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A review by iveydocx
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
5.0
Alright, so I usually dislike historical fiction. I'm more of a speculative fiction/contemporary fiction kinda person. But this story is a huge win for me. This is a multi-generational story centered around the history of Koreans in Japan. It is an immensely well-crafted tale that I read in one day. The writing is easy to read (which is super helpful considering how massive the context of the story is) and Lee tackles issues such as xenophobia, sexism, and classism. I won't say more about it because there are some excellent reviews that go more in depth.
Sometimes it's a little bit difficult to follow with some time jumps, but if you read through it frequently (as opposed to setting it down for six months then picking it back up), it shouldn't be confusing.
A lot of people may be turned off from it because it may seem culturally alien to them, but I don't think that should stop you from reading it. I myself am an American-born Korean and have very few ties to Korean history or culture. Lee is able to tell a tale about a family while grounding it in history that gives you a little bit of insight about people other than westerners.
Sometimes it's a little bit difficult to follow with some time jumps, but if you read through it frequently (as opposed to setting it down for six months then picking it back up), it shouldn't be confusing.
A lot of people may be turned off from it because it may seem culturally alien to them, but I don't think that should stop you from reading it. I myself am an American-born Korean and have very few ties to Korean history or culture. Lee is able to tell a tale about a family while grounding it in history that gives you a little bit of insight about people other than westerners.