Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

398 reviews

author_d_r_oestreicher's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee follows matriarch Sunja’s Korean family from the 1930s to 1989 through the Japanese occupation, World War II, the Cold War, and the Korean War. In the 1930s Sunja became pregnant with Hansu’s child. When he revealed that he had a wife and three daughters in Osaka, she spurned him. It later turned out that he was a rich yakuza (gangster). Instead, she married Isak (a Christian minister). With her new husband, she moved to Osaka as things were dire in Korea (because of the Japanese occupation). She suffered from racism and poverty in Japan even though Hansu stayed in touch and offered support. The book follows her family, her son with Hansu (Noa), her son with Isak (Mozasu), and Mozasu’s son (Solomon). A story of living with racism and poverty (not from the United States). 

 

For my extended notes: https://1book42day.blogspot.com/2023/12/pachinko-by-min-jin-lee.html 

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” 

Check out https://amzn.to/2SpaDMN to see my books. 

Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations. 

 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Racism

Moderate: Abortion

Almost 500 pages, but a very fast read.

janicew9's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

The first 100 pages was difficult,  the last 100 pages felt half lit, like the closing scene of a movie where sunlight filters through the curtains and the music swells over the voices of the characters. The middle was a fantastic novel. Was inspired to read this after listening to a Planet Money episode that featured an interview with the author. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, and Suicide

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Mental illness, Abortion, Alcoholism, Cancer, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Classism, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

karwc's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Grief, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Cancer, Classism, Death of parent, Child death, War, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship

laurajenkins's review against another edition

I kept hoping something would happen. Nothing but gratuitous sex. No plot.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Torture, Trafficking, Suicide, Bullying, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

umisuki's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

A vortex of poignant and compelling characters propelling a sweeping tale of time and history. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Racism

jenrazzle's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, Incest, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Death, Alcohol, Trafficking, Cancer, Car accident, Abortion, and Emotional abuse

feainnewedd's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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

4.0

I've had Pachinko on my TBR for quite some time and I'm glad I finally got to read it. What a fascinating, heartwarming (but also heartbreaking) novel about four generations of a Korean family. I knew next to nothing about the dynamic between Koreans and Japanese during the period covered in this family saga (1910-1989), but this work of historical fiction taught me a lot.

Also, no spoilers, but one character's death shocked me so much I kept reading the paragraph over and over, and I think it will stay with me for a long time.

Rating it 4 out of 5 stars because

I feel like the last 1/3 or 1/4 of the book focused too much on side characters to the detriment of the others. For example, I wish the author had spent more time exploring the impact of Noa's disappearance and, eventually, his death on his family members, particularly his brother Mozasu.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

almakos's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, War, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide

whisper88's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Body shaming, Death of parent, Bullying, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and War

jkunke's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.0

This book is beautifully written but it’s trauma porn. The author clearly did a lot of historical research but doesn’t write as if she has experience working with people who have experienced trauma. Instead many of her characters come off as two-dimensional stereotypes. And many people describe one of the main characters as a love interest but there is nothing romantic about him or about their relationship; he and their relationship are terrible, manipulative and abusive.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, and Toxic relationship