Reviews

Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee

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shreeya_reads's review against another edition

emotional informative 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? No

4.0

Pachinko is a multi-generational saga charting the lives of Sunja and her family. She is a young Korean girl who ends up marrying a preacher and moving to Japan in the early 1930s, and we follow her life and that of her children and grandchildren over the next few decades.

This is a really well-written book that is also very easy to read - I was caught up in the story right from the start. It is one of those books that ends up teaching you about a culture or a time period (in this case both) simply by osmosis - I came away knowing a whole load more about Korea and its rocky relationship with Japan, and the treatment of Koreans in Japan, than I had before I read the book.

There was one point quite late in the story where I couldn't quite understand why a certain new character was being introduced and my interest flagged somewhat. But the character does become important to the story of one of Sunja's grandchildren and once that became clear, I got drawn back in again.

My only small criticism would be that it would have been quite useful to have a glossary of the Korean and Japanese terms scattered throughout the book - the meanings weren't always clear even after googling.

eb_86's review against another edition

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emotional 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

5.0

anna_scht7's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

chrrristinaaa's review against another edition

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funny hopeful sad slow-paced

4.5

sophieettaylor's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh god I’m BAWLING finishing this book - wow. Not my usual type of book, but alllll the emotions of this family have hit me like a ton of bricks. While following so many storylines could have been distracting or confusing, I’ve grown so invested in their trials and tribulations. From Yangjin, to Sunja, Isak, Noa (3), Mosasu and Solomon, and everyone in between, far out, my heart is aching.

So glad I picked Pachinko up and gave it a go, 10000% worth it.