Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

100 reviews

kmaffett's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Death, Suicide, Classism, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion

cagigglez's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I think the book was very enlightening and contemplative.  It really required the ability to step back with an open mind and for myself, who is not Korean, embrace myself into a different culture to be able to understand the tug of the characters.  It was interesting that it followed 4 generations of people and there were sad themes throughout.   Probably the most frustrating part was the development of characters and sub plots that never really developed past the initial story- so you’re left wondering what Happened to them and a little bit of wasted energy in getting emotionally attached to their story.  Overall, a great read with some really powerful and thoughtful themes throughout. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infertility, Suicide, Miscarriage, Colonisation, War, Classism, Bullying, Violence, Sexual content, Racism, Death, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Domestic abuse

peonydancer's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.75

Whilst I loved the prose of the book, and hoped it would be similar to Pilgrim's "Fish of the Seto Inland Sea", I found this book to be less about the struggles of a Korean family in Japan, and more about the sex lives of the entire family and everyone around them. At least, I felt like I read more about that than about anything else. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, Xenophobia, Classism, and Emotional abuse

molly_paige's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed the plot and the overall storyline that followed one family for generations. However, certain parts of the book were overly graphic and unnecessarily descriptive. This happened frequently. Those sections made it difficult to enjoy the rich culture and history this book has to offer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content

Moderate: Death

Minor: Abortion, Classism, and Alcohol

matcha_cat's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Classism

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Bullying, Colonisation, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Death, War, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Miscarriage, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Alcohol, Child death, and Violence

adoto's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I don't think I got hooked into this book until shit hit the fan. It's medium-paced but dense. 

I think it does a really good job of what the author wanted to do, which is honestly reflect the varied experiences of being a Korean in Japan. It's also a beautiful ode to migrant grit and resolve. It just didn't grab me the way I expected it to. I would recommend it to a friend but never reread it.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Classism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Violence, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Classism, Child death, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, Homophobia, Colonisation, and Alcohol

Minor: Police brutality, Suicide, Sexual assault, Abortion, Mental illness, Trafficking, Miscarriage, and Cancer

thenoboshow's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Death, Bullying, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Grief, Infertility, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, War, and Xenophobia

sha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Racism, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, War, Grief, Infertility, and Pregnancy

drkng31's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Classism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Drug use, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Death, War, Cancer, Terminal illness, Abortion, Addiction, Colonisation, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Bullying, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

femmeprints's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was a slow long read but really really interesting. The intergenerational dynamic was well done but a bit confusing at points as I was doing an audiobook. I have very little background on Japanese imperialism of Korea and this was my first look into that history. It was informative, deeply heart breaking, beautifully written and did keep me engaged. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Colonisation, War, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, and Domestic abuse