Comment

Mar 23, 2018cknightkc rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
PACHINKO is a sprawling saga that follows 4 generations of a Korean family who immigrate to Japan in the mid-twentieth century. This lengthy piece of historical fiction gets its title from a popular gambling pastime of Japan which is a cross between pinball and a slot machine. This “game of chance” is introduced midway through the book and plays an integral role to the story and character arcs, but what’s more, author Min Jin Lee deftly uses it as a metaphor for life. PACHINKO offers a fascinating look at history, culture, race, class, identity, and family. Although the final third of the book didn’t “grab” me as much as the rest, I would still recommend it, especially for fans of character-driven period/foreign dramas.