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Orphan Master's Son
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION An epic novel and a thrilling literary discovery, "The Orphan Master s Son"follows a young man s journey through the icy waters, dark tunnels, and eerie spy chambers of the world s most mysterious dictatorship, North Korea. NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE WINNER LONGLISTED FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION S ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL WINNER OF THE CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION "NEW YORK TIMES "BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY "The New Yorker The Washington Post "Stephen King, "Entertainment Weekly The Wall Street Journal Los Angeles Times San Francisco Chronicle Financial Times Newsweek"/The Daily Beast" The Plain Dealer St. Louis Post-Dispatch Milwaukee Journal Sentinel " Scott Turow, "The Millions "Slate Salon "BookPage "Shelf Awareness The single best work of fiction published [this year] . . . The book s cunning, flair and pathos are testaments to the still-formidable power of the written word. "The Wall Street Journal" Pak Jun Do is the haunted son of a lost mother a singer stolen to Pyongyang and an influential father who runs Long Tomorrows, a work camp for orphans. There the boy is given his first taste of power, picking which orphans eat first and which will be lent out for manual labor. Recognized for his loyalty and keen instincts, Jun Do comes to the attention of superiors in the state, rises in the ranks, and starts on a road from which there will be no return. Considering himself a humble citizen of the greatest nation in the world, Jun Do becomes a professional kidnapper who must navigate the shifting rules, arbitrary violence, and baffling demands of his Korean overlords in order to stay alive. Driven to the absolute limit of what any human being could endure, he boldly takes on the treacherous role of rival to Kim Jong Il in an attempt to save the woman he loves, Sun Moon, a legendary actress so pure, she didn t know what starving people looked like. Part breathless thriller, part story of innocence lost, part story of romantic love, "The Orphan Master s Son" is also a riveting portrait of a world heretofore hidden from view: a North Korea rife with hunger, corruption, and casual cruelty but also camaraderie, stolen moments of beauty, and love. A towering literary achievement, "The Orphan Master s Son" ushers Adam Johnson into the small group of today s greatest writers. Praise for "The Orphan Master" "s Son" An exquisitely crafted novel that carries the reader on an adventuresome journey into the depths of totalitarian North Korea and into the most intimate spaces of the human heart. Pulitzer Prize citation Mr. Johnson has written a daring and remarkable novel, a novel that not only opens a frightening window on the mysterious kingdom of North Korea, but one that also excavates the very meaning of love and sacrifice. Michiko Kakutani, "The New York Times" Rich with a sense of discovery . . ."The Orphan Master s Son" has an early lead on novel of [the year]. The Daily Beast This is a novel worth getting excited about. "The Washington Post" [A] ripping piece of fiction that is also an astute commentary on the nature of freedom, sacrifice, and glory. "Elle""
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vivastory
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Having JUST finished the tagged book, I'm going into the weekend with a major book hangover, so for relief I will be starting the next volume of Berserk as I need to return it to the library. After that, who knows? I might read Vasko Popa's Poems, which I received in my NYRB package. I am also planning on swinging by B&N & picking up Chain Gang All Stars & Henry Hoke's Open Throat (cont)

vivastory narrated in poetic prose from the POV of a mountain lion residing underneath the Hollywood Sign in LA. I heard a fantastic interview yesterday with the author on the Poured Over podcast, which is how I was made aware of the book).
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain
(edited) 9mo
rachelsbrittain I just finished Chain Gang All-Stars and it is great! 9mo
vivastory @rachelsbrittain I'm really looking forward to it! I just went to my local B & N & I think I grabbed their last copy lol 9mo
Josiethelibrarian Atalanta by Jennifer saint 9mo
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vivastory
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Brilliant book, but quite possibly the most disturbing I've read this year. I had to literally set it aside while eating lunch this afternoon because of the scene that I was reading.

MizzGraham Challenge accepted, friend 😜 9mo
RaeLovesToRead I think I can guess which scene 😅 9mo
Megabooks Adam Johnson is a MASTER! 9mo
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Branwen Yikes! 9mo
BarbaraBB I‘ve read this one not too lang ago and can‘t remember which scene(s) you‘re referring to. What does that say about me?! 9mo
Pedrocamacho I named my work computer “Commander Ga” after reading this book 🤓 9mo
Texreader Dang I was just sitting here singing that song 9mo
vivastory @MizzGraham I read a fair amount of horror books, including darker literary fiction & I recently read Child of God by Cormac McCarthy. Those books def had disturbing elements to them, but for me there is something much more disturbing about this book knowing that much of what Johnson is describing happened on a large scale/is still happening. Disturbing content is def. subjective, I think. 9mo
vivastory @RaeLovesToRead I'm on my desktop & the spoiler tag is not working so let me just say that it is not the scene that you are thinking of lol. The one that bothered me was towards the end of the first section when he first arrives at the prison mine. 9mo
vivastory @Megabooks I have his book of short stories on my TBR. If I remember correctly you're a fan. 9mo
vivastory @Branwen It's a chilling book 9mo
vivastory @BarbaraBB To be fair the whole book is fairly disturbing 9mo
vivastory @Pedrocamacho Lol I have named my car (the Pequod) but have not named my computer. I should do so 9mo
Megabooks Scott, you have to get to FS immediately! It is my ALL TIME favorite short story collection!! I‘ve read it a dozen times. 9mo
BarbaraBB That I do remember 😅 9mo
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vivastory
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Started earlier this evening. Engrossing & chilling. Looking forward to finishing work tomorrow so I can return to it.

Pedrocamacho Love this book so much 9mo
vivastory @Pedrocamacho It's an amazing (but oh-so-dark) book 9mo
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melissajayne
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I read this book for a friends book club that I am a part of and despite its bleak description of North Korea, I found the book to be quite amazing. #lettero #alphabetgame

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 2y
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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

This was the intriguing story of Jun Do, aka Commander Ga, the son of the orphan master and the husband of opera singer Sun Moon. Oh, and a close ally of The Dear Leader, Kim Jong-il too.
It‘s a good story with lots of twists. Yet I do prefer non fiction in a book about a country as isolated and unknown as #NorthKorea.

#ReadingAsia2021 🇰🇵

Megabooks Ah, maybe I should‘ve recommended this one to you instead, but I‘m glad you at least liked OMS 3y
Megabooks This one really taught me a lot about life under Jong un. I think I‘ve recommended both to you before. It‘s a fascinating country! 3y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I should have known myself, I am so critical when it comes to people writing about another country - especially a country like this one. I keep questioning everything he states (I‘m such an annoying person 😉). I did like the story though and I‘ve meant to read Nothing to Envy for years. I will now! 😘 3y
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BarbaraBB @Megabooks That second one I haven‘t heard of. It sounds fascinating, thanks. 3y
Megabooks I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to read! They‘re both good. I‘ve read NTE about 4 times! 3y
Librarybelle Nice pick for North Korea! 3y
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jenniferw88
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For UK littens researching #readingasia2021 this book for #northkorea is on sale during November. #Kindledeal #ukkindledeal @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Onioons Such an intense and unusual story, but really memorable! 3y
Librarybelle Good find! 3y
51 likes2 comments
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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

Though this has been languishing in my TBR for quite a while, I am thankful that this month‘s #ReadAroundTheWorld challenge prompted me to pick it up since it‘s set in #NorthKorea. Absolutely riveting, this book chronicles the phases of the titular character‘s life and all that it reveals about his homeland. Tragic but deeply fascinating, this one feels authentic and genuine. I can see why this was an award winner! #AudioColoring

BookwormM Sounds good 3y
TorieStorieS @BookwormM I definitely recommend it! The audio performance was really great, too! I can see why it was such an award winner! 3y
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Ericalambbrown
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Pickpick

Oooooffff. This book is bleak. Seriously. But it is so good. I‘m not sure I‘d have gotten through it as a traditional read, but as an audiobook the split-focus helped suppress immersion into the grim world of despotic North Korea. Tim Kang‘s performance is wonderful, as well. Excellent book to gain a perspective of life in North Korea. No wonder it won the Pulitzer.

TEArificbooks I was just looking at this one on my tbr shelf. The physical book is heavy! 4y
Ericalambbrown @mdm139 I think this would have been too much for me right now hunkered down with it. Listening while gardening gave me a barrier. But I‘m SO glad I did, though. 4y
Texreader I bought this book today. I had added to my tbr list thanks to this review. #blameitonlitsy 4y
Ericalambbrown @Texreader I sure hope you like it. This one stayed with me quite a while after I‘d finished it! 4y
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Ericalambbrown
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Kinda funny way to describe The Blues 😂🤣

KathyWheeler I love this! 4y
Ericalambbrown @KathyWheeler This book is pretty damn bleak, but I cackled when I got to this. 😂 4y
Texreader Going to have to share this quote with my son whose been playing the guitar since 4th grade. His guitar teacher is a classical guitar master. They‘ll get a kick out of this! 4y
Ericalambbrown @Texreader that‘s awesome! 😀 4y
54 likes4 comments
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Yahui07
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Pickpick

4.5.
Interesting book. But have hard time distinguishing what is real and what is invented probably because we know too little about the North Korea.

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SqueakyChu
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I am so freaked out by the COVID-19 pandemic that even reading a novel about North Korea seems like light reading now! At least it‘s fiction. 😕

BookishMarginalia 💜💜💜 4y
SqueakyChu @BookishMarginalia I take it you liked this book! 😊 4y
BookishMarginalia Not the book (I haven‘t read it yet, though it‘s perennially in my TBR) but the sentiment. Too much reality right now is... too much! 4y
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SqueakyChu I bailed. Not because of the book, but because of the pandemic. I needed something less disturbing to read. 4y
Bry I don‘t blame you. I really liked the book but definitely not the easiest read, even in the best of situations. 4y
SqueakyChu @Bry Maybe one day I‘ll get back to it, but not any time soon! 4y
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aa_guer2021
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Ambitious? Yes. Unlikely? Possibly. But I have TWO WEEKS OFF and time with my cat where I feel safe and loved. So there it is. My #staycation #TBR pile. #stayhome #bookworm #introvert ❤️📚🙏🏻

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Howard_L
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Pickpick

A gripping tale of violence, treachery, fear and perseverance in N Korea that follows the life of an orphan who is conscripted for military service and more. An incredible book I likely wouldn‘t have read based on mainstream reviews and plot summaries but for the Great American Read nudging me out of my comfort zone and literary prejudices.

OwenBanner One of my all time favorites. Really had no idea where it was going to go 4y
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scripturient
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Starting to get my books together for a 2-week holiday in Holland. What do you think? Is this plus the new Sarah J. Maas going to be enough for 14 days? 🙈

julesG Might just be enough. 😉 Enjoy your holiday. 4y
Nute It looks like you‘re all set. Have a wonderful holiday! 4y
Soubhiville It would be for me. Enjoy your vacation 😊 4y
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scripturient @julesg @Soubhiville Thank you. Looking forward to the Gladstones retreat already. @nute Thank you so much. :) 4y
BarbaraBB You will probably buy some more when passing a book store 😉. Enjoy your holiday! 💕 4y
squirrelbrain What @BarbaraBB said - you can always buy more if you run out! Have a fab holiday! (edited) 4y
LeahBergen Do what I do: purposely underpack so you “have” to go book shopping. 😉 Have a lovely holiday! 4y
tracey38 Looks good and as everyone said, you can always stop by bookstores! Enjoy your holiday in Holland! 4y
LazyOwl Enjoy your stay in Holland 4y
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Tonton
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Pickpick

There are still families in Japan who have no idea of the fate of their son/ daughter who have been kidnapped by North Korean agents. The mystery and cruelty of life in a country under despotic rule and the effects on an indoctrinated perfect citizen who awakens to protect doomed fragile love bowled me over.

Megabooks This is a fantastic book!! 4y
Suet624 Great review 4y
Tonton @Megabooks Amazing 😉 4y
Tonton @Suet624 Thanks 😊 4y
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Floresj
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Pickpick

This book took a little bit to get into but definitely accelerated in the second half of the novel. As it‘s set in North Korea and the author conducted many interviews of defectors, I had to wonder, “How realistic is this work of fiction?” Disturbing in many places, humorous at times, it was a interesting way to expose a variety of lives in North Korea.

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stephothebesto
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Bry
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Pickpick

This one took me a while to read and was somewhat confusing with the mixed-up chronology but I really liked how everything came together in the end. It‘s impressive how the author was able to make me start questioning whose “stories” were true, which is what the characters were also dealing with themselves. It‘s a terrifying look at life in North Korea and makes you think about propaganda, media and truth.

VioletBramble This is a great book. So well written. So powerful. I still think about it whenever North Korea is mentioned. 5y
Smrloomis I loved this book so very much, despite its dark subject matter. 4y
Smrloomis @VioletBramble me, too! I recommend it to anyone who will listen but no one has taken me up on it. It‘s like they think it will be depressing or something 😅 4y
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sarahjane1077
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Just started this one tonight and cannot put it down! A good 2nd and Charles find from today!

Megabooks So good! 5y
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Smrloomis
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Thanks for posting this @thegirlwiththelibrarybag since I would have never seen it otherwise. I‘m surprised I‘ve actually read 10 of these. Most I‘ve never heard of so I guess I could always add those to my ever-expanding TBR. 🤷🏻‍♀️ The tagged book is one I LOVED SO MUCH and can‘t get anyone else I know to read including my own family 😆 https://www.listchallenges.com/pulitzer-prize-novels/list/3

AKinderman I took it and read 12, how fun!
5y
Smrloomis @AKinderman 👍🏽 I love those kind of things 😁 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag I love lists (especially book ones) so I‘m a bit sad that I got zero. Haven‘t heard of the majority 😅 5y
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Smrloomis @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I also had only heard of the more recent ones. I love book prizes so I was surprised that I didn‘t know more of them! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5y
Blaire I have recommended the orphan master‘s son to so many people as well. One of the best books I‘ve read in probably the last 10 years. 5y
Blaire I‘ve read 32 of these books. Not too bad. 5y
Smrloomis @Blaire has anyone followed your advice? Once I say North Korea and orphan, most people are like hmm, well, that doesn‘t sound bleak at all. 5y
Blaire @Smrloomis nope. like you I got the “sounds too heavy” reaction. But I still push it, it had such an impact on me, and the research he did to write is incredible. 5y
Smrloomis @Blaire Agreed! Maybe some fellow #Littens will at least take our excellent advice! 5y
50 likes9 comments
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Tkgbjenn1
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Pickpick

This is the one thing that I find disappointing about Litsy is the limited space for comments. There is so much to be said about this book. Bleak! A look into North Korean Society thru the eyes of a common North Korean turned national hero. If George Orwell predicted anything in “1984” it was North Korea. I have a much lengthier review on Good Reads.

Reggie Cheat like the rest of us do sometimes and put a finger pointing down 👇🏼 emoji at the end and continue in the comments. 5y
Tkgbjenn1 👍🏼good idea 5y
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Caksf
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Pickpick

WOW.. what a fantastic book! Johnson‘s characters convey tremendous ranges of emotion. His “hero‘s journey” takes us through a fully fleshed out North Korea, giving us a profound understanding of the toll of totalitarianism, and the human will to exist. The book is part thriller, part mystery, a page turner and a book worth discussing. What else do you need? 5/5 Loved it!

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kristincatastrophic
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Pickpick

I read many reviews of this book as I started it and they were very polarized. My opinion, I loved it but it took a long time getting there. 443 pages may not seem long but there was a lot packed into those pages, a lot to handle and halfway in I wasn't even sure I'd finish. But a few chapters into part two I could barely put it down. I could write an essay on this book but I'm running out of characters. The Pulitzer was well deserved.

DrexEdit I loved this book too. Great read. Will have to re-read someday. 6y
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kristincatastrophic
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Any time is reading time. Especially getting to work 20 minutes early and hiding outside with a cup of coffee and a cigarette, stealing 15 minutes of peace and quiet.

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kristincatastrophic
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Since my kids are leaving for vacation without me tomorrow I'll have plenty of time for a more serious book next. But do I actually start this undertaking tonight or wait for daylight. Decisions, decisions.
Sleep is for the week, starting it now.

redfeatherreader 1. Cute bookmark 😍 2. Good book 😁 6y
kristincatastrophic @redfeatherreader thanks, I love my bookmark 6y
kristincatastrophic @redfeatherreader As far as the book, I heard a lot of mixed feedback but I'm about 70 pages in and so far I'm liking it. 6y
18 likes3 comments
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SheReadsAgain
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Weekend goals! Author Adam Johnson is appearing at the 2018 Honolulu Book & Music Festival on Sunday. I'm listening to the audiobook in the car and reading a few pages of the library book at night. Both "reading" methods are great for this title, it's hard to recommend one over the other.

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JennaRoot
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This has been on my list for ages! #nextup

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Smrloomis
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Kindle deal 🎉 I loved this one. Set in North Korea (although by an American author, not a Korean one). Get it while it‘s cheap.

Megabooks It‘s a great book! 6y
Smrloomis @Booksandcooks I thought so! 6y
RaimeyGallant Good to know! 6y
Blaire This book is incredible!! 6y
Smrloomis @RaimeyGallant 👍🏽 @Blaire could not agree more 😄 6y
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Minervasbutler
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Mehso-so

Everyone seems to rave about this one, but I confess I found it a bit of a slog. Perhaps it's that the satire on a totalitarian state seemed slightly pointless, or the fact that none of the characters really came to life. Bits of it were quite amusing but I was glad to reach the end.

OwenBanner Maybe it was better as an audiobook. 6y
Minervasbutler @OwenBanner Maybe so. I didn't hate it, he's clearly a very good writer and he set out to try and do something a bit different. Just didn't really grab me as much as it did other people. 6y
58 likes2 comments
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Areader2
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Excited for my book club tonight to discuss The Orphan Masters Son ,should be a good one!🤓📖

AmyG What an amazing book. I read this for book club too. 6y
Areader2 @AmyG it was a great discussion,and honestly I needed to talk about it! 6y
MrsSpencer @Areader2 I love it!! 6y
10 likes4 comments
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Areader2

I am listening to this book on audio on the #libbyapp.Such a story of survival in your own country,an everyday challenge. To have no identity of your own or your families, it‘s just appalling to me.But wow,I am listening and the writing is so beautiful,that under all the terrible things you feel something,you see beauty that isn‘t really there,you have to get drawn into the magical realism in order to continue with this resilient man.

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Onioons
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Holy loudspeakers! This was intense. The remarkable biography of Jun Do, a young North Korean orphan, and the confessions of the powerful Commander Ga. Dramatic tales from the Workers Paradise that we know so little about...

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rachelk
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Pickpick

Based on an amalgamation of North Korean refugees interviewed by the author, protagonist Pak Jun Do leads the reader through an odyssey of diverse and harrowing life experiences. While the book can at times be difficult to due to an ambitious plot and dark subject matter, I thought it was a very interesting (albeit heartbreaking) look into a hidden world. #theorphanmastersson #NorthKorea #PulitzerPrize #epic #thriller

DebbieGrillo Those socks 😍 6y
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Elsje
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“Finally, a solitary figure stood at the end of the pier. When they saw the red of a cigarette, they knew it was a man.”

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JDMagnus
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New purchase. So excited to dive in! 😁

Blaire It is wonderful! Gave me a lot of insight into North Korea. 6y
66 likes1 comment
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cinann
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Day 4 of #Jingleshelves is #Onyourshelfallyear
All of these books have been on my shelf all year. I want to read them all, but I have so many others to read as well.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @bookloo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m ashamed to post ALL of the ones that have been my my shelf the past year!!! 🙈🙊 6y
Cinfhen I really liked 6y
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SilversReviews What a great photo of these good books. (edited) 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Cinfhen good!! That ones on my shelf too!! 6y
cinann @SilversReviews Thank you 6y
cinann @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I have a lot more I could add, but these were already altogether on the shelf. 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @cinann pretty group of books!! 📚😊 6y
Bourriquet76 Henrietta, Midwives, and Aviator's Wife are all ones I've liked. 6y
26 likes9 comments
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mauveandrosysky
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Panpan

I really hated this book and found it completely boring, but after slogging through 200+ pages, I felt like I had to see it through. Honestly, half the time I had no idea what was going on. Maybe that was part of the point? I know this is a good book but it really wasn't for me. I'm so glad it's over.

BkClubCare Maybe because satire? Satire books always seem to provoke wildly different reactions. 6y
mauveandrosysky @BkClubCare I usually love satire 6y
Ericmanciniwriter This is highly concerning, expect an email 6y
mauveandrosysky @Eamann hahaha I'm sorry! 😩😩😩 6y
Minervasbutler I found it underwhelming as well, given all the glowing reviews. Oh well. 6y
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Pasaal
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
Pickpick

What a mesmerizing book! I am surprised I liked this as much as I did considering the subject matter, but the writing is so good, the chilling yet somehow very human world of North Korea so masterfully created, it gave me lots to think about. Love, family, relationships, self determination, free will, sacrifice: the many things that make life livable versus just bearable. This book just begs to be discussed.

Howard_L Ditto. Great review. 4y
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mauveandrosysky
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I hate this so much but I'm 260 pages in and feel like I need to see it through I'm a glutton for punishment 😩

BarbaraBB Is it no good? It‘s on my TBR shelves, waiting....! 6y
Alicia Omg this was me last month, I bailed..... but I was only 1/4 in. 6y
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Babs_book_obsession
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
Mehso-so

First I was bored, then I was confused, then I found myself really enjoying it. It is not easy to get into and it is very traumatic at times. Read it for a glimpse at life in North Korea, including the absurdity, and to reflect on the meaning of freedom. The story itself doesn't pick up for quite a while and is hard to take literally.

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Alicia
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Bailedbailed

So technically I haven't bailed yet but wanted your thoughts!! I started this audio Friday on a road trip and so far it is nothing but snooze fest for me. I can't get into it at all!! I feel like maybe I should come back or slog through, but I also feel like it's not worth my time. I'm about 1/3 of the way through. I just don't care about the characters at all!! And half the time im just confused... 😩😤😱

readinginthedark I haven't read this, but I hate that feeling! 😕 6y
Jas16 I really liked this one but can see how it is not for everyone. 6y
merelybookish I read this and found it a struggle the whole way through. I know lots of people who loved it but I found it a chore. 6y
Cinfhen I couldn‘t read through it but my attention span is short 🙄 6y
Alicia @readinginthedark @Jas16 @merelybookish @Cinfhen thank you guys! It makes me feel a lot better to know I'm not alone. Maybe I will bail and come back later if I feel so inclined... 6y
58 likes5 comments
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Natasha.C.Barnes
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The first book finished in October! I'm deeply uncomfortable with the phrase #lookwhatyoumademedo because that's a common refrain of domestic abusers--but a comparison to the intense control North Korea has over its people would not be misplaced, I think. I much preferred the 1st 1/2 of the book to the 2nd, but it was a fascinating and gripping story. Trigger warning for some torture scenes though. #uncannyoctober

Tamra Nice review! 6y
Megabooks Loved this book! 6y
BestDogDad So good, but hard to read in places. 6y
Natasha.C.Barnes @JeffKoeppen I totally agree. Once the narrative switched to the second character (I've forgotten his name already) things got bad enough for me to get squeamish. 6y
Nat_Reads I loved this book! 6y
73 likes5 stack adds5 comments
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Natasha.C.Barnes
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I have ~ 3.5 hours left of this book and ~ 3.5 hours left in September (I'm on the west coast of the US), but I have to finish because this would be book #20 of the month!

Chelleo Good luck! 6y
Natasha.C.Barnes @Chelleo Thank you!! I'll need it! 6y
Theresa 20 books this month! You go, Girl!! 👏👏👏 6y
Natasha.C.Barnes @Theresa That's born of unemployment and extreme procrastination, so I'm still trying to figure out how some of you people do it and still have successful lives...😆 6y
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Ericmanciniwriter
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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Within this bleak book there are these great little sparkling nuggets of humor, and you need them so badly.

Libby1 ? "... chronicles the pain caused by poor decision making "! ? 7y
DrexEdit Love it! This is a tough but fantastic book! 7y
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Ferihearted
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Ericmanciniwriter
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This book. THIS BOOK

ErikasMindfulShelf I need to read it. I loved his short story collection! 7y
Ericmanciniwriter @manifestsanity I think you'd love this based on the books you post about 7y
Tamra This has been on my radar a long time! 7y
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mauveandrosysky Would this be a good one for me to take on a long plane trip in a few weeks? Is it *that* kind of compelling/engaging? (edited) 7y
Ericmanciniwriter Hmm...it is for me, but I'm super fascinated by NK. I'll say this: if this plane ride is honeymoon-related, this book may not be the mood you're looking for 7y
mauveandrosysky I'm always down for a dismal mood. This is one of the other books I'm considering taking if that tells you anything, ha 7y
Ericmanciniwriter @mauveandrosysky woah. Then this book is perfect for you 7y
KVanRead Stacking it!! 7y
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blurb
Ericmanciniwriter
Orphan Master's Son | Adam Johnson
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When my wife passed me this book she told me she couldn't read it before bed; it gave her strange, frightening dreams. 70 pages in and I see why. What an achievement though.

saresmoore Why does that make me want to read it even more? Ha! His story collection really knocked my socks off. 7y
Megabooks Both books are great! Enjoy! 7y
ChasingOm I loved this book. 👍🏼 7y
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RanaElizabeth Such a great, amazing book. 7y
Suet624 I love how your wife supplies you with books to read. 7y
mauveandrosysky Ooh, now I'm intrigued. 7y
Ericmanciniwriter @saresmoore you need to read this so we can discuss 7y
Ericmanciniwriter @mauveandrosysky ditto for you - we need to read and discuss 7y
BarbaraBB I have been wanting to read this for years now. Looking forward to your further thoughts - they may push me to actually do it. 7y
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review
ReadosaurusText
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Pickpick

I love this book! I think it speaks to many important issues and themes, especially given the current presidential regime. Full review here: http://readosaurustext.blogspot.com/2015/01/?m=1. #occupationintitle #fallintobooks @RealLifeReading

Texreader Great review. I'm surprised I hadn't heard of this book before. It's now a must read. 7y
ChasingOm This is a beautiful book! I loved it. 7y
ReadosaurusText @Texreader Adam Johnson's first book is also very good! 7y
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Texreader @ReadosaurusText Oh that sounds so good too and exactly the type of book I love. Thanks so much!! 7y
ReadosaurusText @Texreader Awesome! I hope you like both books as much as I did! 7y
Smrloomis I so loved this book! 👍🏽 7y
ReadosaurusText @Smrloomis Agreed! Have you read the author's short story collections? I have not, but the newer one is on my #tbr list. 7y
Smrloomis @ReadosaurusText unfortunately no. It's on my TBR too. I also have another novel of his that I'm going to read one of these days. 7y
ReadosaurusText @Smrloomis I really like Parasites Like Us! I didn't even put together that they were the same author until well in Orphan Master's Son. They have very different settings, but I think some common themes emerge. 7y
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review
Purpleness
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Pickpick

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one; I was reading it as my "cat on the cover" book for my reading challenge. Although not written by a North Korean, it did a good job creating thought-provoking voices of those not only silenced by tyranny, but also deafened to the outside world. The tragic absurdity of so many of the scenes make this a memorable read. Also, it may be awhile before I eat peaches again.

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