The Orphan Master's Son
Adam Johnson
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. (Courtesy of Goodreads)
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. (Courtesy of Goodreads)
Being able to see North Korea's condition at the moment is much different than reading about it. In the "Orphan Master's Son", the author writes so that you feel as if you are there, at that precise moment, with Jun Do (the main character).
There are so many plot twists to this story. However, they are so twisted that they are believable situations and leave you angry, upset, and torn. I still don't know whether I am content or bothered by the way things went. Regardless, it depicts choices and situations that are REAL, that people face today. It was definitely good at that angle.
The author takes you on a journey with Jun Do, who is a boy growing up in North Korea. While Jun Do is an innocent young boy who cares for others, the system in North Korea and the problems he has to face do not allow that.
This book allows you to see something so good and pure morph into something unforgettably evil.
While I did get confused many times throughout the story, everything started to unfold towards the end. At that point, it was like an "aha!" moment for me; there is nothing more exciting and great than the feeling you get when you realize something and start to see things clearer. I do wish that it was less confusing in the middle of the book, though.
My Rating:
1/5 I didn't like it
2/5 It was okay
3/5 I liked it
4/5 I really liked it
5/5 It was amazing
~Deniz
There are so many plot twists to this story. However, they are so twisted that they are believable situations and leave you angry, upset, and torn. I still don't know whether I am content or bothered by the way things went. Regardless, it depicts choices and situations that are REAL, that people face today. It was definitely good at that angle.
The author takes you on a journey with Jun Do, who is a boy growing up in North Korea. While Jun Do is an innocent young boy who cares for others, the system in North Korea and the problems he has to face do not allow that.
This book allows you to see something so good and pure morph into something unforgettably evil.
While I did get confused many times throughout the story, everything started to unfold towards the end. At that point, it was like an "aha!" moment for me; there is nothing more exciting and great than the feeling you get when you realize something and start to see things clearer. I do wish that it was less confusing in the middle of the book, though.
My Rating:
1/5 I didn't like it
2/5 It was okay
3/5 I liked it
4/5 I really liked it
5/5 It was amazing
~Deniz
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