What a fascinating saga Min Jin Lee has written. Pachinko not only opened my eyes to the injustices so many Koreans have endured throughout their lifetimes, but it once again reinforced how easily an admirable ideology such as patriotism, can mutate into a hateful philosophy like nationalism. It seems like no small coincidence that I have read 3 novels in the last month that all share this same theme, the idea of otherness precipitated by social unrest. This theme was not only present in the three different countries that these various novels took place in, but is sadly alive and well in our very own country. No matter the social setting, it is absolutely heartbreaking that humankind can treat one another with such disregard and hatred.
Min Jin Lee does a wonderful job of introducing her readers to the history and struggle of the Korean people of the early 1900s through her memorable characters. Ms. Lee's depiction of strong men and women who all suffered unimaginable hardships lent to a feeling of powerlessness that is so often felt by marginalized groups. Most often these individuals end up in such situations by escaping war-torn countries and attempting to rebuild their lives in places where they are unwanted and looked down upon. The more I read, the more I realize that the entire world's history is replete with such tragedy. Kudos to the author for bringing this sad truth to light.
Read 7/6/20
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