Liz's Reviews > Pachinko

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
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really liked it
bookshelves: book-clubs


I had this in my TBR queue for ages. It took making it a book club selection to bring it to the front of the line. It’s described as an epic tale of generations of Koreans in Japan and epic truly describes it. I felt like I was reading one of James Michener’s sagas.

I loved Sunja. She is just so strong. She’s not only part of the underclass, but a woman to boot. She struggles but always finds a way to persevere.

There is nothing better than a well done historical fiction. This one fits the bill. I knew next to nothing about the Japanese annexation of Korea and the issues that followed. And I knew nothing about the Koreans that actually lived in Japan. I remember from WWII that Koreans were considered inferior by the Japanese. There are multiple points in this book when the way the Japanese treated the Koreans reminded me of how blacks were treated here in the US. The same prejudices. And the same belief by the underclass that they needed to be so much better to make it.

This is a long book but it’s a fast read. I got so engrossed with the story that the pages flew by. I found the first half of the book much more interesting than the second. As the number of characters increased, we learn less about each and I felt like there wasn’t the depth to anyone of them. It made it much harder to relate to anyone. I almost felt the book would have been stronger if it had ended sooner.

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Reading Progress

July 16, 2018 – Shelved
July 16, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read
August 9, 2018 – Started Reading
August 11, 2018 – Finished Reading
October 1, 2018 – Shelved as: book-clubs

Comments Showing 1-28 of 28 (28 new)

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message 1: by Diane S ☔ (new) - added it

Diane S ☔ Terrific review, Liz. Have yet to read this but it is on my tbr.


Cindy I’ve had this book in my pile also! Need to move it up!


Brandice Great review, Liz! I was unfamiliar with this subject too, but also really enjoyed the book.


Celia Thanks for the wonderful review Liz. This book has been on my TBR for quite a while too.


Ellie Loved your review Liz! I too found this book informative about relations between Korea and Japan. I knew it was problematic but had no idea of the extent of Japan's mistreatment of Koreans. I also loved the story itself.


message 6: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Thank you ladies!


Kathleen My reaction to the book was very similar to yours. Love your review!


Cheri Wonderful review, Liz, I felt very much the same way when I read this one!


Paul Lockman Great review Liz, and I totally agree with you about the last half, though for me it was maybe the last third that I didn't enjoy as much as the first two-thirds.


message 10: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Paul wrote: "Great review Liz, and I totally agree with you about the last half, though for me it was maybe the last third that I didn't enjoy as much as the first two-thirds."

Thanks Paul.


Diane Barnes I keep wishing someone in my book club would assign this, to push me to read it too.


message 12: by Bianca (new) - added it

Bianca Fantastic review. I hope to read it as well. (Keeping an eye out for the library audiobook).


message 13: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Bianca wrote: "Fantastic review. I hope to read it as well. (Keeping an eye out for the library audiobook)."

thanks! Hope the audiobook becomes available for you.


message 14: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Diane wrote: "I keep wishing someone in my book club would assign this, to push me to read it too."

Diane, I have a whole group of books I need my book clubs to put on their list!


Holly This book was very insightful, but man did it depress me! Sunja was my favorite too.


Elaine Skinner Loved this book! Great review.


message 17: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Holly and Elaine, glad to see you both appreciated it, too.


Angela M is taking a break. Terrific review, Liz.


message 19: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Elyse wrote: "I laughed at what Diane said ....
Who hasn’t had that experience?
You sure did!!! And I bet EVERY READER IN A BOOKCLUB! Lol

I got very engrossed in this one too, Ms.Liz!!! 💕📚🌈"


A hazard of buying too many books and then requesting way too many on netgalley!
Glad you enjoyed this one as well.


Mbgirl The zainichi are never going to be accepted by Japanese, much like an ABJ can never truly be either. Awful


Winnie In Switzerland Agree that maybe the book would be even stronger if it had ended sooner. The beginning was so gripping with Sunja’s story but I felt things just got diluted as each subsequent generation came into focus.


message 24: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Wow! I just saw this is being adapted into a series by Apple TV.


message 25: by Laurie (new) - added it

Laurie Shook Helpful review!


message 26: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Laurie wrote: "Helpful review!"

Thanks Laurie.


Kelly Hodges I just read your review Liz, and it is almost exactly what I reviewed the book as!

I thought part one and two were fantastic - but by the time the author got to part three it just got weird and I didn’t care about any of the characters she was writing about, that being said, I did learn a lot about Japan and Korea during that time that I was never educated about, so I still thought overall, it was good.


message 28: by Liz (new) - rated it 4 stars

Liz Kelly wrote: "I just read your review Liz, and it is almost exactly what I reviewed the book as!

I thought part one and two were fantastic - but by the time the author got to part three it just got weird and I..."


Makes you appreciate the need for a good editor to reign in some writers.


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