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snipinfool'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? Yes
5.0
Life in Japan was just as difficult as it was in Korea. Few jobs were open to them as many did not want to hire Koreans. Most of the Koreans lived in the most poorest parts of towns and held the lowest paying jobs. The Yakuza or gangsters offered jobs that paid well and were often taken as a last resort to support a family. Sunja and Isak moved in with Isak's older brother and his wife. They continued to have difficulty making ends meet as both of men's jobs paid little. Sunja came into contact with her child's biological father who had moved back to Japan. He was a powerful man and wanted to be a part of his child's life. Over the years, Hansu moved in and out of the family's life as they struggled to make a life in Japan.
So much of this book was heartbreaking. The author, Min Jin Lee, interviewed many Koreans who lived through this time for her novel. Stories similar to this one were told over and over. The Koreans often felt as though they had no country. They were second class citizens in both Korea and Japan. The women in this story were the strength of the family. The men were the ones who went out of the house to work most of the time, but the women were the ones who were often tasked with making the money stretch and some found a way to add to the family's purse by raising pigs (indoors) or selling food or handmade goods in portable carts in addition to running the household. I loved all of the female characters. While I did not always agree with their choices, I knew they did what they had to do given the culture and the times. This family saga will stay with me for a long time. It was an excellent story.
Graphic: Colonisation, Chronic illness, Classism, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Abortion and Miscarriage
amasprout'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Suicide, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
Minor: Abortion, War, and Misogyny
juliasharkins'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: War, Suicide, Infidelity, Infertility, Sexual content, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Miscarriage
mikaylaslibrary's review against another edition
3.25
The writing style is gorgeous, and I loved the first part of the novel. It just went downhill from there.
I think that there were too many characters and not enough time to finish the novel. I loved Sunja, Yumi and Isak, but the rest of the characters all felt very similar.
The story is absorbing, and I did read it quite quickly, but I felt it should've been either longer, or two shorter books. The beginning and ending were very sweet, and tied the whole story together which I loved.
I think that this is a really interesting novel, and will definitely be someone's favourite. However, it just didn't work for me.
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Abortion, Cursing, Violence, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Suicide, Racism, Police brutality, and Classism
blau_elmo'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? It's complicated
4.75
The deracination of Koreans during the war, displacing them into Japan to open pachinko parlours, showcasing generations of entrenched tension and conflict, is already an interesting premise. Add onto that the historical backdrop of 1940s Korea and Japan, and Pachinko becomes a beautifully written tale with facets of realism interwoven within its narrative.
Some parts were less compelling than others, and some characters were rather unpleasant in their actions, but it is such negativity that makes the characters feel real.
I adore this book.
Minor: Racism and War
readertate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Classism, Death, Suicide, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Child death, Terminal illness, and Sexism
Moderate: War, Racism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Trafficking
taowlette'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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death, Grief, Racism, Suicide, Sexual content, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Ableism
isacarvalho91'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
4.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Dementia, Genocide, Infertility, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Sexism, Chronic illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Cultural appropriation, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Miscarriage, War, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, and Suicide
jiwiz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicide, Racism, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, War, and Misogyny
my_weird_bookish_heart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Chronic illness, and Pregnancy