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Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

323 reviews

tangoscore's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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dev_gra's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i would give it 6 stars if i could. i loved the historical fiction aspect of it! the audiobook was perfect especially it being set in korea and japan it helped knowing the places and names and how to say them. it was so beautifully written, it helped form a connection between you and the characters. i love it so much

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sadieadie's review against another edition

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emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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ssipos's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Pros:
- The portrayal of the many, many female characters in the novel and how their backgrounds and circumstances explained the decisions they made and the behaviors they exhibited; even unlikeable characters like Hana could be sympathized with by the end of the book
- Sunja; she was easily my favorite and a stand-out character for making the tough but right choices time and time again, despite so many factors working against her; her indomitable spirit is admirable
- The complex evolution of the Koreans living in Japan and assimilating into Japanese culture and language but without being truly accepted into Japanese society and facing continuous racism

Cons:
- The author chose to often describe the naked bodies of the female characters in detail, but not for the male characters; this may have been purposeful by the author to highlight the sexualization of the women, but it didn't feel like these multiple depictions tied into the larger story in a neat way
- The length of the novel felt long once we moved into the last generation's story (Solomon); and jumping from many characters towards the end of the book (Haruki, Hana, etc.) felt scattered and less like an epic novel and more like short stories tied together
- I wish the book had just focused on Sunja's life and the people around her - transitioning to others like Haruki, Etsuko, etc. didn't hold my attention like the beginning of the book when it was more focused on Sunja

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pgmoon's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My first book of the year! I recently revisited Pachinko by Min Jin Lee after having to set it aside previously, and I’m so glad I gave it another chance.

This sprawling generational drama hooked me from start to finish, with a pace that, in my opinion, never slows down. It’s fascinating to watch the environment evolve as the decades pass, offering a vivid window into the history and struggles of Korean immigrants in Japan.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its complex characters. They’re deeply flawed, selfish, petty, and morally questionable at times, yet they feel incredibly real. Each character’s choices and circumstances often reflect the harsh realities of the world around them, and even the ones I didn’t particularly like or agree with were compelling to read about. For me, Sunja is the heart of the story. Her journey is full of unexpected twists, and I found myself rooting for her resilience and determination throughout.

Thematically, Pachinko delves deeply into issues of parental expectations, neglect, and the ever-present weight of systemic racism. The discrimination faced by Korean characters is portrayed so palpably that it was eye-opening for me, especially as someone unfamiliar with that history. The story can be incredibly heavy and, at times, heartbreaking. Just when you think a character might find happiness or escape their struggles, the narrative often pulls them back into sorrow, underscoring the challenges of their lives.

If I had any qualms, it would be that some character perspectives and events were uncomfortable to read about, but this rawness is also part of what makes the book so powerful. Another minor gripe is that the third-person narrative could occasionally be confusing to follow, especially when jumping between characters and timelines. However, these issues are small compared to the richness of the story overall.

Pachinko is a remarkable book that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys generational sagas. It’s already beloved by many, and for good reason.

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