sarahlouise_slc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
janna710's review against another edition
5.0
Pachinko is about a Korean family that moves to Japan in the 1930s and follows their story through several generations. It's both hopeful and heartbreaking at times. It opened my eyes to aspects of Japanese culture and history that I knew nothing about. I love how the story has so many layers and we get to know multiple characters on a very personal level, but it feels like there is a common thread throughout the whole story that centers around the family feeling like outsiders in Japan.
chazzarooni's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
shreyabaldwa's review against another edition
4.0
It's a multi-generational read about identity & survival. A story of hope for better life. It's strength lies in sudden, smooth shift between perspectives. Also finally understood title's significance (This had intrigued me since I saw it first)
wretchedtheo's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I enjoyed reading Pachinko because it taught me about a group I didn't know much about, and its history about which I knew even less. The only thing I'd ever read before about Koreans in Japan was a short story by a Japanese author, so it was interesting to read a whole book focusing on these people and their struggles. Said book was also highly readable - I blew through all 530 pages in 2 days.
However, stylistically I found it lacking. It's written so simply, and not in a good way, I'd say. It didn't seem to have anything very insightful or interesting to say. The messages, like the style, are far too simplistic to be satisfying on a literary level. I can't think of any memorable passages - and I was really looking hard for at least one. I was determined to admire this book. I wanted to be impressed.
Another major issue I have with Pachinko - reviews have praised it for its vividness, but the descriptions, I found, fell short of this glowing praise. I very rarely could actually picture the settings. I didn't feel transported while reading because i didn't feel like the author had actually seen or experienced very many of the events or places described in the book. For anyone looking to write historical fiction, creating a convincing setting and atmosphere is tantamount to success. And in Pachinko... well. Suffice it to say that the word "okay" is used in a chapter where the action takes place in 1940s Japan. (The focalization is on Sunja, an uneducated woman who does not speak English. I don't think I need to tell you how out of place that is.)
Which brings me to another complaint of mine. Sadly, I could very much tell that Pachinko was not only not written by a historian; it was also not written by a Korean Korean, or a Japanese Korean, but an American Korean. It was painfully obvious. Americans writing about other countries have such a jarring, obnoxious way of injecting American characters, values and mindsets where they shouldn't be. Whenever I read historical fiction I try to avoid American authors for this exact reason, but when I fail to do so - usually because the author belongs to an ethnic minority and has a name that reflects their background - I always notice this trend.
Basically, Pachinko wasn't a bad book, but it didn't meet the high expectations I had for it. It wasn't clever enough or artistic enough or moving enough. It was kind of just... a story. It's the kind of book that is admired by people who don't read a lot of books.
However, stylistically I found it lacking. It's written so simply, and not in a good way, I'd say. It didn't seem to have anything very insightful or interesting to say. The messages, like the style, are far too simplistic to be satisfying on a literary level. I can't think of any memorable passages - and I was really looking hard for at least one. I was determined to admire this book. I wanted to be impressed.
Another major issue I have with Pachinko - reviews have praised it for its vividness, but the descriptions, I found, fell short of this glowing praise. I very rarely could actually picture the settings. I didn't feel transported while reading because i didn't feel like the author had actually seen or experienced very many of the events or places described in the book. For anyone looking to write historical fiction, creating a convincing setting and atmosphere is tantamount to success. And in Pachinko... well. Suffice it to say that the word "okay" is used in a chapter where the action takes place in 1940s Japan. (The focalization is on Sunja, an uneducated woman who does not speak English. I don't think I need to tell you how out of place that is.)
Which brings me to another complaint of mine. Sadly, I could very much tell that Pachinko was not only not written by a historian; it was also not written by a Korean Korean, or a Japanese Korean, but an American Korean. It was painfully obvious. Americans writing about other countries have such a jarring, obnoxious way of injecting American characters, values and mindsets where they shouldn't be. Whenever I read historical fiction I try to avoid American authors for this exact reason, but when I fail to do so - usually because the author belongs to an ethnic minority and has a name that reflects their background - I always notice this trend.
Basically, Pachinko wasn't a bad book, but it didn't meet the high expectations I had for it. It wasn't clever enough or artistic enough or moving enough. It was kind of just... a story. It's the kind of book that is admired by people who don't read a lot of books.
nnjack7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
Oh, how I loved this book. In fact, I’m currently sobbing as I write this review. Pachinko is a devastatingly beautiful story of a multi-generational Korean family living in Japan, and all of the hardships they faced there. While much of the book is incredibly sad, the overarching theme was of devotion, perseverance, and duty. It was stunningly poignant throughout. My only complaint (and it’s a minor one) is that too many superfluous characters were introduced and given POVs; the book could have been about 50 pages shorter if their stories had been cut out. But that small flaw didn’t detract from how powerful this book was. Pachinko is equal parts transportive, heartbreaking, and stunning. If you’re looking for a book to truly move you, this would be a great pick.
akthiebes's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
betchay_bd's review against another edition
5.0
I have a big, plushy soft spot for family saga books and this one did not disappoint. Even better than the generational ebbs and flows of struggle, love, acceptance and death was the subject matter that this historical fiction is based off of: the colonization of Korea by Japan and the failure to acknowledge Koreans who moved to Japan for work - and who subsequently had children many times over - as legal immigrants (or for the children as Japanese citizens). I was so ignorant of this historical occurrence that I’m hoping to pick up some additional books on the subject so I can keep reading about this.
greete's review against another edition
4.0
Vau, see oli nii pikk.
Suht masendav aga väga huvitav. Ma olin nii kurb vahepeal.
Aga selle audioraamatu narratori hääl oli nii tore. Eriti kui ta sõbralikku häält tegi. See oli nii sõbralik.
Suht masendav aga väga huvitav. Ma olin nii kurb vahepeal.
Aga selle audioraamatu narratori hääl oli nii tore. Eriti kui ta sõbralikku häält tegi. See oli nii sõbralik.