If you enjoy reading novels by Adam Johnson then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoyed Adam Johnson’s exploration of life under oppressive regimes might find George Orwell’s novels equally captivating. Orwell had a gift for painting vivid scenes of authoritarian societies.
His famous novel “1984” provides a chilling portrayal of a future dominated by a totalitarian government. The story follows Winston Smith, a man trapped in a bleak world where privacy and independent thought are forbidden.
Orwell expertly describes how citizens are constantly monitored by an entity called Big Brother. Winston’s quiet rebellion and search for truth highlight the risks of personal freedom in a crushingly controlled society.
For readers fascinated by stories about resistance, identity, and the cost of standing against oppression, “1984” offers a powerful and memorable reading experience.
Chang-Rae Lee is an author known for insightful novels that explore complex characters placed in turbulent historical and personal settings.
If you’re a fan of Adam Johnson’s engaging narratives and richly developed protagonists, Lee’s novel “The Surrendered” could resonate with you. The story follows the intersecting lives of June, a Korean war orphan, and Hector, a troubled American soldier.
Years after the Korean War, their paths cross again, leading them to revisit memories of grief, loss, love, and survival. Lee writes with compassion and deep emotional truth, examining how personal history shapes identity across time and distance.
Books by Haruki Murakami often explore surreal worlds wrapped within ordinary life. If you enjoyed how Adam Johnson blends reality with unexpected strangeness, you’ll likely appreciate Murakami’s novel “Kafka on the Shore.”
The story follows two parallel journeys: Kafka Tamura, a teenage runaway dealing with a mysterious prophecy, and Nakata, an elderly man who speaks to cats and becomes wrapped up in events he barely understands.
Murakami brings in supernatural elements, gentle humor, and emotional depth, creating a unique and memorable reading experience. The familiar and the impossible come together seamlessly, drawing readers into an imaginative yet believable world.
Readers who appreciate Adam Johnson’s storytelling might also enjoy Colson Whitehead’s work. Whitehead skillfully combines imagination, historical settings, and deep insights into human nature. A great place to start is his novel “The Underground Railroad.”
The story follows Cora, a young enslaved woman in Georgia who tries to escape her brutal life using what Whitehead reimagines as an actual underground railway beneath southern states.
Each stop along her risky journey reveals an alternate reality of American history, painting vivid pictures of hope, struggle, and resilience. Whitehead’s narrative is powerful and thought-provoking, blending elements of history and fiction seamlessly.
Readers who appreciate Adam Johnson’s imaginative storytelling and distinct characters might enjoy exploring David Mitchell’s novels. Mitchell is known for weaving interconnected narratives and creating vivid worlds across different time periods.
In “Cloud Atlas,” he presents six separate stories set in diverse eras and locations—from the 19th-century Pacific voyage of Adam Ewing to a futuristic society in Korea and even into a distant post-apocalyptic future.
Each story subtly links to the others, revealing deeper connections between characters and ideas as the novel unfolds.
Mitchell plays cleverly with language and genre, moving seamlessly from historical fiction to mystery thriller to science fiction, keeping readers intrigued until the very last page.
If you enjoy Adam Johnson’s skill at blending intricate human emotions with complex historical settings, Kazuo Ishiguro might be an author to explore next. Ishiguro has a subtle style that quietly draws you into his characters’ lives.
His novel “Never Let Me Go” follows the story of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy—three childhood friends raised at an isolated boarding school called Hailsham. At first glance, their world seems familiar, even comforting.
But gradually, the characters realize that their lives are not quite as ordinary in purpose as they believed. The book raises questions about morality, friendship, and what it truly means to be human, leaving readers with deep reflections long after turning the final page.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author whose novels often explore the dark corners of society, authority, and human nature. If you enjoyed Adam Johnson’s “The Orphan Master’s Son,” you might also appreciate Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Set in the oppressive state of Gilead, this powerful dystopian novel follows Offred, a woman forced to live as a “Handmaid”—someone who exists only to produce children for the ruling class.
Atwood creates a chilling vision of a society controlled by strict religious and political beliefs. The story raises haunting questions about identity, freedom, and what happens when power is absolute.
Barbara Kingsolver offers stories that combine vivid characters with complex moral dilemmas. If you like the layered narratives of Adam Johnson, Kingsolver’s “The Poisonwood Bible” could capture your interest.
The novel follows missionary Nathan Price as he moves his family from Georgia to the Belgian Congo in the late 1950s. His wife and four daughters quickly find their beliefs and values challenged by their new environment.
Each chapter is told from a different family member’s perspective, revealing a deeper picture of the misunderstandings and impacts of colonialism.
Kingsolver’s talent for creating believable, flawed characters and her attention to cultural detail bring humanity and insight to this tragic yet beautiful tale.
Readers who appreciate Adam Johnson’s vivid storytelling might enjoy Phil Klay’s compelling collection “Redeployment.” Klay served in the Marines and channels his experiences into a set of powerful short stories.
“Redeployment” offers an unfiltered look at war and life after war, through the eyes of soldiers returning from Iraq. Each story pulls you into a different facet of military and civilian life, capturing moments of tension, loss, and survival.
One standout piece, “Bodies,” centers around a Marine assigned to collect the remains of fallen comrades, raising thought-provoking questions about duty, trauma, and identity.
Klay tells these stories with humor, honesty, and emotional resonance that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.
Jennifer Egan Jennifer Egan is an American author known for her unique storytelling and sharp insight into contemporary culture. Her novel, “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” creatively explores the lives of interconnected characters across different times and places.
The book weaves several stories together, switching between perspectives and timelines, to build a vivid picture of how time affects people’s ambitions and relationships. Similar to Adam Johnson’s
“The Orphan Master’s Son,” Egan’s novel holds a mirror up to larger societal issues through intimate narratives and complex characters. The rich storytelling and depth in “A Visit from the Goon Squad” easily capture the attention of readers who appreciate Johnson’s novels.
If you enjoy Adam Johnson’s thoughtful portrayals of complex human experiences, Julie Otsuka provides narratives that resonate just as deeply.
Her novel “The Buddha in the Attic” tells the story of Japanese women who arrive in the United States as picture brides in the early 20th century.
Otsuka beautifully illustrates their struggles, hopes, and resilience through collective storytelling that is both moving and direct. The story unfolds across chapters that depict their arrival, marriage, motherhood, and eventual hardships during wartime.
Without centering on a single protagonist, Otsuka’s writing crafts a chorus of voices—the women come alive, their experiences vividly portrayed.
Fans of Adam Johnson looking for strong storytelling rooted firmly in historical experiences will appreciate the emotional depth and clarity that Otsuka brings to her fiction.
Junot Díaz is a Dominican-American author known for vivid storytelling and complex, relatable characters.
His Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” follows Oscar, a young Dominican-American who struggles to find his place between his geeky interests and his family’s challenging history.
Díaz weaves together Oscar’s personal experiences, Dominican culture, and historical elements with humor and heartfelt moments.
If you appreciated the unique storytelling style, character depth, and exploration of family, identity, and history in Adam Johnson’s “The Orphan Master’s Son,” Díaz’s honest and richly crafted narrative may appeal to you.
If you enjoy Adam Johnson’s exploration of complex human experiences, you may find yourself drawn to Hanya Yanagihara. Her novel “A Little Life” follows the lives of four friends as they build careers, relationships, and identities after college in New York City.
At the heart of this story stands Jude, a talented yet deeply withdrawn lawyer, whose painful past unfolds slowly over the length of the novel. Yanagihara places friendship and trauma side by side, exploring the resilience and fragility that coexists within people.
It’s an emotionally intense story that stays with readers long after the final page.
Anthony Doerr is an American author known for his intricate storytelling and vivid characters. If you enjoyed Adam Johnson’s ability to create deep connections through unique life experiences, then Doerr might capture your attention too.
His novel “All the Light We Cannot See” tells an emotional story set during World War II. It follows Marie-Laure, a blind French girl who flees Paris with her father and carries a valuable secret.
Werner, a talented German orphan with a skill for radios, is caught up in the war effort. Their lives intersect unexpectedly, creating a human story about courage, hope, and the moral complexity of war.
Denis Johnson was an American author known for powerful stories filled with complex characters and stark emotional realities. His novel “Tree of Smoke” follows the story of William “Skip” Sands, a young CIA officer navigating the chaos and uncertainty of the Vietnam War.
Johnson weaves together vivid characters, Vietnamese and American perspectives, and the moral ambiguity of war. The result is a fascinating, intense read that immerses readers in the tangled emotional landscape of wartime espionage.
Fans of Adam Johnson’s intricate narratives and nuanced portrayals of complex situations will appreciate Denis Johnson’s brave exploration of conflicted souls facing difficult ethical decisions.