I've read this book twice and listened to the audio book twice. If you're stuck in the beginning, just keep reading. Keep reading! This is such a powerful and shocking book that was inspired by true stories of defectors from North Korea. I love the half-way mark between part one and part two. I love the back and forth of the propaganda and the storyteller's view. The inspirational characters such as the girl rower, Commander Buc, and and, of course, Sun Moon are amazing. The various plot settings: on the ship, in Japan, in Texas, in the prison camp, the Ingrid Bergman Hollywood pavement star, all buffet and shape the main character. The creepy guy and, of course, the Dear Leader raise the hairs on your arms.

I was engrossed in The Orphan Master's Son from the opening broadcast to the citizens of the greatest nation in the world, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to the ending pages. These broadcasts happen every day and highlight the theme of the novel, the fantasy version of life vs. the horrific reality of life in North Korea. As Adam Johnson says in the end notes: "Your loyalties must lie with the regime first and your family second, which makes an orphan of everyone to some degree, and the Kim regime the true orphan master." I experienced every emotion in between: happiness sadness, horror, surprise, love, optimism, loss. The characters are amazing and there are hidden layers to every thought, word, and action. As the main character, Pak Jun Do (John Doe) emphasizes, in North Korea it is not about the person -- it is about the Nation. You survive as long as you are useful. When you stop being useful, you are done. It is an amazing way to think about your life.

Although a fiction, Johnson did a considerable amount of research for this book, including visiting Pyongyang. It is one of the saddest, most horrific books I have ever read. I knew practically nothing about North Korea before starting. During my reading, I did a tiny bit of research just to understand the places, the history, the culture, and the language. (I say tiny because what can you ever truly know about North Korea?) I don't want to give anything away but it is basically about the life of Pak Jun Do, who we meet as a young orphan. "As the book opens, he's an everyman, a character who does what he's told when he's told, however grim the task, and he doesn't ask questions." He seemingly drifts through life, not questioning anything. Until he does. It is not exactly an uplifting story but it has its moments. The human spirit is nothing but incredible.

Johnson writes that this is a trauma narrative and "North Korea, I believe, is a trauma narrative on a national scale." That says it all and there is nothing left to say.

I no longer want this book. Please erase.

An emotional tour de force, Pak Jun Do's journey is an amazing revelation of the Byzantine maze of horrors that is modern totalitarianism. That "The Orphan Master's Son" displays some of the most horrendous abuses of the DPRK is almost secondary- this is a tale of the submersion of the human will through blunt application of the propagandist's tools- deception, idol worship, misdirection, repression- and the indomitable impulse to struggle against such coercion.

An emotionally difficult, but rewarding read. While many of the details are from Johnson's imagination, much of his writing is informed by interviews with escapees from North Korea. Combining his research with some artistic liberties, Johnson shows how a totalitarian society and horrendous conditions shape the way human minds and identities are formed.

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson was the 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction and it doesn’t disappoint. This is the story of Pak Jun Do; the orphan turned kidnapper turned fishing boat signal operator turned diplomat turned commander. Enter the hidden world of North Korea where propaganda and the authority of the Dear Leader are the only things that can be counted on. I am a bit of a Korea buff so finding this wonderfully written and frighteningly real story was a real treat. I tell friends that if they want to get a sense of North Korea to read this book along with Nothing to Envy: ordinary lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick and Dear Leader: poet, spy, escapee by Jin-Sung Jang. (Submitted by Braden).

Johnson’s novel The Orphan Master’s Son deserves placement on a list of contemporary masterpieces that may include such memorable works as Morrison’s Beloved, McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, Robinson’s Gilead, and Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. One measure of great literature is its ability to be life-affirming. Johnson challenges our intellectual foundation and unseats our moral capacity by giving us a terrifying glimpse of life inside North Korea. In doing so, he alters our understanding of the extent of human atrocities and amplifies the power of the human heart.

Told primarily through the experiences of the remarkable character of Pak Jun Do, Johnson allows us to feel the horror and violence of one of the world’s most maniacal regimes. Jun Do’s hard life leaves you full of compassion for the pain and suffering he endures. But even while your heartstrings are wrenched, your pulse will be racing as you take the plight with Jun Do into the darkest machinations of the North Korean government. When cruelty and sorrow seem certain to crush Jun Do, his perseverance and courage grow stronger.

Johnson’s narrative is mind-bending with its bizarre circumstances and shifting voices. It is equally thrilling to find out what will happen next. The story ranges from stylistic elements of satire, adventure, survival, and even romance, but its many layers and dimensions only contribute to its greatness. This novel demands a lot from readers, but the rewards are immense. The Orphan Master’s Son is a feat of literary imagination at the highest rank.

This 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning work of fiction is a riveting read. A masterful story-teller, the author moves between the absurd to the obscene while describing life in North Korea and how much suffering and deprivation humans can endure while remaining human. A fast paced, political thriller, if you enjoyed “1984”, “Oryx and Crake” or “The Hunger Games”, give this a try.

Learn something about Korea and read an usual story.

This is about Pak Jun Do a boy whose father is an illegal child labor enforcer in North Korea. Pak soon takes on his father's role and rises through the ranks but because of impossible demands from his superiors, he soon becomes enemies with the dictator Kim Jong Il. But then risks it all to be with the woman he loves, an actress. This book didn't really explore some aspects that I was hoping it would, and when I first picked it up I thought it was going to be from the perspective of one of the actual child slaves escaping. The story itself was very well written, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone else.
- @Florence of the Teen Review Board of the Hamilton Public Library