Review: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko tells the story of four generations of a Korean family and how they gradually build themselves up to thrive even in the harshest conditions.

Pachinko is the second novel of Harlem-based reporter and author, Min Jin Lee. Published in 2017, it follows the lives of four generations of a Korean family who immigrated to Japan. The story itself is divided into three books. The story starts in 1910 and follows the family of Hoonie-- a disabled Korean man with a mouth deformity-- who lives in a small, fishing village off the coast of Busan. Though disabled, Hoonie proves to be a formidable accountant and an entrepreneur.

Thanks to the wisdom of his parents...Hoonie's family survives relatively stabilized from the Japanese colonization of Korea and the subsequent destitution that falls on many in their country. Hoonie becomes eligible for marriage and a matchmaker pairs him with a disenfranchised farm girl by the name of Yangjin. They go on to have their daughter, Sunja. After Hoonie passes away from tuberculosis, Yangjin becomes a single mother, raising her daughter while also managing their home as a guest house for others to rent. One of those guests-- Koh Hansu-- is a Korean who can speak fluent Japanese and who lives in Osaka. He takes an interest in Sunja despite her spurring his advances. After he saves her from being assaulted by three Japanese boys, Koh Hansu assaults her and leads her to believe that he will marry her. When she becomes pregnant with his child and learns that he wants her to be his mistress, Sunja is left dishonored and with few options. When an opportunity arrives to start her life afresh in Japan, Sunja takes it. Little does she realize how her one decision will set the stage for the generations to come.

As one could probably guess there are no shortage of obstacles that a family faces as they start anew in a land they barely know. Trying to navigate this terrain while the nation that colonized them is at war (and on the losing side no less) is not easy. The challenges that each family member and every generation encounters is unique in its own right and yet all too universal in others. Lee breathes life into a family whose community and whose nations had complicated legacies with one another and the world. While her story can at times be a little slow or dull for my taste...there are several critical moments in the novel that grab your attention and keep you there through its finish. This story is unique because it not only explores the trials of Korean migrants in Japan but also the philosophies that they wrestle with every day; the ways they make meaning out of their lives and the blessings and tragedies that come with them are the stories of resilience.

For me, this was also an important story. While Japanese history and culture always fascinated me, I had yet to explore the nation's history with those around it or those who were not Japanese living in their borders. Nor have I had a chance to visit it. However, I do have a brother who served in the armed forces and during his time he spent there he also built relationships with Japanese nationals and those whose families migrated to the country for better opportunity. For me, this novel was a chance for me to expand my horizons and to help me grasp the situations that his acquaintances endured.

One of my favorite quotes from this novel goes:

History has failed us, but no matter.

I am reading this novel as migration continues to be a keen topic of concern around the world. According to the most recent U.N. statistics, roughly 3.6% of the global population is considered an international migrant. Many of these people are escaping hostile living conditions and oppressive regimes, while others are seeking better opportunities. Once they arrive to certain countries, the struggle is usually far from over. Starting over is no easy feat, especially in a nation where many inhabitants have a general distrust of outsiders.

Lee's novel is also great if you want to see how current events can shape and impact the lives of families and the attitudes and beliefs they carry. Literature about Koreans and their diasporas are not only great to read based on their own merit but also the unique insights that they bring to the table. It is also important that we take the time to honor their contributions. I appreciated Lee's ability to make herself vulnerable and to learn more about a unique community. The edition that I had even had a section where she breaks down the journey she underwent to create the novel. This in that of itself is also its own unique and fascinating story too. As was discussed before earlier in this review, there are themes of assault and violence that occur throughout the book. It also discusses war, death, famine, disease, discrimination, disability, and suicide.

This is a book that deals with mature themes and is not for the faint of heart. Overall, despite some of its duller moments...I would say this book is worth reading. Not only because of its unique insights into the struggles of the Korean diaspora but also the thoughtful reflections it has on life that many can relate to or empathize with.