BOOK OF THE MONTH
Pachinko
In this New York Times bestseller, four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan-the inspiration for the television series on Apple TV+. In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger. When she discovers she is pregnant-and that her lover is married-she accepts an offer of marriage from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decision to abandon her home, and to reject her son's powerful father, sets off a dramatic saga that will echo down through the generations. Profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. *Includes reading group guide* NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2017 * A USA TODAY TOP TEN OF 2017 * JULY PICK FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR-NEW YORK TIMES BOOK CLUB NOW READ THIS * FINALIST FOR THE 2018DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE* WINNER OF THE MEDICI BOOK CLUB PRIZE Roxane Gay's Favorite Book of 2017, Washington Post NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER * WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER * WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER
BUY THE BOOK
These clubs recently read this book...
Community Reviews
I enjoyed this family saga about Koreans who have settled in Japan. I agree with other reviews that say it was a bit long and the last 1/3 seemed to jump around and cover a variety of serious topics. It needed a bit more tightening. All in all a great read.
Edit: I read this a second time for my book club and I am glad I did. I got a lot more out of it the second go round. Donât miss the interview with the author at the end.
Edit: I read this a second time for my book club and I am glad I did. I got a lot more out of it the second go round. Donât miss the interview with the author at the end.
While I enjoyed it, I was let down by the second half. It felt like it just kind of petered off. Great character development in the first half.
Spoilers
I really wanted Solomon to move back to Korea. I wanted there to be a big finish with him reconnecting with his Korean roots and be proud to be Korean! Instead it just kind of ended. I guess life does just that, but thatâs not what I want when reading fiction.
Spoilers
I really wanted Solomon to move back to Korea. I wanted there to be a big finish with him reconnecting with his Korean roots and be proud to be Korean! Instead it just kind of ended. I guess life does just that, but thatâs not what I want when reading fiction.
Simply sobering. It took Lee thirty years to write this book, and it shows: the complexities of the characters, the scourge of discrimination captured in its recount of history... What does it mean to be a good mother? Daughter? Father, son? Where is your home, if not by birth or dwelling? Honestly the best book I've read in so long.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.