Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

47 reviews

marjoleinvanderspoel's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

4.5

Pachinko is a gripping family epic that deals with so much so delicately, yet without hesitating to display the cruelty of war and the historic injustices Japan has dealt Korea. This book snuck up on me, carefully guiding my investment in the story and the characters so that I didn't fully realise it until it was too late and something horrible had happened - and yes, I cried. I only wish that the book would have had a stronger ending, but I suppose it does maintain the same quiet and unassuming tone, which is also a strong choice by the author considering the topics that are brought up towards the end of the book. Regardless, Pachinko is definitely a must-read for everyone, in my opinion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Suicide, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Trafficking, Slavery, Homophobia, Death of parent, Ableism, Police brutality, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism and Miscarriage

peachani's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, War, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Violence

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Trafficking

_pacifist's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

I appreciated the author’s dedication to historical events throughout the decades the book describes. Her writing was beautiful and descriptive and I felt as though I were in the characters homes and could sympathize with their trials. I wanted the book to never end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual content, Racism, Colonisation, and Misogyny

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infertility, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Cancer and Trafficking

onemamareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/pachinko

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, Abortion, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Addiction, Trafficking, Homophobia, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

kikicochrane's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was extremely gut wrenching and heartbreaking to read at times, I very rarely cry while reading stories but this book had me in tears at least four times. I appreciated the pace of the book being slow to read, as it allowed me to digest the trauma that occurred with the characters. Death is a significant theme throughout the story but the backstory to the characters' deaths are what brought me to tears and reflection. Min Jin Lee did a fantastic job at capturing the struggles of keeping a family alive during times of war and prejudice. If you're ready for an emotional read, I would highly suggest Pachinko. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Bullying, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Racism

Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Addiction, Cancer, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Miscarriage

Minor: Trafficking

meghanvolkman's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Miscarriage, and Suicide

Minor: Trafficking

wai's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• 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

Amazing novel centered around one Korean family's generational struggles during and post-war Japan. If you're not very interested in character driven stories, this book may not be for you. It depicts the complexity of Japanese racism against Koreans and the differences in responses from those living it depending on their circumstances. The only drawback is that due to the length of time and the large amount of characters we meet, there are some situations and characters that we don't see enough of, and could honestly fill a whole novel themselves. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Death, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Suicide, Child death, Cursing, and Miscarriage

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Trafficking