act_10's review against another edition
3.0
Read my review here!
http://areadersrapture.blogspot.ca/2014/04/the-orphan-masters-son.html
http://areadersrapture.blogspot.ca/2014/04/the-orphan-masters-son.html
booksofjj's review against another edition
Really couldn't get into the book. Not quite what I was expecting
kilkilshah's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book. It is a heavy book and sometimes I had to put the book down for a couple of days to prepare myself for what was to come. I am not sure how much the author made up about North Korea but even if this book is 10% true it is a shocking view into life in the country. The book gives a glimpse into many different parts of life in North Korea while keeping a coherent story. Very well written - highly recommended.
laviskrg's review against another edition
5.0
At the moment, I am inconsolable. Heartbroken. Review WILL come soon, when not at work
ktxx22's review against another edition
4.0
Spend time in North Korea at the dawn of the current communist regime. This book was wildly entertaining, dark, and a whole rollercoaster of emotion and endurance. I was surprised how quickly this long book flew by whilst reading.
brettpet's review against another edition
5.0
During my 2017 study abroad trip to South Korea, I actually had the chance to visit the Korean Demilitarized Zone (much to the disdain of my family). Even though I only saw one North Korean guard in the flesh and was only able to step into the DMZ for a few minutes, it was an utterly surreal experience. North Korea is just something you don't usually talk about (especially when I was South Korea), much less something the average American thinks about regularly. I feel like that's what makes this book so special: it breathes life into an unknown world. The liberties that Adam Johnson takes with the story never feel overly fanciful, and I thought the characters reacted to their environment in ways that may seem unorthodox to a Westerner, but entirely believable within the context of NK.
I absolutely love books with unreliable narrators, and this story thrives based off of it's many warped points of views. You have the initial third-person section centering around Jun Do, the unnamed interrogator's constant moral dilemmas and fight against obsolescence, and the soap opera-like propaganda that dramatizes the slow-build of Commander Ga and Sun Moon's relationship. The initial concerning Commander Ga's identity is perfect for this story—only in North Korea could such a grift manifest itself.
I also really appreciated the constant change in scenery, which provided so much added depth to the way I was picturing North Korea. There's the fishing boat, the Dear Leader's underground complex of bunkers, the deadly beauty of the prison mine/camp, the residential apartments of the interrogator's parents (made comical and tragic by the "Grass to Meat" campaign), the diplomatic visit to Texas, the estate of Sun Moon and Ga...the list goes on. I also want to commend the circular nature of the novel—every little detail seems to come into play at unexpected times in the story (e.g.). I think my only nitpick about the story was that Jun Do was allowed to return to North Korea with a ?
The Orphan Master's Son is perhaps the finest Pulitzer winner that I have read to date. It's grisly, emotional, serious, and hilarious, and I think it's one of the best literary thrillers I've ever experienced. It's hard to imagine usurping The Sympathizer as my personal favorite Pulitzer winner/book of all time, but Son comes pretty damn close.
"What have I managed?" he asked.
Comrade Buc gestured at the car, the house. "This," he said. "What you're doing."
"What am I doing?"
"There's no name for it," Buc said. "There's no name because no one's ever done it before."
I absolutely love books with unreliable narrators, and this story thrives based off of it's many warped points of views. You have the initial third-person section centering around Jun Do, the unnamed interrogator's constant moral dilemmas and fight against obsolescence, and the soap opera-like propaganda that dramatizes the slow-build of Commander Ga and Sun Moon's relationship. The initial
Spoiler
The Prestige-like twistI also really appreciated the constant change in scenery, which provided so much added depth to the way I was picturing North Korea. There's the fishing boat, the Dear Leader's underground complex of bunkers, the deadly beauty of the prison mine/camp, the residential apartments of the interrogator's parents (made comical and tragic by the "Grass to Meat" campaign), the diplomatic visit to Texas, the estate of Sun Moon and Ga...the list goes on. I also want to commend the circular nature of the novel—every little detail seems to come into play at unexpected times in the story (e.g.
Spoiler
Brando, the American rower, Sun Moon's acting careerSpoiler
camera, even despite it not workingThe Orphan Master's Son is perhaps the finest Pulitzer winner that I have read to date. It's grisly, emotional, serious, and hilarious, and I think it's one of the best literary thrillers I've ever experienced. It's hard to imagine usurping The Sympathizer as my personal favorite Pulitzer winner/book of all time, but Son comes pretty damn close.
"What have I managed?" he asked.
Comrade Buc gestured at the car, the house. "This," he said. "What you're doing."
"What am I doing?"
"There's no name for it," Buc said. "There's no name because no one's ever done it before."
gorecki's review against another edition
1.0
Satire is definitely not my thing. I'm very sorry to say this, but if it weren't for the audio book I would have dnf-ed this very early on...
moonshake's review against another edition
3.0
north korean forrest gump. interpret that however you want. the ending really got me though.
susanw's review against another edition
3.0
I did sort of like this book, the first half I found very slow and continued reading only due to the very good buzz I had heard. The second half made up for any doubt. It was much more engaging and it's story kept me reading. But I really couldn't tell what was true and what the author invented with regards to North Korea. While I can't say I enjoyed the book, as the topic was far from enjoyable, I am glad I read it. Is it really a 4 star, no probably a 3.5 Would I recommend it? Guardedly.
madisonboboltz's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. What a masterpiece. I'm so glad I challenged myself with this book. It was kind of hard to get through, like a book you might have to read for school, but totally worth it!
It's Charles Dickens+George Orwell+Anthony Doerr. AMAZING. Totally deserving of the Pulitzer. Just as the back of the book suggests, "Adam Johnson provides a riveting portrait of a world rife with hunger, corruption, and casual cruelty but also camaraderie, stolen moments of beauty, and love."
It might take me a few days to process all of the feelings and emotions I have from reading this.
It's Charles Dickens+George Orwell+Anthony Doerr. AMAZING. Totally deserving of the Pulitzer. Just as the back of the book suggests, "Adam Johnson provides a riveting portrait of a world rife with hunger, corruption, and casual cruelty but also camaraderie, stolen moments of beauty, and love."
It might take me a few days to process all of the feelings and emotions I have from reading this.