Why people recommend it
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that offers a harrowing and deeply imaginative look into life within the closed society of North Korea. During an episode of The Book Review titled What to Read About North Korea, broadcast on July 18, 2024, Nicholas Kristoff discussed the powerful narrative. While on the program, Nicholas Kristoff recommended this novel set in North Korea as an incredible yarn and a great window into how the country works, while explicitly asking his guest to explain the reasoning behind choosing the book. Kristoff praised the author during the broadcast, stating that Adam Johnson is just an extraordinary writer and highlighting the compelling premise of writing a novel set in North Korea centered around a military man. The recommendation emphasized the book's dual success as both a gripping work of fiction and an illuminating exploration of a secretive totalitarian state. Through this detailed podcast conversation, the speakers illustrated how contemporary fiction can effectively shed light on complex geopolitical realities and human struggles in deeply isolated regions of the world.
Who recommended it
- Nicholas Kristoff Recommended
Nicholas Kristoff — 1 mention
“tell us about why you chose to put Adam Johnson's the orphan Master son Adam Johnson is just an extraordinary writer and the idea of writing a novel set in in North Korea about a a military man”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- An American Marriage
- Binti: The Night Masquerade
- Circe
- Complete poems and selected letters
- Enlightenment Now
- Green
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“And Adam Johnson is a Pulitzer Prizewinning novelist. He is probably best known for The Orphan Master's Son”
“he's already won the pitter prize for his 2012 novel The Orphan Master son”