Scan barcode
kamin8882's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
From the very first page, I was invested in this beautiful family. The story starts out with a young girl who fell in love with the wrong person-- but this one event... shaped the rest of her life. Across 4 generations, two nations at war and never ending obstacles, Sunja and her live family lived the best life they knew how, lost many things, learned valuable lessons about themselves and life, and loved fiercely. I loved reading about these characters, their culture, the hardships they had to endure and the strength they found within them to over come. This book was a true show of the love, strength, pain and undying loyalty this family (and many Korean families like them) had in a time and place they were not easily accepted. Although I do wish some the storylines had more details, or were more complete... this is a beautiful story of love, sacrifice, ambition and family.
"There was consolation: the people you loved, they were always with you... she had learned."
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Suicide, and Terminal illness
readwithserena'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
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Classism, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Bullying, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Trafficking, Xenophobia, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Infertility, War, Infidelity, Hate crime, Death of parent, Death, and Child death
yourpervertedneighbor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
I recently read "Pachinko" and I must say, I absolutely loved this book! It's the type of book that I will recommend to anyone who talks books with me. The story chronicles multiple generations of a family, and it was full of history, lovable characters, and unexpected twists that had me on the edge of my seat.
Set in Korea and Japan, the book follows the lives of a Korean family over several decades. It touches on themes such as love, family, prejudice, and survival. I found myself getting emotionally invested in the characters' lives and their stories.
What I loved most about "Pachinko" was how it tackled the history and politics of Korea and Japan. The book shed light on a part of history that is not often talked about in the West, and it did so in a way that was both informative and engaging.
The story also had an aspect of unpredictability. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, the plot would take a sharp turn and leave me reeling. There were parts of the book that actually had my jaw drop while reading it!
Overall, "Pachinko" is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction or family sagas, and I guarantee that it will stay with you long after you finish the last page. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5-star rating is that I found some parts of the book to be a bit slow-paced. But, that is a minor issue when considering the book as a whole.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, War, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Alcoholism, Bullying, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, and Classism
saltycoffee's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Suicide, War, and Racial slurs
kellyinbookland'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
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
alisonannk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Bullying, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War, Death, Dysphoria, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Child death, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Infertility
Minor: Alcohol, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, and Murder
chels_ebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Homophobia
beaucoupmich's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I liked that a lot.
I was hooked immediately. First book was slow and steady. I think the writing is beautiful. However, book two and three flew like jets. It becomes a slice of life kind of book, and the next thing you know, two decades have passed. It was hard to keep everyone's age at some point that I pictured 40-year-old character as the same innocent 16-year-old I met in book one, despite their character development.
I think the book portrays really well and vividly the ups and downs of being immigrants and the descendants of immigrants especially when their people were despised. Rather than serving a twisty, epic plot, it captured poignant, heartwarming, yet heartbreaking feelings, emotions, and thoughts. It presents all these human moments, which are intense but in a way also felt kind of cozy? If it wasn't for the imbalance and the pacing this would be perfect book in my opinion.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent, Racism, Sexism, Racial slurs, Cancer, Death, and Child death
karingforbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Miscarriage, Torture, and Abortion
alexhaydon'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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Police brutality, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship