Play Book Tag discussion

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
4.5 (round up to 5)

I don't even know where to start with this review.

I could start with the fact that it is a multigenerational historical fiction novel, following one Korean family from their years in Korea through their immigration to Japan. A merging of two of my favorite genres.

I could start with the fact that this is a story about discrimination against Koreans by the Japanese following WW2. Something I knew absolutely nothing about, and still need to do some google research on. I particularly like books that I teach me something new or make me think of something in a new way.

I could start with the fact that despite the several generations and side stories about various family members, this is ultimately the story of one woman, Sunja, who was born in Korea and fell victim to a man she thought loved her and was going to marry her. A man who may have loved her, but also altered the entire course of her life. Sunja was the thread that held the generations together despite her great personal suffering.

I could start with my conflicted feelings about Koh Hansu. A man who was undoubtedly "bad," but also was the guardian angel of the Baek family.

But, I think I will simply say that I felt a part of the Baek family. I felt their struggles and their sadness, and their too few joys. I was truly shocked by some twists and turns in the book, and shed more than one tear.

My one complaint holding this back from a full 5 stars is that the latter part of the book felt a bit more rushed. We lost some of the wonderful character development of the first half that gave you a full picture of the characters and their motivations. But not so much as to make me love this book any less.

I am going to let this story settle a little, and then I plan to watch the show on Apple TV+. I am not quite ready to leave the Baek family, and look forward to hearing their story again in a different medium.

Great review - you said everything I had trouble saying. I, too, knew nothing about the discrimination against the Koreans by the Japanese. I also agree with your thoughts on the ending.

A terrific book and I wish I could see the series on Apple but I don't have that streaming service.

I had to break down and get Apple TV+ because I love Ted Lasso! I plan to watch several shows other than Ted Lasso (including Pachinko) over the next several months, then I will cancel my subscription again.

Apple TV+ just doesn't have enough that I am interested in to validate the long term expense.

I'm glad you liked this. I am in the minority in that I didn't love it although for the first part of the book I thought it was going to be 4-5 stars.

However, coming from western Canada, etc, I've long known about Japanese racism (anyone not Japanese is considered a different race there) having had half-Japanese friends who left there as adults due to that (half-white, half-Indian mostly). Even today your identity card includes this information even if you are mostly Japanese. Plus I'm from out west (BC and CA) so had some familiarity with tensions between immigrants from different Asian countries.* Still, I hadn't known much about Korean immigrants to Japan in the 20th century and why this happened until I read this book.

Things are slowly improving there especially in this century , but even today the government won't talk about it (unless there has been some late breaking news since the last time I checked) and since the Japanese culture is so polite as rule it is more easily masked. This sort of thing can affect housing and employment.