What a great review, thanks for the little history lesson! This sounds a bit like my experience with The House of the Spirits, where as a Canadian born Latina, I recognized so much about the settings/culture/characters, but also learned SO MUCH. I really want to pick this up!!!! (Also... that sounds like the most horrifying trip to a museum EVER.)

I just got this book because as a Kdrama fun I found out one of my oppas was going to act in patchenko, ooh my, I can relate to a lot of things as a doctor in UK from Africa in a mild form, I so toke it lightly when I told a Korean workmate I though she was Japanese and she took it badly. Am glad am now so learned about different cultures and the why people do what they and react the way they do.

I actually remember "Free Food" being a great read, but it was aggravating that it took so long for "Pachinko" to come out. Min Jin Lee is a great writer, but she not that prolific, so I was worried that this book would just fly under the radar. Glad it didn't and thanks for your solid review.

Well that's gone STRAIGHT on my TBR!

I love multigenerational sagas (One Hundred Years of Solitude got me into them). I'm definitely going to add Pachinko to my TBR.

I was lucky enough to meet Min Jin Lee at BEA many years ago(she signed my copy of Free Food for Millionaires, which you should definitely read if you haven't yet) and she's a charming and gracious lady who will,no doubt, forgive your verbal mishap with her name:) I hope to read Pachinko soon and love hearing all the good reviews for it!

I listened to this book on audiobook and the entire time I was wishing that I had the physical book. I will probably purchase the physical copy and read it that way as well. This book is absolutely stunning and I totally agree that I wish it was longer. The story was immensely emotional and the characters were written so well. Ah! I love this book so much.

High praise! It's been on my shelf since early February and I've been meaning to get to it. This shall be my next read. Looking forward to it even more now!

Thanks. Can't wait to read it.

you so often put books I've never heard of on my radar!! I don't remember which booktuber sent me your way but I'm so glad they did -- you give such fun, insightful reviews! xx

This was a FABULOUS review (as usual). I am so dang excited to read this book!

Added to my TBR. Thank you for the recommendation.

Found your booktube channel today through Mercysmusings! I just finished Pachinko and loved it. Am now a subscriber and making my way through your videos. Small world - I attended Book Riot Live 2016 too and was sad to hear that they will not hold another in 2017.

Sounds like an amazing read. I've added it to my TBR list.

I have this on the TBR and am really, really looking forward to it. I'd heard it's a book, like you mention, that you live with and get lost with. I'll be heading to it very soon. You've made me want to read it all the more.

I loved this book! It was one of those family sagas that I'm totally about! I loved and felt so connected that first generation. Great review!!

Your review was so eloquent! You put into words what I have been unable to. I really enjoyed this book, too. It was a great, insightful and emotional family saga. I studied a lot about the Korean experience in post-war Japan while in college, but it was really great to get a more personalized view of the experience, rather a distilled, fact-based version gleaned from a history class. I never played pachinko when I was in Japan, but I did play other arcade games so I know how dangerously addicting they can be. Those statistics still surprised me. I would love to know why pachinko specifically is so addicting and pervasive as an industry in Japan.

Fantastic review! Thanks for mention her other books, I never heard of her before. I'm super excited for her Hakwon book. Korean education is extremely fascinating. Still Life with Rice By Helie Lee is a fabulous book that could be interesting for you :D I loved this book! What the grandmother endured is astounding.

Loved this review! I requested a copy of Pachinko before it's publication because I love Asian fiction. I did not expect to love Pachinko as much as I did. You did a fantastic job describing the emotion this book evokes and possesses. I loved Min Jin Lee's writing, as well.

I feel the same, amazing book

I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook version.

Great review (as always)! I'm going to purchase this asap!

Sounds like a fantastic book! I love multi-generational stories too.

As a cautious book buyer - haha - I thought: "I'll wait & see what David thinks, before buying the book:" Thanx for a great review as always! And ofcourse, now I will have to read the book.

Ah, I am happy you liked this book - not to repeat myself but her interview with NPR was so wonderful I knew I would like her books - and now after your review, I might drop my hold at the library and buy the book myself :) Thank you for your eloquent and extremely informative review putting the story in context!

great review!!

I loved this book too. Min Jin Lee weaves together such a beautiful story with so many characters and perspectives. I really appreciate your perspective of the book as a Canadian-Korean. Autumn and I were able to interview Lee for the Reading Women podcast. I was so nervous I about died. She's just so gracious and perfect. 😭 There are so many books coming out from Korean American women this season. And they are all killing it! So many fantastic books. 💕

Thanks for this review David. This sounds like an extremely emotional read; I will definitely check it out. Thanks also for what you shared concerning the position of Koreans in Japan.

Ok, you know, I want to slow down on your video too! It's so good. I couldn't put this book down, devoured it, haven't felt about a book for a long time. It also hit home hard. I'm Ukrainian, and my family was forced out of our home when war started, and now I'm in Vietnam of all places! For a while. So... This book spoke to me on so many levels

I was waiting for this review and now this is definitely on my tbr, it sounds wonderful! also, I feel like even though I've read a few books featuring war crimes done by the Japanese I still want to learn more on the subject. Really recommend the Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng which is set in Malaysia with a Mc who was in a Japanese war camp 😊

I was waiting for this review and I'm definitely pushing this book to the top of my reading list.. that museum though 😢

I just read, and loved, Pachinko too. It was exactly the reason I love to read. To be able to so fully immerse myself in the lives of people from a different time and culture, especially one so specific and complex as that of assimilated expats(not really accurate, but couldn't put my finger on the correct way to sum it up), fulfills me as a reader. If everyone read books like this, we wouldn't have such epic divides as we do right now in places like the US or have forever in places like Palestine/Israel. I want to read more about what that climate is like currently for Koreans living in Japan. I wonder how much those old thoughts and feelings have hung on.

Thanks for this review. Pachinko was on my radar, but I didn't know much about it. I have to read it now. I'm researching a historical novel that's set in Seoul, so I'm reading more and more from Korean writers. The hatred between Japan and Korea also figures in the story I'm writing.

Great video! I love that you have that CBC accent -- more Lorne Green than William Shatner, don't worry. It's nice to hear familiar cadence on the interwebs. Look out Peter Mansbridge!

The book is reviting that I listened to the audiobook of it second time. It is interesting to know that two out of top 10 most richest person in Japan are these Korean Japanese. Of the two is the pachinko magnate the Maruhan Group - a first generation Korean Han Changho.

Awesome review, I will have to pick it up.

I currently live in Japan, and have started studying Korean and so naturally have really kindled an interest in Zainichi Koreans. I have two Korean students (not Zainichi, but new immigrants) at school and have made a few friends who are Zainichi (with the initial intent of just learning Korean), and it has been very interesting talking to them about their experiences and how they feel they fit into Japanese society vs. Korean society. As the birth rate here continues to decrease, we are seeing interesting things with regards to the demographics of Japanese births. That is, mixed race births are growing greater and greater. I wonder if this will cause a shift at all in the Japanese attitude toward non-ethnic residents of Japan. While largely I think Japan is blissfully unaware of their war atrocities, I've met a large enough handful of younger Japanese people who recognize the problem, and want desperately to be able to try to remedy and acknowledge Japan's history with Korea. Maybe hope is on the horizon! Thank you for the recommendation! I hadn't heard of this book until today! :)

TBR

Hi David! I am a new subscriber. Now I am hooked on your videos!! I also sent you a request on Goodreads. I got Pachinko last month and am looking forward to diving in. I am thrilled to see what's next! Happy Reading!

God, this book sounds heavy... I NEED TO READ IT.

I didn't think I'd get into this one, but your review changed my mind. Your first 5-star? Ordered. I am currently reading, The Devil of Nanking. I keep thinking of you as I'm reading it. I hope you'll look it up. It's weird, it's un-put-downable, and it's spooky as heck, and only to get crazier(so I've heard). I think you'd like it!

Great review ! You really made me excited about the book :) I am not much knowledgeable about Korea and Japanese history so this novel intrigues me. I have a question though : i am a French speaker, but i try and read more often English adult novels. I have to say i am more comfortable with YA English than adult English but I can make my way through it. According to you, how hard would that book be for a reader like me ? Should patiently wait for the french translation ?

Thank you for the review! I am Italian and I just finished reading Pachinko. I loved it! I did not know that Korea was invaded by Japan and that koreans had to suffer so much and then they were divided in two countries. So sad. I look forward to your new videos. Have a nice day.

Thank you for this review, I think I'll bite the bullet and purchase it :)

Does anyone know where I can find the manes pronunciation? Help me out please! I love this book so much, currently at 30% and enjoying it!

Booktube is such a bad habit. I'm always adding more books to my TBR. Great review, great history and information provided. Thanks for helping me find another interesting book.

I've been meaning to read this since I saw it featured on the NY Times, and now I'll definitely be moving it up on my list! Thanks for another great review.

Now I want to leave everything I am currently reading and read this. :)

Si lo pueden traducir en Español , gracias

Speaking of Zainichi Koreans: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_in_the_Wind And also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_(2001_film) I read (some of) Free Food For Millionaires in college but abandoned it because it was just too melodramatic and OTT for my tastes. Have you read Free Food For Millionaires? How does Pachinko compare?

You know, the fact that critics all over the place are praising it is not a deciding factor - you should always consult a known, trusted source, like you ;) The book sounds great and I like the fact that you give full reviews only to stories that really put a spell on you. I'm gonna have to find a copy. On a sidenote, if you don't mind me asking, is Daejin your Korean name? I remember referring to you as such long time ago in a comment, but I also see people call you David down here. If so do you prefer one over the other or do you use both, depending on people around you?

I'm on a similar quest, trying to squeeze more German authors in, which sadly is only possible if you actally understand German, as very little is being translated, especillay into English. But I wanted a few books in stock for book talks with German musicians. This sounds amazing though. And yeash, do Korean parents start a savings account for the psychiatrist before dragging their kids into museums?

Being an African-American I understand about racism I'm happy for Lee Min-ho to experience this journey to see what Koreans had to go through. My heart and soul goes out to everyone that's doing this film God loves you stay healthy be safe 🌍🌍 FAN FROM Philadelphia ❤

You wanted 200 more pages this book really sucked you in

How did you even learn about this book?

This book was such a huge learning experience for me. I had no idea the type of racism and issues Koreans and their Japanese-born children faced. This book was a world history lesson and I'm grateful for it. I did feel like it went on a bit for me, there was a moment where I was wondering when exactly it would end and how many generations could be followed, but overall i really enjoyed this book.

I learned a lot in this video. I did already know what Pachinko was, thanks to the commercials Nicolas Cage made in the 1990s (?) see www.japander.com/japander/cage.htm