Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

4.5

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.

Absolutely, a beautifully written book.

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 that’s 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.