Pachinko is a multi-generational story of Koreans living in Japan. The story starts with a club-footed, cleft-lipped man marrying a 15-year-old girl. After 3 miscarriages, the couple have their daughter Sunja. Sunja is impregnated by a married Yakuza and marries the Christian Minister to cover her shame. The couple moves to Japan to start a new life as husband and wife.
living every day in the presence of those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage
This book took me to places. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I got sad – I loved every bit of the emotional roller coaster ride. Pachinko grabs and holds the attention of the readers right from the first sentence
History has failed us, but no matter.
Set in Japan from 1910 – 1989, Pachinko follows the lives of Koreans living in Japan during and after World War II. For someone like me who has little knowledge of the lives of Koreans in Japan, this book was a great starting point. Jin Min Lee wrote the hell of the book. Lee explored the relations between the Koreans and Japanese. The struggles of people living and trying to survive in a foreign land during and after a war. The discrimination and prejudices the Koreans faced in Japan – how Koreans were treated as inferior. I also liked that Lee’s discusses other elements of the society – political and religious elements and how they affected the Koreans.
Another thing I loved about the book is the storytelling. Though the book follows the lives of a family spanning four generations, each character and moment felt a piece of the puzzle that fits in the right place. The storytelling in Pachinko is beautiful, breath-taking, elegant, unique and relevant. I couldn’t put the book down until I turned the last page. Lee’s writing is straightforward and tells the story in a linear direction. Descriptions of people, places and moments are rich and paint a vivid picture. Reading this book felt like I was living and roaming the streets of Japan during and after the war.
I loved the character development in the book. Each character fully lived their life in the novel. I loved each character in the Baek Family. Lee introduced some really small characters and made them relevant by telling the readers their future without giving out the main story. Impressive. The only thing I did not like is the unfortunate events – the deaths, the miscarriages, the sicknesses, among others. It made the story sad and depressing. Another thing I did not like is the rushed ending but apart from that I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants an engrossing read.
Let’s discuss the women in this book - Brave, Bold, Survivors. Though broken by life and circumstances, I loved the endurance, resilience and brevity they showed.
I highly recommend this book.
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