Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

Despite the title, this is NOT a story about a popular Japanese arcade game. Instead, it is a multi-generational story of one family that the author uses to explore the complex relationship between native-born Koreans and native-born Japanese. Beginning in Korea in 1910 with a couple of peasant farmers (just as Japan is about to occupy the Korean Peninsula), author Min Jin Lee traces their descendants across seven generations (until 1989) as they work toward bettering their lives in Japan, using opportunities provided by religion, education, and business. However, this is not a typical rags-to-riches story. Because at the heart of every relationship each family member has along the way is the deeply rooted prejudice native Japanese have toward non-natives. Even after they have lived in Japan for many generations. Japanese prejudice against Korean seems particularly acute, perhaps because so MANY Koreans moved to Japan, many because of the Korean War, and wound up doing many of the jobs Japanese weren't interested in. (sound familiar?) The discrimination they experienced was and still is manifested in attitude, housing, employment, custom, and law -- establishing, in effect, a class system which limits the kind of life non-native can establish in Japan. On the plus side I learned a great deal about both Korean and Japanese cultures including their abiding respect for elders, the unfailing importance of politeness, much ingrained sexism, and the value placed on extended family. I found the story of Sunja -- the teenage daughter of poor innkeepers who unknowingly gets involved with a shady businessman -- particularly compelling. On the minus side, as Lee began to tell the later stories of younger family members, I felt the book lost some focus. Instead of a single central character I came to care about, there were many more stories threads to track. And the chapters often skipped years so I began to feel that I was following the family saga through a series of vignettes, instead of reading one continuous story. Nevertheless, a very worthwhile and educational novel.

The books focal point on Korean Japanese since the colonial to current period is well portayed.... the Japanese society despite the century has passed it has not changed its view and treatment on non Japanese. This point is very repetitive w different character generations however one of main character who abandons his family and ends his life is not developed in depth. The book flows simiar to other famous Chinese family saga though writing style gets choppy at times. Good read regardless.

Amazing story of survival. The sacrifices that some parents make for their children is incredible. This story touched me so deeply. I cried so much. Looking forward to reading the book, if I can stomach it. I binge watched the series on Apple TV and it was extremely emotional for me.