Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
7/10
This is such a difficult book to review...
I still don't know exactly how I feel about it. On one hand I learned so much and it invoked so much emotion in me. I started this book early 2022 and put it down after around 80 pages. I couldn't get through it. Not because the story wasn't good or because the writing was bad (the writing is very well done!) But because I found the story difficult to digest. I know in one aspect that is what is intended as far as the content goes. It's just not something I was prepared for, or looking to read about at that time. I came back to thus book in December of 2022 determined to finish. I think I was more mentally prepared for the content and was able to digest it better. However, it's still one that didn't leave me happy or satisfied. Again, I understand that this is likely the intent... It's just not what I typically enjoy reading.
Below I want to talk about a slight spoiler - it happens in the first 100 pages so it is not a major spoiler...
I had a really difficult time with the stranger Sunja meets. It was so clear that he was grooming her from the beginning. It made me want to yell at her to tell someone, to make him stop, to speak up for herself. Personally I am very much a fan of fade to black and not descriptive scenes when it comes to sexual relations - especially if it is depicting S/A.
By the time I finished this book I felt hollow. I didn't feel happy or content or even satisfied. While I did learn a lot and have since done research on specific events mentioned, I don't think I would want to read this book again. I think if the book would have ended 2/3's of the way through I might have felt a little more satisfied with the ending. Like, they went through horrible things, I learned a lot, but the knowledge that things may get better down the line. With the way it ended I felt as though there was no possibility for a happy ending in the future.
All this is to say I still don't fully know how I feel about this book. I think at the end of the day I wouldn't choose not to read it, but Im not particularly happy did read it.
Interested in purchasing this book? You can do so here!
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