Pachinko Review ⭐
‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee is a historical fiction that utilizes a unique plot narrative that resonates with all people in terms of family bond, struggle for survival, and the will to reclaim one’s identity in a strange world.
‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee takes a good peek into the history of Korean immigrants in Japan by capturing the pristineness of their experiences in another man’s land. The book was nominated for the National Book Award for Fiction and came out as a finalist for its rich coverage of issues related to immigration, race, and identity.
Key Facts about ‘Pachinko’
- Author: Min Jin Lee
- Language: English
- Inspiration: The writer’s experiences in immigrant life.
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing.
- Publication Date: 7th of February, 2017.
- Literary Genre: Historical Fiction.
- Time Period: Between 1910 and 1989, covering Japan’s annexation of Korea and World War II.
- Number of Pages: 490 pages
- Settings: Yeongdo, Korea: Osaka, Tokyo, Japan.
- Climax: Troubled by Akiko’s observation, Noa confronts Sunja and finds out his real father is Koh Hansu.
Min Jin Lee and Pachinko
Although ‘Pachinko’ comes out as a novel, putting together the drafts for the final manuscript entailed a lot of research and inquiries on the side of the author Min Jin Lee.
After releasing her first novel ‘Free Food For Millionaires’ in 2007, Lee and her family relocated to Tokyo, Japan, that same year, and this movie presented her with the opportunity to get the needed research in the tune of interviews for her upcoming book ‘Pachinko.’
Despite having quite the experience of being an immigrant, Lee collected several data from actual Korean people who were living in Japan to make her final draft for ‘Pachinko.’ Because she was writing about the experiences of Koreans in Japan, Lee knew she had to go beyond her own knowledge to incorporate those of the others who were actually living the life.
Books Related to Pachinko
Min Jin Lee’s ‘Pachinko’ is a historical masterpiece motivated by the struggles of Korean immigrants in Japan, and frankly, the stories therein go beyond the Asian experience to touch on the general theme of immigration for all peoples and cultures.
Like Lee’s ‘Pachinko,’ there are a lot of books that inspire a similar theme, with some even proffering ways to contain the trials and tough times presented by circumstances in any given foreign society that anyone can find themselves in.
A few books similar to ‘Pachinko’ include Robin Ha’s ‘Almost American Girl’, and Neil Gaiman’s ‘Caroline’ (without the creepiness) in the sense that it talks about family and survival in a strange land.
The Lasting Impact of Pachinko
Min Jin Lee’s historically epic fiction ‘Pachinko’ has been tagged her best for the time being, although the author is still quite busy building the final piece to her Korean diaspora trilogy, ‘American Hagwon’, and expectations are high on this noble.
Still, why the wait for ‘American Hagwon’ is on, ‘Pachinko’ has had a tremendous impact on its many readers after its publication five years ago, and it doesn’t matter if you are a native Korean living in Japan or from any other ethnicities thousands of miles across the world, the story does the same thing for everyone; it inspires you to never settle for less.
In terms of accolades garnered, ‘Pachinko’ earned Lee a place most of her recognition thanks to its immediate success. The book was a finalist for the 2017 National Book awards for Fiction and received several great reviews from high-ticket publishers and websites – such as the New York Times, Toronto Star, South China Morning Post, and the American Booksellers Association.
Along with that, the book won the Medici Awards and was also a major contender for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Its reviews came from top literati and important personalities which included Barack Obama, BBC’s Jan Ciabattari, and Darin Strauss – who all had good things to say about the book.
Pachinko Themes and Analysis 📖
‘Pachinko’ introduces readership to heart-rending themes that are able to tilt the emotion, and it gets even more touching with Min Jin Lee’s ability to zero in on her characters, exploring their deepest fears and disbelief.
Pachinko Best Quotes 💬
Between the desires of adjusting to life in a foreign land, and the pressures of shouldering the demands of family life, ‘Pachinko’ explores unique quotes – some of which we tend to grapple with on a daily basis.
Pachinko Historical Context 📖
‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee ideally captures the experiences of a poor Korean family down to the hardship its members undergo by being foreigners in neighboring Japan.
Pachinko Character List 📖
‘Pachinko’ consolidates four generations of a Korean family – starting with the grandparents of the central character, Sunja, down to her grandchildren in an epic, emotional and gut-wrenching chronology.
Pachinko Summary 📖
‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee combines the narrative of four generations of a Korean family as they grapple with rejection and harsh treatment accustomed to immigrants in a postwar discriminatory Japanese society.