Pachinko
Pachinko
Min Jin Lee
Jia Tolentino
I was basically gasping as I read this saga of an ethnically Korean family in Japan. - Jia Tolentino
Barack Obama
Barack Obama's favorite books of 2019 list.
Emma Watson
On the "books read" section of Emma Watson's GoodReads profile.
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Pachinko

Pachinko

Min Jin Lee
By
Min Jin Lee
4.3
47787
ratings on Goodreads

"Pachinko" unfolds as a sweeping saga of resilience and hope, tracing the generational echo of choices made in youth through the tumultuous backdrop of Korea and Japan's fraught 20th-century relationship. At the heart of Min Jin Lee's epic narrative is Sunja, a young Korean woman whose illicit love affair leaves her pregnant and facing an uncertain future. Her courageous decision to marry a kind but ailing minister and move to Japan propels her family into a new world of challenge and change. From the vibrant markets of Korea to the shadowed halls of Japanese pachinko parlors, Lee weaves a tale of enduring strength, the complexities of identity, and the relentless pursuit of a better life. Through vividly drawn characters and meticulous historical detail, "Pachinko" explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of family against a landscape of political turmoil and cultural discrimination. As Sunja's descendants navigate the trials of assimilation and the struggle to uphold their heritage, they are confronted with the question of what it means to call a place home. Min Jin Lee presents a deeply human story that resonates with universal truths about the human condition, making "Pachinko" not only a richly layered narrative of a single family's journey but also a profound commentary on the experiences of immigrants and their lifelong quest for identity and belonging.

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Released
2017
7 Feb
Length
496
Pages

3

recommendations

recommendation

I was basically gasping as I read this saga of an ethnically Korean family in Japan. - Jia Tolentino
On the "books read" section of Emma Watson's GoodReads profile.
Barack Obama's favorite books of 2019 list.
Living everyday in the presence of those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage.
— Min Jin Lee, Pachinko

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