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Book Review: The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson & Giveaway (US/Canada)

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The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson is a novel that has gotten rave reviews. It’s the story of Jun Do who, as a boy, lives with his father who runs an orphanage. He grows up with the stigma of always being an orphan boy even though he isn’t. He ends up in a prison but then is somehow out of prison and is instead a trained killer in Korea who ends up killing a famous General.

Now I do have to say that this is one book that had me more than thoroughly confused and I’m normally pretty good at following plots so forgive me if I’m getting this story, as perceived by me, completely wrong. Anyhow, after Jun Do kills the general he proceeds to impersonate him and begins to live with his wife and kids. This wife is a famous actress named Sun Moon who from what I gathered Jun Do had always had a thing for but knew he would never have her and yet now he is. Not only that but everyone around them, including the best friend of the General, believe that Jun Do is actually him.

When I went into reading this novel I was hoping to learn more about Korea since I’m always interested in learning about different parts of our world. This novel is one of destruction and killing – it’s quite dark really and even that wouldn’t bother me at all except for the fact that I found it so mixed up. I couldn’t relate to any of these characters and I think because it jumped around so much you never really got a chance to get to know them. I also just could not find this story believable. A man coming from nowhere and impersonating your husband and actually being accepted seemed a little out there to me.

Now I will say that the writing in this novel is incredible as is the author’s obvious talent at being very creative with his storytelling. I only wish it had been a little more cohesive because I have the feeling I would have really enjoyed if it would have been. As well maybe a lot of this story just went over my head which wouldn’t surprise me. So while this novel may not have been my cup of tea, it has been for a lot of other people like Audra over at Unabridged Chick whose opinion I trust a great deal. She really enjoyed it so check out her review!  Plus I have a giveaway below where you can enter to win a copy and decide for yourself what you think of the book.

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson is touring with TLC Book Tours so be sure to check out all the other tour stops for other opinions on the book. You can pick up your own copy of The Orphan Master’s Son here in the US or here in Canada.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)

I have one copy of The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson up for giveaway. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do just let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, September 22/12.  Good luck!

Source:  Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours and the Publisher via NetGalley.  No compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Darlene, you are not alone in not reacting positively to this book. It was too over the top for me in terms of pushing my face into the enigma that is North Korea. Enough was enough after the first few chapters.

  6. Hmm. I may end of confused, as well, but your review makes me want to get to the bottom, of it all. Thanks for the giveaway. I’m a follower.

  7. Hmm. I may end up confused as well, but your review makes me want to get to the bottom, of it all. Thanks for the giveaway. I’m a follower.

  8. Interesting. I’m guessing he was probly so much better than her husband she was glad for the change. And maybe he was somehow related to the general so looked sort of like him? I haven’t read it so i’m just making that up.
    Great review Darlene. I think you really gave us a good idea of the story.
    No need to enter me on this one.

  9. I AM NOT ENTERING THIS GIVEAWAY. I ALREADY OWN AND HAVE READ THIS BOOK.

    I just want to comment. Yours is the most honest-sounding review I’ve read of this book. I bought it because of all the raves and was sorely disappointed. Here’s what I think.

    This is a case of too much hype about THE ORPHAN MASTER’S SON, too much exclamation about how great it is, too much insistence that it will be the best book I ever read. I expected too much; therefore, I’m disappointed.

    The book is about North Korea. It was difficult to read about such a hellish country and the sorry state of everyone in it. But it was also difficult to read such choppy writing. As a result, I thought throughout that I was missing something as I tried to get a handle on the orphan master’s son, Pac Jun Do.

    I know for sure that Pac Jun Do is a master liar. But I couldn’t tell for a long time whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. Now I think that while he was younger and into adulthood he just went with the flow, accepting his lot and behaving as he was expected to. But he gradually came to think differently. Still it’s choppy. So I’m not sure.

    The story gets better when Jun Do is part of a delegation traveling to Texas. But the reason he goes with the North Korean officials is never clearly stated. He doesn’t seem sure himself.

    When he returns to North Korea, he comes home to the hideous. It gets worse. Frankly, it was so awful I could read only so much until I had to put the book down and take a break.

    In my opinion, someone did some great marketing of this book and put out there some stupendous reader reviews that really sold the book to a lot of readers who believed them. In reality, it’s difficult to follow. It is hard to tell if description is imagined or true. The writing is clumsy. First Jun Do is here, then he’s there, then you can’t tell where the heck he is. Too much is left unsaid, left to the reader’s imagination. Yet torture scenes are described in awful detail.

    I didn’t like this book at all. If you still want to read it, borrow it from the library; don’t buy it. That way, even though you’ll waste time, you at least won’t waste money.

  13. Hi Darlene

    The Orphan Master’s Son has been one of the biggest hits of the year which is one of the reasons it’s so exciting to see it out in paperback. I’d love to win a copy of this great book. Thanks!

    I follow this blog by email: carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx

    I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/245206361770717184

    Thanks again, fingers crossed.

  14. The plot descriptions have me concerned about how the book stretches credibility. I thought we had no diplomatic relations with North Korea. So how do we allow a delegation to go to Texas. (of all places). From what I have read in reviews, it seems the book jumps the shark early on. But I would be curious to read it and see for myself.

  15. I actually also loved this one, and did learn a lot about Korea, I believe. Now, I listened to it, so maybe I was helped by the different narrators to know whose perspective I was following. here is my review:
    http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/06/25/2012-30-the-orphan-masters-son/

    I would love to win the printed book, thanks for the giveaway!
    I follow you, and my tweet is:
    https://twitter.com/wordsandpeace/status/245254647730810880
    Emma
    ehc16e at yahoo dot com

  16. Even though you’d had trouble with the cohesiveness of this novel, I’d probably give it a shot since it sounds so interesting. I’ll pop the giveaway in my sidebar as usual.

  17. What I love so much about you is that you’re not afraid to say that you didn’t really understand it…..that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t do this blog tour because I thought the book would be too complicated for me and not keep my attention. Loved your review!

  18. No need to enter me.

    I ended up liking this book quite a bit for its surreal nature and odd protagonist. It reminded me a little bit of 1984 with the whole Big Brother (North Korea is watching) thing.

    It’s definitely an odd story.

  20. This sounds like an awesome book. So different from what we see on the best reading lists right now. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. I think that my husband will probabaly like it also.
    I’m a follower & I tweeted, https://twitter.com/Dyniy/status/245925479230607360
    Please give Sammy big hug for me & one for your Dad too. And I send prayers for healing & happiness prayers for all. Thanks for your hard work on this Dar, it shows.

  22. I think I liked this book as much for the fact that it was so different from anything else I’ve read and so many unusual pieces (the container of shoes floating in the bay, for example). But is dark and does require the reader to suspend disbelief.