Pachinko

by Min Jin Lee

“People are rotten everywhere you go. They’re no good. You want to see a very bad man? Make an ordinary man successful beyond his imagination. Let’s see how good he is when he can do whatever he wants.”

Isak had prayed constantly for his family’s provision. “I brought you here and made your life more difficult.” She smiled at him, not knowing how to say—you saved me.

Living every day in the presence of those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage.”

Patriotism is just an idea, so is capitalism or communism. But ideas can make men forget their own interests. And the guys in charge will exploit men who believe in ideas too much.

Fill your mind with knowledge—it’s the only kind of power no one can take away from you.”

She could not see his humanity, and Noa realized that this was what he wanted most of all: to be seen as human.

If life allowed revisions, she would let them stay in their bath a little longer, read them one more story before bed, and fix them another plate of shrimp.

There was consolation: The people you loved, they were always there with you, she had learned.