A review by our_novel_guild
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book tore me apart in the best way. 

I knew it was a story following four generations of the same family as they make their way through life but I didn't intend to feel like a member of the family. Min Jin Lee's writing pulls you in and keeps you there to stay. 

You might be whiter than the snow, ie me, but you'll feel a kinship with these Koreans and their struggles from work to family to the colonization to beauty to self-hatred. 

I was invested from Hoonie. I swore with them. I cried with them. I feel like I grew with them to an extent.

Now I will never read another contemporary fiction a) because I'm not sure one can compare to this and b) it hurts too much 😭😭😭😭

I FREAKING KNEW THAT NOA WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO DIED/BROKE THE FAMILY LINE AND THAT MOZASU WAS GONNA HOLD IT TOGETHER BUT BRO WTF WAS NOA OFFING HIMSELF AND THEN THAT ENDING?!?! I'm distraught