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nicolesorial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Moderate: Abortion, Cancer, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, War, Ableism, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, and Sexism
alisonannk's review
- 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
allisonshewfelt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored the rich detail and characterization as well as the multiple povs. I appreciate that Lee didn't just focus on the stories of the main characters but also included the side characters. A lot of side characters even got their own chapters. The writing was of course gorgeous and addicting to read.
As someone who doesn't pay attention in history class, this book taught me more than any textbook would and kept my attention. Unlike textbooks where they just relay the facts, books like these focus on the characters and really help you understand and emphasize the historical situation. Many things shocked me. For example inflation and the high value of money as well as how Koreans were treated by the Japanese. Koreans could get imprisoned so easily for the smallest reasons and that really bothered me.
I did not expect to cry but what was I thinking? Of course I would if the story spans 4 generations someone ought to die.
I loved most of the characters so much and it was crazy how fast they grew up. I felt like I was a part of their family. The character deaths were so hard to go through because of this.
The opening line "History has failed us, but no matter" really showcases what this book will contain: the struggle of characters to keep going despite the prejudice. The covers for the paperback and hardcover both are great representations of the book too. I appreciate how the title also ties in with the book. Pachinko is a Japanese pinball game that relies on luck. There will be some winners and a lot of losers but you'll keep playing because you have hope that you'll be the lucky one.
This book deserves nothing less than 5 stars considering how much time and research was put into it. Like Lee took 30 years to write this! I'm so happy it got adapted. I already know the show is gonna be a masterpiece and I will be reading anything Lee writes.
Graphic: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Torture, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation, Rape, Suicide, Alcoholism, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Sexual harassment
stevie'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Alcoholism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Suicide, Violence, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Stalking, Toxic relationship, War, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
savzilla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Police brutality
__lucebrennan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Addiction, Child death, Bullying, Murder, Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia
graybat's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Xenophobia, Death, Adult/minor relationship, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual content, War, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Domestic abuse
nila's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, War, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, and Child death
Minor: Abortion, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Pachinko was one of the best books I read this month, and I think everyone should read it once in their life. Although parts are slow, Jin Lee crafted a thought provoking historical piece revolving around family and identity.
Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean family, beginning in the 1930’s and spanning up until the 1980’s. In a time when Japan occupies Korea, and after the effects of occupation linger, the family experiences discrimination, eventually questions the idea of home. In the end, I believe that home may be a place, but it’s overall, with those you love.
The character depth of these characters was done phenomenally well, each offering a unique perspective on being a Korean Japanese citizen. The line between nationality and ethnicity sparked an interesting conversation, once which has parallels to todays day and age.
Please read it if you have not done so already, you will not regret it!
Graphic: Xenophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, War, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Cancer, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Alcoholism, Stalking, Infidelity, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse
aerinreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Suicide, Cursing, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment