The Orphan Master's Son

A Novel

By: Adam Johnson

Narrated by: Tim Kang, Josiah D. Lee, James Kyson Lee, Adam Johnson

Length: 19 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2013

An epic novel and a thrilling literary discovery, The Orphan Master’s Son follows a young man’s journey through the icy waters, dark tunnels, and eerie spy chambers of the world’s most mysterious dictatorship, North Korea.

Pak Jun Do is the haunted son of a lost mother - a singer “stolen” to Pyongyang - and an influential father who runs Long Tomorrows, a work camp for orphans. There the boy is given his first taste of power, picking which orphans eat first and which will be lent out for manual labor. Recognized for his loyalty and keen instincts, Jun Do comes to the attention of superiors in the state, rises in the ranks, and starts on a road from which there will be no return.

Considering himself “a humble citizen of the greatest nation in the world,” Jun Do becomes a professional kidnapper who must navigate the shifting rules, arbitrary violence, and baffling demands of his Korean overlords in order to stay alive. Driven to the absolute limit of what any human being could endure, he boldly takes on the treacherous role of rival to Kim Jong Il in an attempt to save the woman he loves, Sun Moon, a legendary actress “so pure, she didn’t know what starving people looked like.”

Part breathless thriller, part story of innocence lost, part story of romantic love, The Orphan Master’s Son is also a riveting portrait of a world heretofore hidden from view: a North Korea rife with hunger, corruption, and casual cruelty but also camaraderie, stolen moments of beauty, and love. A towering literary achievement, The Orphan Master’s Son ushers Adam Johnson into the small group of today’s greatest writers.

From the Hardcover edition.

©2011 Adam Johnson (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

• Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

“An addictive novel of daring ingenuity, a study of sacrifice and freedom in a citizen-eating dynasty, and a timely reminder that anonymous victims of oppression are also human beings who love - The Orphan Master’s Son is a brave and impressive book.” (David Mitchell, author of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet)

“I’ve never read anything like it. This is truly an amazing reading experience, a tremendous accomplishment. I could spend days talking about how much I love this book. It sounds like overstatement, but no. The Orphan Master’s Son is a masterpiece.” (Charles Bock, author of Beautiful Children)

“Adam Johnson has pulled off literary alchemy, first by setting his novel in North Korea, a country that few of us can imagine, then by producing such compelling characters, whose lives unfold at breakneck speed. I was engrossed right to the amazing conclusion. The result is pure gold, a terrific novel.” (Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone)

Interesting story. Deeply sad.

Interesting topic but is long and dense. Not a light undertaking. I enjoyed it but couldn't listen too long because of how sad it got.

awesome

I really enjoyed this book. It is refreshingly unique and provides a glimpse into the world and mind of a North Korean.

Really enjoyed this book. Great insight and emotion connected to story and characters.

Strongly recommend Orphan's Master's Son. Readers did a great job. Story kept me interested the entire time.

This book is a must listen - readers are wonderful

If you could sum up The Orphan Master's Son in three words, what would they be?

Importance of identity

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved the main character, Pak Jun Do. He was someone you wanted to believe in and wanted to find happiness. He was also seen as a human being with flaws but always trying to do the right thing. I loved how he always told the truth - even when his responses seemed like he wasn't.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I can't say enough about how wonderful the narrators are. I loved that there were multiple narrators; they brought the characters to life and really added to the story. I loved Tim Kang's voice and want to find out what other books he has narrated. I feel like I had the best experience listening to this book and not just reading it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I walked away from this book with such a sense of wonder and awe at the North Korean culture. You can't help but wonder if this is really true because of the brutal and inhumane way people are treated. Adam Johnson really did an excellent job of showing the lack of identity in this culture and how individuals have little worth but for the work they do.

A new favorite

A strange mix of poetry in well narrated prose, this book stands alone and has no real comparison. Recommended by a colleague, I listened and found myself mesmerized and immersed in a whole new world. This book challenges our idea of culture and opens you up to the struggle to maintain one's sense of self in the face of impossible circumstances. The story is brutal and frustrating but written so well that you almost float through the experience. Well done!

Brilliant book. Brilliantly performed.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Orphan Master's Son to be better than the print version?

Because the writing and story is so strong, it's clear this book would be extraordinary in either print or audio editions. Having said that, I'm glad I chose the audio version. The narraters are wonderful actors and since they're Korean (I presume) they pronounce the language correctly. If I were to have read the Korean words I would have no idea how to pronounce them. I strongly recommend this audio book.

Outstanding

A riveting, well written book that had me mesmerized. The story telling written within the story was magnificent. I highly recommend this book and may read it again. It’s now an all time favorite.

Bonnie Carr

a tour de force

Orwellian in its impact - this is fiction of the highest order. A staggering achievement.

Hooked By the First Chapter

I was hooked by the first chapter of the novel. This book is something special that really manages to capture the essence of what makes someone an individual. The characters seem real and several times I had to stop and remind myself that this is a work of fiction. The mysterious North Korea is brought to life in stunning vividness and stark reality. For the first time I felt like I wasn't viewing a culture through a lens of comparison- what's similar to America here, different? For the first time I saw a culture other than mine as something independent. I can't emphasize enough how amazing this book was. It absolutely deserves its Pulitzer Prize.

Guaranteed to not be what you expect.

This is a good time to learn about North Korea. Having listened to the biographical "Nothing to Envy..." earlier, this novel seemed the logical next choice.

This book is fascinating, disturbing, and surprising at every turn. The first half of the book is stronger than the second and the story becomes less grounded as you go, but it never loses momentum. The characters would be unbelievable were they placed in our society, but given how other worldly North Korea is, they make sense.

The readers change as the point of view moves between characters. The reader during the title character's view is more effective, but as a group, they are very good.

If you don't know much about North Korea, my suggestion would be to listen to "Nothing to Envy..." or another slice of life book about the country before this one. By all means, though, take the time to enjoy "The Orphan Masters Son."