A few nights ago I read the last pages of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Over several months, a chapter or two (and sometimes more) a night, I have been savoring the story of Sunja and her life in Korea and Japan. The story begins in 1910 in Korea and follows the main character as she leaves for Japan to begin a life with her new husband, who has agreed to marry her though at the time they meet she is pregnant with another man's child.
They have many struggles as they cope, trying to make a life in Japan, where Koreans are/were looked upon as foreigners and discriminated against. The story moves at a good pace, sometimes skipping years at a time though this does not feel disorienting at all. It allows us to get to know Sunja's sons and experience what it is like for them in Japan. Through the stories of the son's we see different ways to look at the world, and ultimately to live a meaningful life. No matter what your dreams may have been or how/where you thought you would end up in the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it highly. It has made me want to know more about Korean and Japanese culture. When I was telling a friend about this book she recommended The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. Has anyone read it?
I read PACHINKO in October and loved it so, so much! xo
Posted by: Michelle A. | 12/06/2021 at 08:19 AM