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Pachinko

The New York Times Bestseller
4.34 goodreads logo

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( 521,635 ratings, 50,762 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee follows four generations of a Korean family living in Japan, highlighting their struggles and triumphs across the 20th century. The narrative intricately explores themes of identity, resilience, and cultural conflict, against the backdrop of historical events and societal challenges.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy multi-generational sagas that explore complex family dynamics, cultural identity, and resilience through historical events. Set against the backdrop of 20th-century Korea and Japan, it intertwines personal struggles with larger societal changes, offering a rich, immersive experience.

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Pachinko

A victorian epic transplanted to Japan, following a Korean family of immigrants through eight decades and four generations.

A victorian epic transplanted to Japan, following a Korean family of immigrants through eight decades and four generations.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Pachinko is a gripping, multi-generational saga that traverses the complex history and landscape of Korea and Japan. The novel begins in Yeongdo, Korea, in 1911, where a humble fisherman with a clubfoot and cleft palate marries a young teenage girl. Despite their hardships, they find joy in the birth of their beloved daughter, Sunja. Sunja's life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes pregnant by a married yakuza, jeopardising her family's honour and future. Salvation arrives with Isak, a generous Christian minister who offers her an escape to Japan and a chance at a new beginning. Sunja embarks on a life-changing journey to a country that is not only foreign and hostile but where she must grapple with unfamiliar customs, a new language, and the looming shadow of social discrimination. Yet, her resilience and determination set the stage for a rich family saga that spans eight decades and four generations. This epic narrative explores themes of family loyalty, identity, cultural conflict, love, death, and survival, weaving a tapestry that is both intimate and universal. Pachinko is not just a historical novel but a powerful meditation on the sacrifices and triumphs of those who seek a better life for their descendants. In Min Jin Lee's hands, each character's search for identity and success becomes a poignant reflection on human resilience and compassion. Recognised for its literary brilliance, Pachinko has garnered numerous accolades, including being a National Book Award finalist and an instant New York Times Bestseller. It was also honoured as one of the New York Times 10 Best Books of 2017 and was selected for Emma Watson's Our Shared Shelf book club. Endorsed by prominent figures such as Barack Obama, who praised it as a "captivating book," Pachinko is a must-read for those who appreciate profound storytelling that bridges cultural and generational divides.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee is highly praised for its rich and immersive narrative. It is described as a gripping and powerful meditation on immigration and the sacrifices made to find a home. Reviewers highlight the novel's vivid storytelling, deep emotional impact, and historical depth, portraying a multi-generational Korean family's life in Japan. The novel's complex characters and sweeping storyline make it a poignant and compelling read that stays with readers long after the final page.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838930509

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 January 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Apollo

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 560

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About the Author

Min Jin Lee is the bestselling author of two novels. Pachinko was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, a New York Times bestseller and was included on over 75 best books of the year lists. It is currently being adapted for television by Apple TV. Lee's debut novel Free Food for Millionaires was a Top 10 Books of the Year for The Times, NPR's Fresh Air and USA Today. Min Jin Lee's writings have appeared in The New Yorker, the TLS, the Guardian, Conde Nast Traveler, The Times and the Wall Street Journal, among others. In 2019, Lee was inducted into the New York Foundation for the Arts Hall of Fame. She serves as a trustee of PEN America, a director of the Authors Guild and on the National Advisory Board of the Immigration Initiative at Harvard.

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