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jomima'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, and War
nikkiacat'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: Child death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Classism
nikolama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Infertility, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
cheetar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
nicolesorial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
serena_hien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Infertility, and Misogyny
Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Trafficking, and Abortion
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: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Police brutality, and Abortion
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: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment