mama_chicharra 's review for:

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

4.25

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Omg. Sometimes I wish we could respond to other reviews. I just saw someone say Pachinko is what One Hundred Years of Solitude wishes it could be. No. They are both multi-generational novels but similarities stop there. Pachinko is solid and captivating but it’s not that layered of a literary work. I loved it for what it is though. For westerners who might not be as knowledgeable about Japan’s and Korea’s history through the 20th century, or the cultural context in which this story takes place, Pachinko is an excellent window into that time and place. Remove the element of war, I think there are many people who can relate to the feeling of never quite belonging to one culture or another, sacrificing to give your children a better chance, life going amiss despite your best efforts. I think story will be particularly interesting to those who have felt the push and pull of reconciling inherited culture/identify with the dominant society one lives in.