In particular, the book describes the dynamics between the Japanese and Koreans, often filled with prejudice, discrimination and racism, and it is heartbreaking to read about these experiences. There is so much history, research and knowledge interweaved into the story – I think it’s by far one of the most educational pieces of fiction that I’ve read. I didn’t have a lot of background on the historical context within which this book is set and I learned so much whilst reading it. It’s an engrossing, sweeping epic about four generations of a Korean family, set against the backdrop of political unrest, the day-to-day grind of life during a war, and the hopes and dreams of finding a better life in Japan. Regardless, Pachinko comes up again and again as a must-read by everyone, even people who don’t normally read historical fiction. That my friend is hard to answer except to point people towards my TBR piles (plural) that teeter dangerously in most rooms of the house. When you work in bookselling, people are astonished if you haven’t read Pachinko.
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