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beaucoupmich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I liked that a lot.
I was hooked immediately. First book was slow and steady. I think the writing is beautiful. However, book two and three flew like jets. It becomes a slice of life kind of book, and the next thing you know, two decades have passed. It was hard to keep everyone's age at some point that I pictured 40-year-old character as the same innocent 16-year-old I met in book one, despite their character development.
I think the book portrays really well and vividly the ups and downs of being immigrants and the descendants of immigrants especially when their people were despised. Rather than serving a twisty, epic plot, it captured poignant, heartwarming, yet heartbreaking feelings, emotions, and thoughts. It presents all these human moments, which are intense but in a way also felt kind of cozy? If it wasn't for the imbalance and the pacing this would be perfect book in my opinion.
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying and Suicide
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Death of parent
karingforbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Miscarriage, Torture, and Abortion
alexhaydon'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: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
sydneywhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Alcoholism and Suicide
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
yuki__'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Infertility, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
talking_heads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War
solitudine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Sexual assault
savzilla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
mirr_f'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
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: War