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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
I feel very mixed about this - loved the characters, but would have liked some discussion/time spent on some of the huge moments that got very little attention.
Some of it felt unnecessary, and at many points I didn’t understand the hype. It was good but not amazing
Some of it felt unnecessary, and at many points I didn’t understand the hype. It was good but not amazing
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A multigenerational family drama of Koreans living -mostly- in Japan during the 20th century.
With this it is wide in scope but it feels narrow. Not in the perspective it takes and the issue of how Koreans were/are treated in Japan and the stigma of Pachinko or Yakuza everywhere but in its boldness. It is not a daring book. It tells the story and that’s it. There are moments of intense emotion (I just loved Noa so much, and beautiful Solomon’s back to the roots and screw these guys move was also lovely) but most of the time it is not that. I was involved enough though. I cared and I followed along.
I will leave you with the mantra - go saeng - a woman’s lot is to suffer.
With this it is wide in scope but it feels narrow. Not in the perspective it takes and the issue of how Koreans were/are treated in Japan and the stigma of Pachinko or Yakuza everywhere but in its boldness. It is not a daring book. It tells the story and that’s it. There are moments of intense emotion (I just loved Noa so much, and beautiful Solomon’s back to the roots and screw these guys move was also lovely) but most of the time it is not that. I was involved enough though. I cared and I followed along.
I will leave you with the mantra - go saeng - a woman’s lot is to suffer.
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:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a gripping novel of many generations. It moved at a perfect pace and it made it feel as if I traveled a lifetime.