Reviews

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

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carly23r's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

bookishsumaiyah's review against another edition

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5.0

‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee is an extraordinary work of craftsmanship, tying in narratives of displaced Korean refugees being forced to live in Japan and forging their new identities. While their home is unrecognisable, and Japan being more than unwelcoming, we see Sunja, Kyunghee, Yoseb and Isk in their quest to form a generational legacy. The title, “Pachinko” is based on mechanical arcade parlours in Japan, compared to a slot-machine in the West, which is widespread in Japan, in over 1 in 7 using one within their lifetime. While Western readers might see this just as a cultural difference, the Pachinko market accounted for $300 billion by 1994 in Japan and had been a sizeable portion of Japan’s GDP. A legal loophole, both Mozasu and his son Solomon has acquired great wealth, but had never earned respect. Despite its popularity, the Japanese look down on pachinko parlors as gambling dens with connections to criminals.

As someone who knows little about Japan’s occupation of Korea between 1910 and 1945, this book had been enlightening to see different perspectives on what makes a “good” and “bad” Korean and discrimination that Koreans had faced, as a result. The portrayal of Noa and Mozasu had been wonderful, and the latter suicide of Noa, had been heartbreaking after finding out his mother’s shame. While the themes of sex, women’s agency and shame narrated in this book is one I find troubling, I have to regard it within the broader context of Korean/Japanese culture and sensibility. While pointing discrimination due to race, disability and sex - the book does not fall into making sweeping blanket statements, rather accepts the troubling history of Japan and the accountability that needs to be acknowledged in order for national healing to occur. It also does a subtle job in pointing out different generational change - from tradition and morality being focused to the Americanisation of Asian culture, where in the case of Phoebe, who does not know how to cook Korean food nor in touch with the traditions of her Korean heritage, but rather, her heritage is unique from all races, and all colours within her family, in comparison to the closed-marriage mentality that had been prominent to the start of the novel. While the first chapters are slow-burn and lack-lacklustre, this novel had become an immediate 5 stars, after I have finished the novel and reflected on its themes, parallels and distinction being so expertly written. An excellent read, and a brilliant afterthought to think more deeply about post colonial legacies.

september12's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

gal_yosh's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

beeng316's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-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

molly_paige's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed the plot and the overall storyline that followed one family for generations. However, certain parts of the book were overly graphic and unnecessarily descriptive. This happened frequently. Those sections made it difficult to enjoy the rich culture and history this book has to offer.

Content Warnings