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A review by book_concierge
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
3.0
From the book jacket - An epic novel [that] 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 and an influential father who runs Long Tomorrows, a work camp for orphans. 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.
My Reaction
I hardly know what to write. In many respects the book is as mysterious and unbelievable as the dictatorship that is North Korea. Johnson’s nonlinear timeline and use of obfuscation, lies, half-truths and prevarications keeps the reader completely off balance – obviously mimicking what the citizens of North Korea must endure. What sense does it make for a lab technician to be rounded up on the way home from work so s/he can help harvest rice in a field miles away? How can you believe anything after listening every day to the loud speakers tell the latest “truth” (which likely as not contradicts yesterday’s “truth”).
And yet … I found it compelling and fascinating. Perhaps the book was helped by the fact that I listened to it in two long marathon sessions (driving across several states). But whatever the reason, I’ll be haunted by it for some time.
Tim Kang, Josiah D Lee and James Kyson Lee do a wonderful job narrating the audio book.
My Reaction
I hardly know what to write. In many respects the book is as mysterious and unbelievable as the dictatorship that is North Korea. Johnson’s nonlinear timeline and use of obfuscation, lies, half-truths and prevarications keeps the reader completely off balance – obviously mimicking what the citizens of North Korea must endure. What sense does it make for a lab technician to be rounded up on the way home from work so s/he can help harvest rice in a field miles away? How can you believe anything after listening every day to the loud speakers tell the latest “truth” (which likely as not contradicts yesterday’s “truth”).
And yet … I found it compelling and fascinating. Perhaps the book was helped by the fact that I listened to it in two long marathon sessions (driving across several states). But whatever the reason, I’ll be haunted by it for some time.
Tim Kang, Josiah D Lee and James Kyson Lee do a wonderful job narrating the audio book.