A review by elly29
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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

2.75

There are like three basic plots in this book:
  1. Sugar daddy pays for everything
  2. The wrong people have principles
  3. Sexytimes
  4. Bonus fourth point: so many kids and raising kids, and having the kids take over the plot

It's a wandering, generational tale that was 3x too long. Starts in 1912 and ends in 1989. The word "pachinko" didn't even appear until halfway through the book. The most compelling part was the context of racism and racial tension between Koreans and Japanese, and often it was only pachinko that allowed Koreans to be wealthy in Japan. (Honestly, the plot was interesting until the focus shifted from Sunja to Noah. The second half of the book was just.... writing.)

Interesting to read "Pachinko" on the heels of "Crying in H Mart" and "Island of Sea Women," all of which are about Korea, Koreans, and expat Koreans.

Also, 18 hours of audiobook at 1.2 speed, for 14 hours of listening time. That's like the length of a flight to Korea from the US.
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