I finished an uncorrected proof of this stunning book at the end of December, 2011. I've read some excellent books in the last few years, but I haven't loved a book as much as this in some time. Best book of 2012! Yes, I loved it that much.

The Orphan Master’s Son is set in North Korea, a location that is so foreign that it becomes the dominant player in this story of resilience and adversity. The book makes clear how the North Korean people are trained from infancy to value the state over self, and the Dear Leader is the state.

This book is a thriller, an epic adventure story, a cultural revelation, a love story, a story of hope and transformation. It is remarkable for its vibrant characters and plot, but it’s also a literary book. This is a book into which you can happily lose yourself and about which you’ll think for weeks afterward. Adam Johnson has written something brilliant and unique.