BOOK OF THE MONTH
Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)
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
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Readers say *Pachinko* is a deeply moving multigenerational saga vividly portraying Korean immigrant experiences in Japan, emphasizing family, identit...
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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-
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A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
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The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
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.
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.
This book had been on my TBR list for a long time. I finally got to reading it.
I really enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was beautifully written and I loved following the family through so many years and generations. Each character was well written and I felt like I knew all of them.
I highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was beautifully written and I loved following the family through so many years and generations. Each character was well written and I felt like I knew all of them.
I highly recommend this book.
This is a hulk of a book coming in just under 500 pages, but it was a surprisingly quick read. The story charts one Korean family through four generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea and ending in the late 1980s Japan. The narrative and the characters aren't what kept me reading until 3 am, but rather the glimpse into the ruinous history of Korea under Japanese annexation that I was woefully ignorant of until now. The novel's incipit reads, "History has failed us, but no matter" but Lee forces the reader to simultaneously acknowledge the atrocities of this war and occupation as well as the survival, dignity, and hope of the Korean people. Bonus features: the book includes a book club discussion guide and interview with the author.
"History has failed us, but no matter." What an incredibly timely quote to start this amazing historical family saga set in Korea and Japan throughout the 20th century. It follows four generations of a poor, proud immigrant family as they navigate a new life in Japan. I knew very little about the Korean/Japanese tension so I found this book fascinating! I kept reading because I wanted to know more, learn more. It is a hefty book (almost 500 pages) and has many characters. I kept thinking the author must have used sticky notes all over her office to keep people, places and dates accurate.
In the early 1900's, Sunja falls for a wealthy stranger near her home in Korea. He is twice her age and very mysterious. When she discovers she is pregnant and he is already married to a Japanese woman, she refuses to be bought. Instead, she accepts an offer of marriage from a sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. However, her decision to reject her son's powerful father sets off a story that is not to be forgotten.
This book has it all-love, loss, deception, forgiveness, grit. I loved all the different story lines and characters. I was just thinking the other day how people come in and out of your life and that's exactly how this book is. There are so many characters but they all play a part in Sunja's life or the life of her children. The detail of each character drew me more into the story. I did not know what Pachinko was when I started reading this book. I learned that is a type of Japanese arcade game and working in a pachinko parlor is a way of getting ahead for many Korean workers. It also turns out to be a good metaphor for life. "When history has failed us and the game is rigged, what's left?" I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.
In the early 1900's, Sunja falls for a wealthy stranger near her home in Korea. He is twice her age and very mysterious. When she discovers she is pregnant and he is already married to a Japanese woman, she refuses to be bought. Instead, she accepts an offer of marriage from a sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. However, her decision to reject her son's powerful father sets off a story that is not to be forgotten.
This book has it all-love, loss, deception, forgiveness, grit. I loved all the different story lines and characters. I was just thinking the other day how people come in and out of your life and that's exactly how this book is. There are so many characters but they all play a part in Sunja's life or the life of her children. The detail of each character drew me more into the story. I did not know what Pachinko was when I started reading this book. I learned that is a type of Japanese arcade game and working in a pachinko parlor is a way of getting ahead for many Korean workers. It also turns out to be a good metaphor for life. "When history has failed us and the game is rigged, what's left?" I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.
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