Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

129 reviews

vl_411's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

A melancoly story follows a Korean family through different generations of their time and experience in Japan. It does feel a bit aimless until the last 20% of the book when it ties it all together very well with the pachinko theme; that despite all their efforts to assimilate and the fact they were born and raised in this land with all the money they've earned - none of this helps as the system is rigged enough that only a small percentage succeed but enough that there's hope. Very heavy themes and different nuanced standpoints represented by each character. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Terminal illness, Abortion, Violence, and Toxic relationship

telcontar2901'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Stalking

Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Alcohol, Bullying, Suicide, Violence, and War

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Trafficking, Bullying, Abandonment, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Abortion, and Car accident

shoob3's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Suicide, War, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Colonisation

maiaquinn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

this book was well written and I learned a lot about Korean and Japanese tensions during the late 1800s to late 1900s that were artfully embedded into the story. I didn’t feel like I was dropped into the story but more like I was watching from a distance. The end felt abrupt but maybe it was supposed to be kind of jarring? Would not read again just because of how long it is and how depressing some of the themes are. Very sad but believable story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual violence, and War

clalaure's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism

Moderate: Violence and Colonisation

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, War, Suicide, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Death

erenreads12's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

I know I love a book when the actions of its characters give me visceral responses. At one point I actually had to put the book down to stop reading because I was in so much shock.

Absolutely exquisite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Suicide, and Violence

rachelsbookishlife's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child death, Death of parent, Classism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, War, Violence, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Car accident, and Grief

Moderate: Infertility, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Police brutality

Minor: Cancer, Abortion, and Body shaming

ruthmoog's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

2.25

I don't know what I expected from this book, but I didn't expect dogging.
I didn't know much about the relationship between Korea and Japan and this story made me realise I should learn more about their history. 
My favourite part of this book, was about the kimchi ajumma (mid-aged woman). But tbh I was glad to put the book down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Bullying

Minor: War, Classism, and Sexism

krispy_reading's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Grief, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Xenophobia, Death of parent, War, Violence, Suicide, and Pregnancy

marleyshaddox's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-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

4.5

This book messed me up emotionally. It was long, but very well written and kept me engaged throughout. The characters feel real and are mostly sympathetic, even though they sometimes do stupid and terrible things. The author flies through major plot points and focuses on the character reactions and emotions to the events. If you're not reading (or listening) carefully you may get confused or lose the plot or time period sometimes. But overall if you're looking for a long book to make you feel sad and you like the idea of getting too attached to a fictional family, this is the book for you.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Bullying, Suicide, War, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, and Violence