Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

First third was fantastic! The character development was awesome and I really fell in love with the characters and felt like I understood the world they were living in. The second third was also good, but I agree with another reviewer that “the epic length and detail for this family is becoming broader, although shallower- much like a river near its delta- it’s becoming diffused and silt laden.” I still was very interested in the story and loved the writing. The last third began to feel tough for me. I was less enraptured by the book and started to slug a little bit and the only word I could think of to describe the last third was lingering. It just lingered - until it eventually just peters out and softly ends. And you realize that the story was not a big conclusion but in the long story of the family itself in its entirety. This is nice (maybe refreshing?) but also not super satisfying. The other thing I didn’t like about the end was that it got SO jumpy. I didn’t initially hate the jumping from different character and different times- the quick fast forwards often worked well. But in the last third they got a bit to aggressive and left a lot of holes. It also felt like the author would bring us deep on someone/thing, only to abruptly abandon it, leaving me to wonder if the inclusion was even necessary. Overall though, I did think it was incredibly well written, sophisticated, well researched and good at depicting the reality of racism and elitism in Japanese culture. I enjoyed reading it certainly.

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.

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.

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.

This book is a discovery—an exploration of how our peaceful lives are influenced by the experiences of those who endured war and displacement. Min Jin Lee’s epic focuses on people, especially women from cultures and classes that were most affected by the warring nations and their ineptitude to put racial pride before humanity. Min Jin Lee's narrative style often features abrupt beginnings and endings to stories. We may think a particular character is the main one or at least important, only to be surprised when that isn’t the case. It’s not uncommon for well-developed characters to disappear without much explanation, even after being explored in depth over several chapters. This characteristic of her writing seems to reflect the unpredictability of life, much like a game of pachinko. Despite this, I found myself caring deeply for all the characters. Their motivations and status as central figures were secondary; what truly mattered was their humanity. It started with Hoonie - his story began and ended within just a few pages, but his goodness lingered. I admired Yangjin for her resilience and consideration. Sunja unrelentingly bore the weight of everything thrown onto her mighty shoulders. Isak exemplified kindness, while Kyunghee embodied compassion, selflessness and sisterhood. Yoseb displayed pride and determination, and Hansu was a man attached to his idea of duty despite the hatred he rightfully received. Kim offered understanding, Noa showed sensitivity, and Mozasu demonstrated spirit and strength. Yumi embraced independence, and Haruki expressed gratitude. Ayame's love for Daisuke was tender, and Etsuko experienced a deep loss of self. Hana could not ignore her truth, even when it cost her everything. Solomon exhibited naivety and empathy, while Phoebe radiated warmth and anger. In the end, it left me feeling like we all just want to be seen as human and realize that simply “Living every day in the presence of those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes courage.”