The Orphan Master's Son in Around the World

Nov 17, 2016 Suzanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, around-my-bookshelf-year-1

In an interview Adam Johnson did for Bookpage.com, the author talks about how he studied North Korean society by traveling there, in order to get a better feel for the country and it's people. “But in North Korea there is a national script," he says, "conveyed through propaganda. There is one notion about who the people are and what the national goals are, and you as a citizen are conscripted to be a part of this national narrative. . . You have to relinquish your own personal desires.”

It is thi ...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Kate Z rated it liked it

Overall this book was closer to a 4 for me than a 3 but I've been reading a lot of great books lately and this one didn't measure up to those ... perhaps in a sea of recent 3 star reads I'd feel more like this one was more of a 4 (-) but among so many recent 4s, this novel, while grand in scope and theme, just doesn't merit that.

I was initially interested in the book because it was getting a lot of "buzz" and, as a friend pointed out, Korea seems to be the "new China" or new India in terms of li ...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: listened-to, around-the-world-in-52-books-readin, read-in-2012

I have to be careful what I choose to read, as I can be very sensitive to some violent topics. I hesitated about reading The Orphan Master’s Son, but some other bloggers so highly recommended it that I tried. I was far from being disappointed.

I have never been to North Korea, and even if I went, I’m sure what I would see as a tourist would have nothing much to do with the daily life of the inhabitants. So I cannot know from facts, but this book sounds so rooted in reality, alas, that I had to re ...more

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May 04, 2015 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: audio-book

Johnson's subject matter was thoroughly researched, yet his interpretation was not fully developed. His story-line and characters lacked depth and the narration felt forced and awkward. The audio version undermined the already wanting writing style. Where this was not a horribly conceived novel, it was simply an average one. I expected more from this Pulitzer Prize winning author. ...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Joy rated it liked it

I don't know how I felt about this book. In one sense, it's epic heroism and bitter romance. It another, it's was heart wrenching. I think I liked it. It's books like this that remind me why I love reading. I was exported to a place I never dreamed of. ...more

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