* The million-copy bestseller* * National Book Award finalist * * One of the New York Times's 10 Best Books of 2017 * * Selected for Emma Watson's Our Shared Shelf book club *
'This is a captivating book... Min Jin Lee's novel takes us through four generations and each character's search for identity and success. It's a powerful story about resilience and compassion' BARACK OBAMA.
Yeongdo, Korea 1911. In a small fishing village on the banks of the East Sea, a club-footed, cleft-lipped man marries a fifteen-year-old girl. The couple have one child, their beloved daughter Sunja. When Sunja falls pregnant by a married yakuza, the family face ruin. But then Isak, a Christian minister, offers her a chance of salvation: a new life in Japan as his wife.
Following a man she barely knows to a hostile country in which she has no friends, no home, and whose language she cannot speak, Sunja's salvation is just the beginning of her story.
Through eight decades and four generations, Pachinko is an epic tale of family, identity, love, death and survival.
© 2019 W. F. Howes Ltd (Audiobook): 9781528863810
Release date
Audiobook: 21 February 2019
Tags
* The million-copy bestseller* * National Book Award finalist * * One of the New York Times's 10 Best Books of 2017 * * Selected for Emma Watson's Our Shared Shelf book club *
'This is a captivating book... Min Jin Lee's novel takes us through four generations and each character's search for identity and success. It's a powerful story about resilience and compassion' BARACK OBAMA.
Yeongdo, Korea 1911. In a small fishing village on the banks of the East Sea, a club-footed, cleft-lipped man marries a fifteen-year-old girl. The couple have one child, their beloved daughter Sunja. When Sunja falls pregnant by a married yakuza, the family face ruin. But then Isak, a Christian minister, offers her a chance of salvation: a new life in Japan as his wife.
Following a man she barely knows to a hostile country in which she has no friends, no home, and whose language she cannot speak, Sunja's salvation is just the beginning of her story.
Through eight decades and four generations, Pachinko is an epic tale of family, identity, love, death and survival.
© 2019 W. F. Howes Ltd (Audiobook): 9781528863810
Release date
Audiobook: 21 February 2019
Tags
Step into an infinite world of stories
Overall rating based on 1731 ratings
Thought-provoking
Sad
Page-turner
Download the app to join the conversation and add reviews.
Showing 10 of 1731
Medha
16 Jun 2020
Interesting reading about the lives of koreans in imperial japan.
Sana
12 Aug 2020
Very nice...
Nidhin
7 Aug 2020
Great account of decades from Japan, Korean migrants. Was a great experience listening to 4 generations of experiences. The character sketches and changes that influenced life of 20th century Koreans in Japan and also some global presence of Koreans.
Labster
4 Sept 2020
It's always an eye opener to read books of different culture for me. I never knew about the Japan's colonisation of Korea, the cultural and human impact Japan had in Korea and visa versa. Loved the book, it's humane story progression, women who suffer from the war, Japan's torment AND patriarchy and yet came out as loveable, strong, compassionate beings they are.
Akshita
27 Mar 2023
I came here after Lee Min Ho was casted for this story, because I wanted to be know the story first before watching him act out as he does best! And this was an experience.. The whole Japan taking over korea, the World War II scene even in backdrop and the struggle faced by a woman from a small town through 4 generations is just beautifully narrated.
Shubham
18 Mar 2021
A beautifully written book.
Mondira
28 Nov 2023
Unnecessarily lengthy..too many characters. Felt like wasted my time
Nisha
13 May 2021
A magnum opus on the lives of Koreans living in Japan, spanning over 4 generations. Provides historical insight into the annexation of Korea by Japan and it's stll resounding impact on the lives of Koreans and the relations between Japanese and Koreans.
Aish
8 Sept 2022
Enjoyed listening to pachinko thoroughly...the narrators voice was so soothing to listen and understand the story...there was never a dull moment in the book, the story moved in a fast pace, yet in a way that you can still grasp on to the past chapters and still cry over it....it reminds us that life is precious and to be grateful for each good moments, as it wont for long....the suffering the koreans went through in the past was unthinkable...overall its a must listen book
Mousumi
12 May 2022
A beautiful story of 4 generations
English
India