From the Bookshelf of Tackling the Pulitzer Prize Winners!…

The Orphan Master's Son

Adam Johnson

Start date: October 1, 2023

Finish date: October 31, 2023

Discussion: Tackling

Why we're reading this: 2013 winner
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James (Percival Everett, 2025 winner)
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last updated Jun 22, 2025 09:42AM

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What Members Thought

Aug 16, 2013 Amanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: pulitzer-fiction, books-i-own, around-the-world, favorites-2015

The first bit of this book went so slowly for me, and I really hated each time I picked it up, but I'm so glad I kept it with. By the end, I loved it. It was a really compelling story and I feel like I learned so much about North Korea. It really made me think about the human rights violations occurring there and other places in the world, and reminded me that it's so important to stay informed on these issues. The setting was so vivid in my mind, and each new situation was shocking to me. I hig ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 24, 2012 Dree rated it liked it

Shelves: east-asia, pulitzer-all-winner-short, 2012-reads

This novel largely follows the career of the Orphan Master's Son, given the name of a North Korean martyr so he blend sin with the other orphans--even he does not know if he had a true name of his own.

From kidnapper to transcriber to prisoner to impostor, "Jun Do" steps carefully within North Korean politics, such as it is. His strange experiences enables him to save those he loves most.

I enjoyed the somewhat confusing narration of part 2, and the mystery of who is who and what is going on. But ...more

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Jan 23, 2017 Claire Jefferies rated it liked it

Shelves: own-it

This book is really, really good. I just couldn't connect with it. Great writing, though. ...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Kenley rated it it was amazing

This book is excellent. Yes, Johnson overreaches at times, but I found he tackled complicated plots, characters and narrative shifts in a very readable 450 pages. It's as if Johnson took Kakfa's Josef K. to the next level -- instead of being merely a complicit, faceless citizen, you find yourself wondering if he is a master player in a game without rules or maybe just plain crazy. In the end, I didn't care and only wanted him to succeed in his Casablanca-inspired mission.

There is a fine line in ...more

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May 25, 2013 Abby rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, book-club

Interesting look into North Korea and the horrors that are present there. My version had a very important interview with the author who described his research of North Korea having much more horrifying events going on than he put in the book. It was maddening to read of such deprivation, fear, and control within a population. A well written and important book.

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Apr 29, 2013 Carly Svamvour rated it really liked it

May 10th, 2k13 - I have to be honest - I have this down as being 'read' so I could open a 'review' box ... but I've only just started the audio today.

May 18th, 2k13 - Finished this audio this morning. A good listen - I don't quite understand all that was going on there, but the dialogue and narration was interesting.

...more

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