I first heard about Pachinko by Min Jin Lee from a friend who couldn’t stop raving about this epic family saga. As someone who loves historical fiction and stories that span generations, I was immediately intrigued. When I saw it was a National Book Award finalist, that sealed the deal – I knew I had to read it for myself.
From the very first pages, I was completely absorbed in the story of Sunja, a young Korean woman in the early 1900s whose life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes pregnant out of wedlock. Faced with shame and ruin, Sunja makes the difficult choice to accept a marriage proposal from a virtual stranger and start a new life with him in Japan. Little does she know, this decision will have ripple effects across generations of her family.
One of the things I loved most about Pachinko was the rich, vivid world that Min Jin Lee creates. Her descriptions of life in Korea under Japanese occupation and the Korean immigrant experience in Japan were so detailed and immersive. I felt like I was right there alongside Sunja and her family, experiencing their joys, sorrows, and everyday struggles. The historical backdrop was fascinating and I learned so much about this chapter of history that I previously knew little about.
While the novel is undeniably epic in scope, following Sunja’s family across four generations, what made it so powerful for me was how intimate and personal it felt. Each character was so exquisitely drawn, with their own distinct personalities, desires, and flaws. I became deeply invested in their lives, relationships, and dreams. There’s a scene early on where Sunja’s mother makes a huge sacrifice for her daughter that moved me to tears – the fierce love of a parent who wants a better life for their child.
Min Jin Lee’s prose is simply exquisite. She has a gift for capturing subtle emotions and crafting poignant scenes that linger in your mind long after you turn the page. I loved this passage where Sunja reflects on her life: “Sunja-ya, a woman’s life is endless work and suffering. There is suffering and then more suffering. It’s better to expect it, you know. You’re becoming a woman now, so you should be told this. For a woman, the man you marry will determine the quality of your life completely. A good man is a decent life, and a bad man is a cursed life—but no matter what, always expect suffering, and just keep working hard. No one will take care of a poor woman—just ourselves.”
That idea of resilience in the face of hardship is one of the core themes of the book. Over and over, Sunja and her descendants are faced with discrimination, poverty, war, and loss. But they never stop fighting for a better life. As an immigrant myself, I found their story so inspiring – that determination to build a future for your family even when the odds are stacked against you. It made me reflect on my own family’s journey and sacrifices.
If I had one small critique of the book, there were a few sections in the middle that dragged just a bit compared to the propulsive momentum of the rest of the story. But that’s a minor quibble for a novel that is in every other way a towering achievement. After I finished the last page, I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters. I missed them like old friends.
Ultimately, what Pachinko gave me was a deeper understanding of the human experience in all its sorrow and joy, cruelty and grace. It made me appreciate my own family more, and the quiet acts of love and sacrifice that happen every day without fanfare. Most of all, it reminded me of the power of storytelling to foster empathy and compassion. There is so much that divides us as people, but as Pachinko shows, there is even more that unites us – our dreams, our struggles, our resilience, and our endless capacity to hope.
I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, family sagas, or just beautifully written, emotionally resonant stories. It is a novel that I will return to again and again, and one that I feel has left an indelible mark on my heart. Pachinko is a true masterpiece and a crowning achievement for Min Jin Lee. I’m so grateful to have experienced it.