The Orphan Master's Son Book Reviews

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Best book I've read in years. This is a novel that hits all the sweet spots while still being intelligent and illuminating. Interesting and with a good pace- varied but never dragging-- the characters lived in me years after I read it. I learned so much about North Korea. (Unfortunately, it makes me afraid.)

Orphan master's Son. Riveting. A unique insight into an other-worldly reality in which no one is a someone. Brilliant!!!!

Great Book Review in WSJ. Today's review is written by Sam Sacks who describes the novel as being brilliant and timely, which to me, after reading the first chapter, is an understatement.

Excellent!. Great read. Great book.

I loved this book. Just won the Pulitzer last week. I have followed the trials of the evil DPRK ever since reading Anthony Daniels excellent "Utopias Elsewhere". Hearing there was a book of fiction with the DPRK as the setting I was excited to read this. And it didn't disappoint. A deeply human, sad story of finding hope in a world where the state prohibits it. Darkly funny too, I couldn't put it down. It does leave you wondering why such a dangerous regime is allowed to exist in our world. I guess their ally China scares us too much to ever consider intervening.

Truly Amazing. I LOVED this book. It's the best book I've read this year by far. Read it.

100 Words or Less. This novel is a parody of “1984”. Or a commentary on social injustice. Or a stereotype of what we think North Korea is. Or a love story. Halfway through, I didn’t understand its purpose. At times brutal, and at other times poignant, the plot and characters mix in surreal harsh austerity and the terrifying reality of human subjugation. Yet at the final page, I simply gave in. It was all these things and more. In so many ways, it’s a beautiful novel. Written with such care. Sad, yet joyful. Hopeless and loving. Amazing.

The Orphan Master's Son. This is truly one of the best books I've read. Amazing writing and story telling. I can't wait to see this book become a best seller!

Desperate orphan. Johnson gives us a downward spiral leading to nothing. Jun Do is smashed down repeatedly, yet rises each time with no purpose. In the end his biography is not only incomplete but will never be read, never used to learn from. The detail and pathos that Johnson writes with is brilliant; the message depressing I would think this book dangerous to those N. Koreans who accompanied Johnson on his trip to the People's Republic. Therefore, I must conclude that Johnson in writing it does so to show the entire human race that there is no objective nor end and we are all dust. Else, he would not have been willing to risk those folks to imply such an embarrassing novel to the dictator. Nevertheless, such enormous pomposity may cause a novel as this to fly completely under the radar of the Kims.

The orphan master's son. Absolutely awesome, in the true sense of that word. A beautifully written work, with telling insights to life in North Korea.

Revolutionary. A must read book, Jun Do's character was one of the best thought out characters I've ever came across. The love between Sun Moon and Jun Do added softer qualities to the book, while the seriousness of Prison 33 and before and after pictures give the book meaning. I think its time to liberate North Korea, the right way.

Simply amazing.. Read it. Now. If you loved The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay you will adore The Orphan Master’s Son.

Astonishingly brilliant. As someone who formerly studied NK in depth during my employment and as someone who has met defectors while in South Korea and as someone who is an aficionado of great thrillers and adventure stories, this novel is by far one of the best I have ever read. The accuracy, despite the necessary creative license, was astounding. Beyond the darkly humorous portraits of NK life and the implicit ironies, this is a character-based novel of the finest order. However, unlike those droning, boring Booker Prize studies in pretentiousness, this is a novel that also features a sharp, focused plot. In two words: Astonishing. Brilliant. Certainly the most deserving Pulitzer winner since Michael Chabon.

Excellent story well written. I could not put this book down. Fascinating story that gives a glimpse of North Korean culture.

An amazing read!. This novel is unique in my experience, so there is no higher praise. Unique in subject, of course, I've never known of, let alone read a novel set in and about North Korea. Almost as unique in style, not since Dos Passos' USA have I experienced a story told in so many distinct voices. Heartbreaking and hilarious, tender and terrifying, frightening and enlightening.

The Orphans Master's Son. A rare adult read that doesn't come along too often.

Orphan masters son. Absorbing but not a page turner as I had to put the book down to comprehend its eccentricities as well as cruelty. I tried to research whether the various divisions of horror if the actually exist in North Korea. The division of lobotomy, mines, organ harvesting, blood draining, etc. Pretty scary stuff in this 1984 society. Rick

The Orphan Master's Son. I enjoyed the novel, but found the first of the two stories more compelling than the second story.

The Orphan Masters Son. Grim yet griping tale. An insight into the devastating land and life that is North Korea. While some of the stories within the story are impossible to believe, almost all are based on true stories filtered from the lives of defectors. This is an adventure, a tale of romance, a History lesson all rolled into one.

This Book Is Awesome!!!. Just read this book in one sitting.

The Orphan Master's Son. Amazing.

Captivating Story. This novel is truly fascinating! I've always been intrigued with North Korea and wondered how one man can control an entire nation, this novel shows how that is made possible, but also focuses on a lone man and his struggle to find and protect the woman he loves. Beautifully written I highly recommend this novel.

Amazing Fiction. This novel is exciting, at times unfathomable, difficult to put down! I highly recommend this one!

The Orphan Master's Son. Terrible! It is like trying to eat a 20 pound, over-ripe artichoke. You keep peeling back and tasting the leaves hoping they will become softer and sweeter but they remain dry and tasteless. After reading over half the book I gave up any hope that any of the symbolism would reveal a story or plot.

The orphan master's son. This book was amazing from the first page to the last. Russian literature gloom mixed with contemporary magical realism found in Murakami and Marquez. Best novel I've read in Years.

The orphan masters son. The insight the author offers into North Korean culture makes the book fascinating. But the highlight to me involved the story and how the author told it. This outstanding book has expanded my understanding of North Korea to a deeper level than 20 years of residence in Asia provided me and I congratulate the author's wonderful accomplishment.

Wow.. People attempted to explain this novel to me before I had read it as a way of sharing their enthusiasm. Good thing none of them succeeded in their attempts. As a result, I won't even try. I hope you enjoy your time with this book as much as I did.

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