25.4k reviews for:

Pachinko

Min Jin Lee

4.36 AVERAGE

litandlean's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

_sharon's review against another edition

3.25

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

haleyocentrism's review against another edition

5.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

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one of the best-constructed novels i've ever read and one i wish i'd read in school so i could get the most out of it 

johnclough's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

anchann's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

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loved this book, kind of a sad read but so well written. history, culture, identity, love, shame, racism, are all themes that are explored here.  

sejofredo's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional 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: No

reshmasham's review against another edition

5.0

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Pachinko is an extraordinary novel. Min Jin Lee’s prose is deceptively simple and straightforward while unearthing the complexity of history, oppression, and psychology. This book is so moving and beautiful. I hadn’t previously been aware of the struggles of Koreans in Japan during World War II and beyond, and Lee carefully presents this history within the context of one family’s multi-generational losses, suffering, and successes. It is no surprise that Pachinko is under consideration for the National Book Award. A devastating, important, and gorgeous novel.

abbacirc's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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: Complicated

hannah_shiff's review against another edition

3.0

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Good lord. I mean this is expertly written, and the characters feel REAL — I loved spending time with them. But a lot of this is just so bleak. What’s fascinating is the way she explores so many comparisons — wealth vs poverty, Korean experience vs Japanese experience, women vs men, life vs death, hope vs suffering … it really does span an immense range of humanity.

Maybe this just felt like… too real to me? I’m learning that I read for escapism, and for me to truly enjoy a book, I really do need it to fulfill a more positive fantasy.

shuanabby's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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: N/A