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Pachinko is so deeply researched and historically dense but as well as that Min Jin Lee went to interview many Korean Japanese, sharing: "I was so humbled by the[ir] breadth and complexity...that I put aside my old draft and started to write the book again". Her conscientiousness is very clear, she wants to do right by her characters, so they feel respected.
There were moments when I thought there was so much tragedy in this one family, that I questioned the authenticity.
However, the reality of colonisation is more violent and cruel than we who've not experienced it could ever imagine. Pachinko tells the story of a family and their close friends over 4 generations. We follow the weaving of generational trauma, reading it become more and more tangled, complex, and oppressive. There was one tragedy that felt like a means to an end, the plot wasn't moved perfectly there, but ultimately Jin Lee had to fit a whole history into this one story.
I really enjoyed the writing-it was direct, not at all flowery, which suited. Everything was informative including the dialogue, which lacked some casualness, though it didn't make it deficient. We got some insight into the thoughts and feelings of the characters, but they're also kept private from the reader. They'll often start a thought, but feel unable to finish it because they cannot freely point out the prejudices and the unfairness of it all. The only characters who do, aren't Korean-Japanese, creating a stark contrast in one-sided conversations.
There is a very poignant chapter in the book where Sunja and her mother argue and cry over how all the suffering began. They shoulder the blame for it all, they yell about how hard they've had to work their whole lives, how they've never rested. Neither of them wished for it, but they were both children when they took on the responsibility. Throughout the book they come back to the phrase: "a woman's lot is to suffer", Sunja detests the words yet cannot escape them. It's the first raw moment they've ever been able to have, and it's like a dam breaks. It's so sad, but a wonderful chapter.
Pachinko tells a story of oppression, of the silenced voices who still seek justice to this day (Japan still avoids accountability for the war crimes committed). The ending is abrupt because it's not ended and the oppression lives on even now.
If you're not a big history reader, I'm not, you'll still love it because it's fiction, it's quick, and digestible. Big must read!
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Police brutality, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Suicide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, War
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Infertility, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, Deportation
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Car accident, Abortion, Abandonment, Deportation
Fair warning, though: the last 100 pages of this book might throw you onto an unexpected emotional and heartwrenching roller-coaster ride. Still, i felt it was beautifully wrapped up. Happy reading everyone!
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Abandonment, War
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Racism, Grief, Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, War
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Abandonment, Colonisation, War
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Gun violence, Terminal illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Abandonment, War
The writing and tone of the story was outstanding, the author didn’t use any unnecessary metaphors nor descriptions to fill pages, every sentence had a purpose to show the situation through the characters point of view. The author managed to let even the smallest character shine in its own light, which is a feat on its own. I was able to see each character’s perspective and relate to their plight.
This is a multigenerational story with all the realistic and historical ups and downs, there were many moments of heartbreak that felt relatable and triggering. The characters were complex and morally gray at times like any human, which helped the story be believable at a core level.
I adored Sunja and Kyunghee, they were women of their time that continuously showed strength and resilience through all the hardship. My favorite male characters were Mozasu and Solomon, they were so wholesome and lovely.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War
Graphic: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, War
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Abortion