From the Bookshelf of 2018 TCPL Reading Challenge! …

Pachinko

Min Jin Lee

Start date: January 12, 2018

Finish date: January 23, 2018

Why we're reading this: Pachinko is a multi-generational story of a Korean family living in Japan in the decades surrounding Worl…more
[close] Pachinko is a multi-generational story of a Korean family living in Japan in the decades surrounding World War II. There, the characters experience widespread discrimination and poverty. Two spins respond in different ways. One strives for education in hopes that his dedication will disprove the stereotypes he encounters. The other decides to make money in Pachinko parlors in hopes that wealth will shield his family from others' opinions. Through it all, their mother, Sunja, tried to keep the family together while fighting against the idea that women are meant to suffer.

For me, the story was a vehicle for learning history. I didn't feel a deep connection to the characters, but I greatly appreciated learning more about Korea and Japan in the 20th century.

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What Members Thought

Sep 07, 2017 Ranja rated it liked it

I enjoyed how much I learned about Korea and Japan from this book. I spent some time reading about how much research and thought went into the writing of this book, and in that sense, this is an incredible book.

At the same time, the writing is plain and the story feels somewhat unedited. I didn't enjoy how the story felt both rushed and incredibly slow at the same time. I felt like large chunks of boring dialogue and fruitless scenes could have been cut out and instead the author could have slo ...more

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Jan 23, 2018 Erin rated it really liked it

Shelves: nytimes-rec, 2018_books

Pachinko is a multi-generational story of a Korean family living in Japan in the decades surrounding World War II. There, the characters experience widespread discrimination and poverty. Two spins respond in different ways. One strives for education in hopes that his dedication will disprove the stereotypes he encounters. The other decides to make money in Pachinko parlors in hopes that wealth will shield his family from others' opinions. Through it all, their mother, Sunja, tried to keep the fa ...more

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Apr 03, 2018 Linda rated it liked it

Multi generation saga of a Korean family in Japan from prior to WWII to 1989. The central character is Sunja, who was born in the fishing village Yeongdo in what is now South Korea. In a nutshell, Sunja is seduced by a sophisticated stranger, a Korean who lives in Japan. Did the stranger ruin Sunja's life? Read and decide for yourself.

Pachinko's characters are endearing and the position of Koreans, colonial subjects of a repressive regime over many decades, is eye-opening. We've all heard about ...more

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