Reviews

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

andreareyes's review against another edition

I picked up this book for an international trip to an Asian country. I thought I would read a lot but I didn’t. Upon returning home, I don’t have the same vigor that I had about reading a large book. Additionally, this is a story about a family spanning through generations. I didn’t feel invested in our main characters, making it hard to push through. The writing style of the author is direct and simple, both good things. Maybe I’ll pick it up again one day

_zhen's review against another edition

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? No

5.0

Beautiful book that makes you feel like you’ve lived many lifetimes, understood the struggles and trauma of people within life. The beauty in people really highlighted.

antons04's review against another edition

inspiring reflective relaxing 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? No

3.75

Köpte den för cover arten var fin (annat cover än som visas här). Slow asf, men ändå lite fin. Man hade kunnat ta bort typ hälften av alla sidor och ändå berättat samma historia, men man får väl en annan sammanknytning till karaktärerna. I love sunja, isak, mosazu fr. Goro the goat. Det är satisfying att läsa om karaktärernas grind som leder till framgång och till slut ganska bra liv. I love sunja (igen)

thegreatgabby's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

a_lf05's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-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

4.0

I don't have much to say about this book but it was definitely really good !! going into this I was worried it would be a bit slow going through four (?) generations but it was very engaging and generally the characters were very well written and felt like real people !!

Some of the storylines that didn't revolve around sunja's immediate family felt a little forgotten at times but I can forgive that 🙏🙏

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and War

Minor: Abortion and Bullying

sam_mm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

kaitlinsime's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Honestly so good I just think the writing for the random sex scenes and parts where female’s characters chests were described for no reason kinda took me out of the flow of the story every time but otherwise such an amazing wonderful great fantastic story

j_raugustin's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.5

This was a very good read. It’s not one that grabs you and takes your breath away. It’s more of a slow paced, a lot of bigger picture things to think about, will ponder it afterwards read.  It also really shines a light on Japanese imperialism and I felt I learned a lot even though the point of the book was not to teach. 
I didn’t love the emotional distance the writing gave. I like to be emotionally entwined with the characters and something about the writing kept me from being all in. 

rachellejoy3's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? No

4.75

sugaralmond's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative 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? It's complicated

5.0