How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for the orphan master s son. How is the concept of freedom defined by the characters. With the death of kim jongil all eyes are on north korea, but the best way to understand. The orphan masters son by adam johnson book club discussion. The orphan masters son is no more about north korea than the merchant of venice is about venice under the doges. Its almost like a knowing perversion of existentialism, where. Identity in the orphan masters son spoilers discussion. The orphan masters son by adam johnson is a chilling look into the life of a professional kidnapper for n. How much did you know about north korea before reading the orphan masters son. The orphan masters son by adam johnson tells the tale of two north korean men, pak jun do, the main character, a professional kidnapper for the pyongyang regime trained to fight in the dark, and a secondary character known as the interrogator, whose path crosses with jun do after he assumes a.
Without spoiling anything, the novel starts much like youd expect a novel about north korea. The orphan masters son by adam johnson discussion guide. Our facilitator, beth hicks, lived in south korea in the early 1990s. If all this sounds convoluted, i should note that ive described only the first half of the orphan masters son, which more or less serves as a prologue to the book s real story. The orphan masters son npr coverage of the orphan masters son. Hes convinced that the orphan master is actually his father and that the beautiful woman in a photo hanging from his wall is his mother. Reveals much more about the prejudices and beliefs of some americans than of korea.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. He knows no more, for that was all jun dos father, the orphan master, would say about her. The pulitzer prizewinning, new york times bestselling novel of north korea. Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. I was enthralled with the characters and the story. Pak jun do is the haunted son of a lost mother a singer stolen to pyongyang and an influential father who runs a work camp for orphans. Winner, 20 pulitzer prize and 20 california book award for fiction in conversation with martyn williams, senior u. Book club discussion questions for the orphan masters. A complete reading guide, including discussion questions, for the orphan masters.
Adam johnson is a professor of english with emphasis in creative writing at stanford university. Discuss jun dos physical and emotional journey, and his transformation from the beginning of the novel to the end. He is hardly a sympathetic character, but sympathy is. The orphan masters son is a 2012 novel by american author adam johnson. Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and discover. I think that the issue of identity merits discussion in this book. The book s cunning, flair and pathos are testaments to the stillformidable power of the written word. The orphan masters son 2012 posted on november 7, 20 by ron boothe on november 12 we will discuss ron powers selection adam johnson, the orphan masters son, 2012 here is some preliminary information about the book provided by ron powers. The orphan masters son by adam johnson penguin random. The orphan masters son pulitzer prize winner by adam. This is the book that derailed my writing for six weeks i was caughtup in the adventure of reading it, but as a story, its meandering quality prevented me from loving it, and at the time, made. Part breathless thriller, part story of innocence lost, part story of romantic love, the orphan masters son is also a riveting portrait of a world heretofore hidden from view. North korea is the setting for an imaginary story about a man who gradually, though always dramatically, discovers his own humanity in. Johnson is an american novelist who teaches at stanford university, and the story was an excerpt from his novel, the orphan masters son.
Copies will be available behind the reference desk. I think, perhaps, the best way to start talking about the orphan masters son by adam johnson is to say that this book fucked me right up. Through their stories, the reader gets a glimpse of what life is like in this part of the world. The protagonist of johnsons parasites like us, 2003, etc. Book club discussion questions for the orphan masters son by. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for the orphan masters son. One critic described the orphan masters son as darkly comedic, and another as. General book club questions for study and discussion. The wall street journal the orphan masters son performs an unusual form of sorcery, taking a frankly cruel and absurd reality and somehow converting it into. Its the type of book that absolutely begs for discussion. The orphan masters son adam johnson, 2012 random house 480 pp.
While much has changed since then, her examples of culture, lifestyle, and values of the korean peninsula were enlightening. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety of topics, both fiction and nonfiction. Adam johnson this novel follows a young mans journey through the icy waters, dark tunnels, and eerie spy chambers of the worlds most mysterious dictatorship, north korea. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. The first part of the book introduces us to pak jun do the orphan masters son of the title and it progresses steadily until you think you know what to expect from this novel. The washington post pak jun do is the haunted son of a lost. How do the characters preserve their personal dignity in this work.
An epic novel and a thrilling literary discovery, the orphan masters son follows a young mans journey through the icy waters, dark tunnels, and eerie spy chambers of the worlds most mysterious dictatorship, north korea. Book club discussion questions for the orphan masters son by adam johnson. The orphan master kept a photograph of a woman in his small room at long tomorrows. The pulitzer prizewinning, new york times betselling novel of north korea. Our twitter book clubs reading schedule for the acclaimed 2012 novel set.
Why is storytelling so important in the orphan masters son. A breakout debut with modern resonance, perfect for fans of the underground railroad and orphan train. Winner of a whiting award and fellowships from the guggenheim foundation, the national endowment for the arts and the american academy in berlin, he is the author of several books, including fortune smiles, which won the 2015 national book award, and the novel the orphan masters son, which was. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. Book club discussion questions for the orphan master s son by adam johnson its been a while since our last discussion guide, so lets kick off the summer reading season with this incredible read, the orphan master s son by adam johnson. Subscribe to the oprahs book club newsletter sign up for the oprahs book club newsletter get more stories like this delivered to your inbox get updates on your favorite shows, the latest from oprahs world and more. The novel follows the misadventures of jun do, a north korean everyman. 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. The discussion at the end of the book is a diatribe worthy of a trump not a. Discuss the significance of jun do as a homonym for john doe, the western name for the unnamed and the everyman. Identity in the orphan master s son spoilers discussion. Octobers additional read is the orphan masters son by adam johnson. Remember that these questions are jumping off points for discussion with your book club, and i answer them to get your. Remember that these questions are jumping off points for discussion with your book.
Random house jun dos rise eventually takes him, improbably, on a secret mission to texas, where failure leads to his seeming ruin. The robbins library book discussion group will meet on monday november 6 at 7 pm in the robbins library community room. Remember that these questions are jumping off points for discussion with your book club, and i answer them to get your brain going. The novel follows pak jung do, son of a politically powerful man who runs an orphan camp tellingly called long. The orphan masters son by srwobookclub see profile. Its been a while since our last discussion guide, so lets kick off the summer reading season with this incredible read, the orphan masters son by adam johnson. The novel, the orphan masters son by adam johnson, tells the story of two north korean men, both of whom rebel against the countrys tyrannical government. It will be very interesting to hear what my bookclub girls think when we meet shortly. The orphan masters son book summary and study guide. The orphan masters son book johnson county library.
Part adventure, part comingofage tale, and part romance, the orphan masters son is a triumph on every level. The orphan masters son, by adam johnson an epic novel and a thrilling literary discovery, the orphan masters son follows a young mans journey through the icy waters, dark tunnels, and eerie spy chambers of the worlds most mysterious dictatorship, north. In fact, in my interpretation the story im almost finished with it, not quite i think that identity is completely central to the message of the book. A novel of north korea is a tantalizing novel guaranteed to grab your attention. Great book club choice the orphan masters son by myaherbst see profile 05. That was all jun dos father, the orphan master, would say about her. Pak jun do is the haunted son of a lost mother a singer stolen to pyongyang and an influential father who runs long. The group discusses the orphan masters son by adam johnson.
Whether you are discussing characters and their actions, setting, theme, or images, having a guide to questions that will. It deals with intertwined themes of propaganda, identity and state power in north. Reading guide for the orphan masters son by adam johnson. This is a book discussion led by librarian cyndi larsen featuring fictional and nonfictional books about north korea. Were introduced to pak jun do, a north korean boy who begins life in an poor orphanage. Here is a rare chance to meet one of americas most prominent novelists and to get an inside look at his prizewinning work, the orphan masters son. In what ways does the state attempt to quash or define the identity of individual citizens.
She was quite lovelyeyes large and sideways looking, lips. Orphan masters son by adam johnson reading guidebook club. A true thriller that combines contemporary politics with timeless storytelling, the orphan masters son. Pak jun do is the haunted son of a lost mothera singer stolen to pyongyangand an. How would you classify the novel in terms of genre. Imagine charles dickens paying a visit to pyongyang, and you see the canvas on which adam johnson is painting here. Join the leading website for book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 reading guides. The bookworm book club selected a timely book for this discussion. The orphan masters son by adam johnson random house, hardcover, 9780812992793, january 2012, 464pp. The orphan masters son, by adam johnson, takes place in north korea.
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