Reviews

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

radiantdaydreams's review against another edition

5.0

Phew :) First book in 2022 & this one was so good in the very understated way

Maybe it's just my taste but I found this a pretty depressing read & I cried a bit but I think the plot was 100% worth it

I don't know how to say this, really, but Hansu is a pretty scary (cough, creepy) character & If the intent was to convey that, well done well done I was thoroughly terrified of this one character throughout the novel. I also felt pretty bad & blindsided after Noa's death ;-;

Thanks for recommending though :D

kdburton's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

This absolutely blew me away. I haven’t devoured a long fiction book like this (especially in the midst of non-prep semester teaching) in ages. 

Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Empathetic. Lived in. Stunning narrative voice. A new all-time favourite. 

— owned, crybaby 

petloli's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-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

Beautiful story. Wish I was more eloquent but the whole thing was just beautiful

jessicalucy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ipollock009's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

cateconut's review against another edition

5.0

i’m so incredibly sad. why is it over? this story was so incredibly well written and explored, min jin lee is an absolute gem. i’m gonna have a really hard time letting go of this world and these characters, they’re so real to me, they’ve suffered so much, they’re so lovely. i’m a wreck

hobiflowery's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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

jkeesan's review against another edition

5.0

This book swept me away completely.

albertordt's review against another edition

4.0

Me ha parecido un libro bastante interesante. Desconocía toda la historia de los coreanos en Japón. Me ha gustado mucho toda la perspectiva longitudinal y generacional del libro, y que el protagonismo fuera cambiando entre padres, madres, hijos y nietos. También, toda la visión del papel de la mujer en esta sociedad en concreto, y como no, el papel de la cultura del esfuerzo en la sociedad asiática.
Lo único que no me ha gustado ha sido el desenlace del libro, ya que en los últimos capítulos, no he visto demasiada coherencia o me ha parecido un poco de relleno contar historias de personajes secundarios, y luego dejarlas totalmente de lado (y nunca más se supieron de ellos).

emmahayward's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

3.0