A review by emilypjohnson
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book is incredible. For starters, it’s an entertaining story from the jump, with multiple storylines weaving together in a satisfying way over the course of the book. The author did 10+ years of research on North Korea, and the book is better for it. It offers really unmatched insight into the “hermit kingdom”. Obviously, this book has some dark themes and is pretty intense. However, it really is so masterfully done - in the backdrop of the brutal and dehumanizing land of North Korea, the author explores what it means to be human, to hope, to love, to be known. I would recommend this book to anyone. It won the Pulitzer for a reason.