Charles Robert Jenkins - "The Reluctant Communist"

Each morning, and throughout the day, I check in on Robert Koehler's blog, The Marmot's Hole. In partial explanation of his bog, Koehler warns, as all blog writers should do here, that his is a blog and should not be used as anyone's singular view on Korea.

Mine is certainly a "skewed" view on what goes on in this complex country. I have referenced several times that while I would love to talk politics here and be quite frank in my opinions, I have left that to others. Some people have told me that this blog is "refreshing" and "positive", but believe me when I say that my thinking isn't always such. I encourage you to "google" blogs written about Korea. You will see the "other world" of great blogs written from this part of the universe.

Having said all that, one of Koehler's post today was featuring Gabriel Schoenfeld's book review in the Wall Street Journal, talking about "The Reluctant Communist" written by Charles Robert Jenkins, an American serviceman who deserted to North Korea and was eventually released. I pre-ordered this book some time ago, but it hasn't arrived yet. These are Koehler's words:

The WSJ’s Gabriel Schoenfeld writes a review of “The Reluctant Communist,” the memoirs of Charles Robert Jenkins, the US Army deserter who spent 40 years as a guest of the DPRK. Here’s the money shot:
However we judge Mr. Jenkins’s actions so many years ago, “The Reluctant Communist” is itself an act of redemption. This extraordinary book opens a window on a world of fathomless evil, and it tells a heartbreaking story — of a life lived in adversity and conducted with a mixture of fortitude, resignation, tenderness and regret. Clearly Charles Robert Jenkins emerged from his years of ordeal with his Americanness intact. True patriotism can come in many forms.
Read the rest on your own.