led them there and very briefly they were on North Korean Soil. North Korean soldiers chased after them as they headed back to China and captured Laura Ling and one of her colleagues. The book tells the story of Laura's almost five months in captivity both from her perspective and also in alternating chapters from her sister's side of the world. Their love for each other is very clear throughout the book.I had very little knowledge about North Korea before reading this book. I was certainly aware of the animosity with the US ( though perhaps not the depth of it) and all the issues surrounding the development of missiles etc. What I really appreciated about this memoir was the insight it gave me into what it was like inside North Korea at least at the time of Laura's captivity. Although she was treated badly at the time of capture, after that for the most part she received reasonable treatment and care. Laura did not speak Korean and relied heavily on her NK appointed translator to be her voice and also the vice of her captors. She developed relationships with her guards as humans and hopefully opened their eyes at least a little to the fact that not all American's are devils.It was interesting to read of the process that was involved in trying to communicate between North Korea and the US. Much of it was indirect and culture played a huge part in what decisions and approaches were made. No doubt it was helpful to have all the very important contacts that Laura and Lisa had and perhaps things would have gone very differently with less known people involved.One paragraph near the end of the book stuck out to me:Lisa: For decades, North Koreans have been taught to regard the United States as an enemy. Laura's stories were a testament to what happens when people are able to interact with each other on a human-to-human level. When one is given the opportunity to look another person in the eye, irrespective of preconceived ideas about each other, things can often change, perspectives can widen.As I finished the book I was left wondering how things have changed in North Korea since 2009 when this story took place. I hope they have improved at least a little.

It's hard for me to grasp that a country like North Korea exists in these "modern" times. Reading Laura Ling's story of her capture and imprisionment in North Korea makes me thankful of the many blessings I take for granted in my life. It's very difficult for me to accept the type of "leader worship" that is prevalent in this country. It seems almost impossible to me.The book inspired me to learn a bit more about North Korea and to reflect upon how other countries view the U.S. The book goes back and forth from Laura's accounts of her imprisionment and her sister Lisa Ling's struggles to secure her release. I appreciated the conscientious way Laura tells the story of her capture and imprisionment. Even as she struggles to understand the North Korean's practices and beliefs, she makes a point of illustrating the common bonds of humanity. With so much going on in the world it's easy to forget about the "little" country of North Korea. It's easy to take so many things for granted in our lives. This book is a reminder to cherish!21 mins agoSEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean and U.S.-led United Nations Command officers overseeing the Korean War truce will meet on Tuesday in the first meeting involving Pyongyang to discuss the sinking of a South Korean warship, an official said.A team of investigators blamed the North for launching a torpedo attack on the South Korean corvette Cheonan in March, killing 46 sailors.The U.N. Security Council in a statement on Friday condemned the attack but did not explicitly blame the North.North Korea denies it was involved in the sinking and has accused the South of masterminding a fabrication for political gain.North Korea first rejected the call by the U.N. Command to meet and discuss any violation of the armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War. It later changed its position and said it would accept such a meeting, after Seoul rejected its proposal to send a military team to inspect the sunken ship.The meeting will take place at the Panmunjom truce village that straddles the military border between the two Koreas at 9 p.m. ET, Monday, the U.N. Command said.

My first read of May and couldn’t have started the month better with this book about an American journalist, Laura Ling and her colleague Euna Lee who were imprisoned in North Korea in 2009 for trespassing the border while working on a documentary about North Korean defectors. Without a doubt it’s an inspiring story not only because of what Laura had to endure during those hard months but also her sister Lisa Ling making everything to try to get her back home. It’s a roller coster of emotions 😭 All the books I’ve read about North Korea, they can easily be read as fiction cause most of the times feels like it but the sad truth is that still to this day this is their reality. As Laura and Lisa said “We truly hope that one day your people will be able to experience the kind of freedom all human beings deserve.” It has been 10 years since the release of this book but North Korea continues stuck in a parallel universe 😞