Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

I am going to have a book hangover for a while after just emerging from the world of Pachinko. What a marvelous story. It is full of rich detail about the lives of one Korean family who start inauspiciously in a small village in Korea and wind up in big city Japan. Despite their successes, they are regarded with deep prejudice by the Japanese. And yet, they don't want to leave their adopted country. The title of the book takes on significance in the last part of the book, in sometimes surprising ways. The family at the heart of the book is warm and loving and close and traditional and proud and adaptable and resourceful and tragic and charming but never pitiable. Some of the things that happen along the way are a shock but are also understandable and, seen through the families eyes, seem fated to happen. I most definitely recommend this book.

Review coming from not an avid reader - that being said this book triggered my love of reading. Read this as part of a bookclub and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great read that allows you to follow a family storyline.

Everyone dies, miserable and honest to god I don’t see the point of it at all! Are we all doomed as immigrants because something our great grandmother did to survive or keep her dignity? Such a sad and pathetic view of the world! Sure writing was good but the plot was just insane! You are reeling me not one of these people ended up happy! She introduced 20 characters and they were all miserable and died or killed themselves because the original girl decided she doesn’t want to be with a married man! Give me a freaking break!

thenextgoodbook.com

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
485 pages

What’s it about?
This novel follows four generations of one Korean family from the early 1900's in Korea to the late 1980's in Japan. The novel begins auspiciously with, "History has failed us, but no matter." and continues barreling forward from there. Min Jin Lee previously wrote "Free Food for Millionaires". In this, her second novel , she further distinguishes herself as a writer to watch.

What did it make me think about?
Is racism literally everywhere? I knew so little about Korean history. This book shows us, through Min Jin Lee's wonderfully drawn characters, some of the recent history of Korea. Especially the complicated relationship between Korea and Japan. Min Jin Lee writes a masterful novel about the lives of one Korean family.

Should I read it?
This was a very good multi-generational sweeping saga. I especially love a book that informs you at the same time it is entertaining you. I recommend that you find some time and curl up on the couch with this one!

Quote-
​"In Seoul, people like me get called Japanese bastard, and in Japan, I'm just another dirty Korean no matter how much money I make, or how nice I am."

If you liked this try-
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
Ruby by Cynthia Bond
The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

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. Don’t miss the interview with the author at the end.