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helsinginlinnut's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Car accident, Abortion, Abandonment, and Deportation
iphi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide
alpettit's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and Colonisation
tangoscore's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Racism, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
sadieadie's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Deportation
pgmoon's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: War
enchanteddroppings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
glorifiedloveletters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide
cinmn_apple's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide
r_zoner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Suicide