Scan barcode
A review by jr2234
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
5.0
Man, what a read. Difficult and dense with a structure that felt confusing at times, but well worth the effort.
Johnson tells the story of Pak Jun Do, a North Korean orphan. Pak begins his career as a tunnel soldier in the military and soon finds himself working as a professional kidnapper, a transcriber aboard a fishing vessel, and a translator for the government. Along the way, Pak assumes the identity of Commander Ga, a national hero and husband to Sun Moon, a legendary actress. What follows is a weaving narrative hopping back and forth in time. We learn of Commander Ga/Pak’s current life and are clued into important details in chapters written as North Korean radio broadcasts full of propaganda, half truths, and exaggerated storytelling.
The time jumping isn’t confusing on its own, but the author deliberately withholds important plot information, which takes some getting used to. There were many times where I wasn’t sure what was happening and thought I had missed something, only for it to be resolved shortly after. The book focuses on repressed North Korean characters who have incomplete information and in lacking information as a reader, you feel immersed in the narrative.
The writing is vivid and the depictions of life in North Korea are meticulously researched. There are some parts of the story that feel far fetched, but these felt like artistic choices rather than rushed writing.
Johnson tells the story of Pak Jun Do, a North Korean orphan. Pak begins his career as a tunnel soldier in the military and soon finds himself working as a professional kidnapper, a transcriber aboard a fishing vessel, and a translator for the government. Along the way, Pak assumes the identity of Commander Ga, a national hero and husband to Sun Moon, a legendary actress. What follows is a weaving narrative hopping back and forth in time. We learn of Commander Ga/Pak’s current life and are clued into important details in chapters written as North Korean radio broadcasts full of propaganda, half truths, and exaggerated storytelling.
The time jumping isn’t confusing on its own, but the author deliberately withholds important plot information, which takes some getting used to. There were many times where I wasn’t sure what was happening and thought I had missed something, only for it to be resolved shortly after. The book focuses on repressed North Korean characters who have incomplete information and in lacking information as a reader, you feel immersed in the narrative.
The writing is vivid and the depictions of life in North Korea are meticulously researched. There are some parts of the story that feel far fetched, but these felt like artistic choices rather than rushed writing.