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)

Fantastic Book

I really liked listening to this book. It was very interesting and moved along quickly. I only wish I knew how much of it was based on fact vs fiction. I find some of it so hard to believe. However, I just heard on the news there are negotiations now going on between N. Korea and the US regarding the release of kidnapped Japanese citizens, an issue addressed in this book.

Not an easy read but worth it.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This tells a gruesome tale of a life most of us cannot imagine... but it is told with such style and even moment of humor.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Orphan Master's Son?

There is a visit to Texas by the Koreans that is priceless...

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

The dialogue by someone very comfortable with Korean makes so much of it easier to understand and visualize.

Any additional comments?

A difficult start with the grim details but a beautifully woven tale of perseverance and determination.

W-O-W

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

There are 3 narrators to this book and each is told by a different reader which helps so much. I love it when audio books do that! This book is crazy (in a good way). It leaves you with a heavy feeling because this isn't a book about something that happened long ago - this book is about a country that is existing like this now. Crazy. Its a must listen to book.

Excellent story & satire

What made the experience of listening to The Orphan Master's Son the most enjoyable?

Enjoyed the author's exploration into not only the politics, but also the people of North Korea.

Amazing story!

I loved this story! And the narration was PERFECT. A true work of art. One of the few books I've ever given 5 stars to.

One of my favorite audiobooks ever.

Outstanding story and performance. The story was complex and engaging. The performance was amazing.

Such a different kind of novel. Very powerful

This novel is truly disturbing but very well done and captivating. Definitely worth the read

Best book I’ve listened to in a long time

This story was very thought provoking and insight about the lives and culture of North Korean people.

Relevant.

Yes this is a novel. However I could not help but come away with a new understanding of how people could come to hate us. I know the author, Adam Johnson, did his research and it shows in each vivid scene. By having the story read I was free to listen and paint each scene with my own version, very much a plus.

The characters were full and rich, brought to life by the wonderful narraters. I would encourage anyone who is the least bit curious (and has a strong stomach for the very dark nature of the book) to find out for yourselves what makes a Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

I did find it repulsive in spots, yet I could not tear myself away for too long, so intriguing were the story lines. This was an investment which continues to pay me dividends. Highly recommended!

an extraordinary work of art

it's almost hard to believe that this is not a first hand narration of true events! this book is a coming together of the best of prose, story telling, journalism and the ability to turn imagination into an experience that lays bare everything about human emotions