Book Reviews

'There aren't enough radio hours to devote to the story of our next guest. It is so incredible that it is hard to imagine that it could be real. Few movie scripts would be able to do it justice.'

La Cope Radio (Spain)

https://www.cope.es/

'She writes about her unique upbringing, and her shock in learning how the rest of the world viewed her two fathers, in her new book. ... When people interact in good faith and get to know each other, without the intervention of ideology and politics, respect and mutual learning flourish'

-- New York Post

https://nypost.com/2023/04/13/b/

'This is a charming and well written account of an extraordinary life. ... Black Girl from Pyongyang tells a heart warming story of conflicting emotions and is a delight to read. I had some doubts about the direct speech quotations, but they work well. A book to be recommended.' 

-- James Hoare, Daily Telegraph

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03068374.2023.2198864

'Black Girl from Pyongyang is the tale of one woman’s journey of self discovery. Told with candour and charm, Macias’ paints a fascinating and compelling picture of her life in North Korea and her path across continents to find her true identity’.

-- Martine Dennis, Journalist

https://www.youtube.com/@AfricaHereAndNOWPodcast

'A fascinating glimpse into life in North Korea'

-- New Stateman

https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2023/04/monica-macias-interview-become-pianist-kim-il-sung-said-no

'This literary journey is nothing short of superb, crafting an unforgettable masterpiece that captivates from start to finish. I found myself utterly immersed, unable to put the book down as it effortlessly ticks all the boxes for what i see as a perfect, Oscar-worthy story'

-- Elsie Nemlin, Director & Producer 

https://mayfilmworks.com/

'Her perspective as an African, Asian and European woman is absolutely singular as she searches for home, for her history and for her own identity. Her story is told with clear-eyed honesty and self-reflection'

― Marcia de Sanctis, Author

'It’s an investigative story to understand her true father, a powerful but controversial figure, the real man behind his many personas.'

― Lily Dunn, Author of 'Sins of My Father'

‘You don’t have to buy all of Macias’s conclusions to admire her attitude. As social media algorithms herd us all into bubbles which “protect” us from the discomfort of differing worldviews, we could all learn a lot from her lifelong quest to challenge her own prejudices. She remains open minded and makes no claim to have access to absolute truths. We can apply her commitment to critical thinking on smaller scales too, always asking ourselves who has a vested interest in spinning which stories’ 

-- Helen Brown, Daily Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/african-presidents-daughter-adopted-north-korean-dictator/

"This is a short note which I hope you'll forward to Monica Macias for me to thank her (and you as her publishers) for the publication of her beautifully written book. It's a fascinating read, narrated with quiet wisdom and thoughtfulness. It's a profound book on so many levels-- a story of families, friendships, post-colonial/contemporary Africa, language, geo-politics, race, and perhaps above all, a deep story about our shared humanity."

-Sarah Ladipo Manyika, author of the best-selling novel : In Dependence (2009)