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)

Feel like I was living in North Korea

I chose this book because it had high ratings and I wanted to learn about North Korea since it has been in the news so much this year. It wasn't till I was well into the book and thinking to myself good grief what have I gotten myself into, that I found out this book won a Pulitzer Prize. Deservedly so - listening to this book felt like BEING in North Korea - unfortunately, a desperate, cruel place for most citizens most of the time if this story is to be believed. But the last thing I want is to discourage other readers just because this book deals with difficult and appalling circumstances in parts - you MUST read/listen to this book if at all possible. I feel like I got so much from this experience besides a great listen to a great book in the general sense. I learned about North and South Korea, about living in a dictatorship, about life as a conscript on a fishing boat, in a mine, in a prison camp, in the military, about what true oppression looks like in a population, about the significance of every little thing that the US does that can be turned into propaganda to support a repressive regime. All this to say, I learned again to appreciate my freedoms (especially freedom of the press) and my own country.

There are some parts of this book that are tough going. I'm categorizing it in my head with seeing the movie The Deer Hunter for the first time. I won't watch it again - but I think every American should see it at least once, if you have never been in a war, because it changes your life. So does The Orphan Master's Son.

Awesome, book, can be hard to follow.

This book had an awesome intertwined story line, I felt the people reading read quickly and I had to slow it down just to follow. Seriously made you catch a glimpse into their culture.

Fascinating and sobering! A fast listen.

This book quickly transported me to North Korea where I was mesmerised and terrified. it was a fast listen.

Incredible

Both the story and performance(s) are unforgettable. Read this book. Would be great for book club; so much to think and talk about.

A New Favorite

Compelling characters, an exquisite narrative style, and a story that challenged my imagination made this literary work one of my favorites of recent years. The book opened my eyes to a world so antithetical to the world I inhabit that I struggle to comprehend a life experience so foreign to my own. I am grateful for the challenge.

Excellent Emerson

A terrific exposure to a life of propaganda controlled be tyranny and the power of love, mind and spirit to create an escape.

mind control

sadistic and scary. North Korea is a horror show and a living Hell. Warped characters.

Brilliant story

This is definitely my favorite audible audiobooks of all time. The story is a journey that you will not forget.

Amazing story!

Facism is truly sad for any collection of human beings. May we remain the land of some semblance of freedom as we get more and more overpopulated.

WOW ....can't forget this book

Imagine that you live in a society where all your dental and medical care is free. And your food is free. And there is no violent "crime". And everyone works together for a common goal. And the leader of this place is called " Dear Leader".
You wouldn't have to worry about paying bills, what school to send your children, and what to wear at the office party. Why? Because everything is decided for you including your wife or husband, your career, your food, where you will live, and if your children will be allowed to grow up in your home.
Welcome to this book about North Korea and the orphan master's son, the main character. Identities are regularly changed, without a question. Citizens must regularly submit to "self criticism sessions". Torture is routine. You may be assigned a substitute spouse should your current spouse disappear or die. No one is allowed a voice. The dear leader always knows best. Paranoia rules.
This book is written in a style reminiscent of Haruki Murakami, although not quite as wonderful, still very solid.
I keep thinking about this book. I very glad I read this although at times it went on and on and perhaps because I was listening and not reading in print, I found it confusing with the replacement characters.