Bookclub: Pachinko

Last month, our bookclub read Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. It's another generational story (like Homegoing) where you begin learning about a young girl living in Korea before the war and end learning about her grandson working in America (and Japan). The author did a really nice job of telling each generations story and I felt the descriptions of scenes and culture were great and not too overpowering (where you can't follow the actual story). It really seemed effortless and natural.

There were a few parts that I didn't think were really necessary to tell the story (homosexual encounter and adolescent sex) . . . so if you pick up this book, be warned!

I was thankful to have read the book as I rarely read anything taking place in East Asia and found once again how ignorant I am of history and cultures not my own. It seems so harsh to be Korean, even in Japan, which to me seems (if I'm honest) so similar. And now, post-war there are even more divisions between North and South. It must be hard.

Others from the bookclub also enjoyed the novel.

Last month, our bookclub read Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. It's another generational story (like Homegoing) where you begin learning about a young girl living in Korea before the war and end learning about her grandson working in America (and Japan). The author did a really nice job of telling each generations story and I felt the descriptions of scenes and culture were great and not too overpowering (where you can't follow the actual story). It really seemed effortless and natural.

There were a few parts that I didn't think were really necessary to tell the story (homosexual encounter and adolescent sex) . . . so if you pick up this book, be warned!

I was thankful to have read the book as I rarely read anything taking place in East Asia and found once again how ignorant I am of history and cultures not my own. It seems so harsh to be Korean, even in Japan, which to me seems (if I'm honest) so similar. And now, post-war there are even more divisions between North and South. It must be hard.

Others from the bookclub also enjoyed the novel.