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Debbie W.'s Reviews > Pachinko
Pachinko
by
by
Debbie W.'s review
bookshelves: historical-fiction, literature-asian, audiobook, 2020-reads
Nov 21, 2020
bookshelves: historical-fiction, literature-asian, audiobook, 2020-reads
Pachinkois a multi-generational, character-driven saga spanning the 20th century, beginning in colonized Korea and ending in Japan.
Reasons why this story got 3 stars from me:
1. Overall, I liked this story about one hardworking Korean family's struggles and triumphs while living in Korea and eventually moving to war-torn Japan;
2.The development of the main characters was good! I could sense their anxieties, even when things were going well for them;
3. I received an in-depth history lesson about the interactions between Korea and Japan - the specific, yet unfair laws put in place towards Koreans living in Japan, the intense discrimination between the cultures, the degrading brazen sexual and/or violent treatment of women; and,
4. I also learned a lot about Korean culture, specifically its cuisine, language and religious beliefs.
Reasons why this story lost a couple of stars:
1. this story was much longer than it needed to be. The long, involved side stories that didn't seem to go anywhere were wearing me down; and,
2. I wished the narrator changed up the tones and pitches of the characters' voices in this audiobook. Often, I didn't know who was speaking, male or female, because it all sounded the same to me.
This isn't a bad story. I'm probably in the minority, but for the reasons I listed, it isn't a book that I will be putting on my "Favorites" bookshelf.
Reasons why this story got 3 stars from me:
1. Overall, I liked this story about one hardworking Korean family's struggles and triumphs while living in Korea and eventually moving to war-torn Japan;
2.The development of the main characters was good! I could sense their anxieties, even when things were going well for them;
3. I received an in-depth history lesson about the interactions between Korea and Japan - the specific, yet unfair laws put in place towards Koreans living in Japan, the intense discrimination between the cultures, the degrading brazen sexual and/or violent treatment of women; and,
4. I also learned a lot about Korean culture, specifically its cuisine, language and religious beliefs.
Reasons why this story lost a couple of stars:
1. this story was much longer than it needed to be. The long, involved side stories that didn't seem to go anywhere were wearing me down; and,
2. I wished the narrator changed up the tones and pitches of the characters' voices in this audiobook. Often, I didn't know who was speaking, male or female, because it all sounded the same to me.
This isn't a bad story. I'm probably in the minority, but for the reasons I listed, it isn't a book that I will be putting on my "Favorites" bookshelf.
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Reading Progress
April 28, 2020
– Shelved
April 28, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 3, 2020
–
Started Reading
November 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
November 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
literature-asian
November 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
audiobook
November 14, 2020
–
45.0%
November 20, 2020
–
Finished Reading
February 24, 2021
– Shelved as:
2020-reads
Comments Showing 1-50 of 63 (63 new)
message 1:
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Tamar...playing hooky for a few hours today
(new)
Nov 06, 2020 09:27AM
I look forward to your review. This has been on my shelf for ages...
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Tamar wrote: "I look forward to your review. This has been on my shelf for ages..."Just finished my review! I'm interested as to what you will decide to do.
I wonder if I would have liked this as an audiobook, Debbie. It was long and I felt no compulsion to "get through it." I was fascinated about the relationship between Korea and Japan and not at all surprised that in xenophobic Japan, Koreans had a hard time, even as they were needed.Are there similarities in how Latin Americans have been treated in the USA?
HBalikov wrote: "I wonder if I would have liked this as an audiobook, Debbie. It was long and I felt no compulsion to "get through it." I was fascinated about the relationship between Korea and Japan and not at all..."The Korea/Japan relationship was intriguing in this story. As for the Latinx/USA relationship, I would imagine it would be similar. Actually, I quite enjoyed the first half of this book - the characters really made the story with the Korea/Japan conflict as the setting. As for the second half, it just felt like a hodgepodge of characters thrown together with storylines that were thrown together. That's when it started to drag for me.
Great review, Debbie! It's kind of interesting that name made it loose a star. May be it's means something in Japanese or Korean. It does sound funny though.
Tharindu wrote: "Great review, Debbie! It's kind of interesting that name made it loose a star. May be it's means something in Japanese or Korean. It does sound funny though."Thank you, Tharindu! I learned, from this book and from Google, that a pachinko machine is a vertical pinball arcade game found in Japanese pachinko parlors that fill a gambling obsession, similar to slot machines in Las Vegas casinos. Various characters in this book are involved in the pachinko parlor gambling trade in Japan.
Fantastic review Debbie❤️❤️you totally got me at "2. this story was much longer than it needed to be...." I appreciate the heads up...sorry you had to take a hit for the team. Better luck with your next one!I own the audible which just got pushed into my unlikely tbrs anytime soon, but for those interested, the book is always available on Hoopla if your library subscribes.
Tamar wrote: "Fantastic review Debbie❤️❤️you totally got me at "2. this story was much longer than it needed to be...." I appreciate the heads up...sorry you had to take a hit for the team. Better luck with your..."Thanks for your kind comments, Tamar! I found this audiobook on Overdrive (I never checked on Hoopla). Personally, I found the first half of the book much more enjoyable than the second half. I really wanted to like this book because so many of my Goodreads friends gave it 4 or 5 stars! I don't want to turn you off - you might enjoy it as well!
Interesting review Debbie, it is odd when the title doesn't play a big part in the story, I would have assumed Pachinko was a character too!
Hilary wrote: "Interesting review Debbie, it is odd when the title doesn't play a big part in the story, I would have assumed Pachinko was a character too!"Thanks, Hilary! Some reviewers thought Pachinko was a metaphor in this story. I guess I didn't catch that!
Sometimes things can be so subtle they are missed!
Sorry you didn’t care for this book so much. I really liked a lot. I respect and appreciate your points of criticism. Nice review, Debbie💕😊
I really liked this one, too, but i read it in book form. Maybe that made the difference.
But I meant to say that it's a good review!
Ah, well, it's true you're among the fewer, but the reasons you stated are fair enough for the low rating, Debbie. Especially the one about audio book, and also the titular glitch...however I feel it will be not bad for someone just interested in learning a bit about Korean culture!
Marilyn wrote: "Sorry you didn’t care for this book so much. I really liked a lot. I respect and appreciate your points of criticism. Nice review, Debbie💕😊"Thank you for your kind words, Marilyn! I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half just went downhill for me! :-(
Mary wrote: "But I meant to say that it's a good review!"Thanks, Mary! I loved your review, and I really looked forward to reading this book (or at least listening to it!) The first half of the story was so well-written, but I was quite disappointed with the last half.
Tamoghna wrote: "Ah, well, it's true you're among the fewer, but the reasons you stated are fair enough for the low rating, Debbie. Especially the one about audio book, and also the titular glitch...however I feel ..."Thanks, Tamoghna! To me, 3 stars means I liked it (not a total waste of time reading it). Learning about Korean and a little bit about Japanese, culture was fascinating. I guess my fishy-brain didn't pick up the possible metaphor about pachinko. I think people should read this book and not necessarily go off of my opinion - it is a highly rated book that I really looked forward to reading!
Very thorough and well-reasoned review, Debbie :)
Kat wrote: "Very thorough and well-reasoned review, Debbie :)"Thank you for your kind comments once again, Kat! I try to be fair in my reviews. It's not that I didn't like it (the first half was great!), but I just didn't LOVE it, nor did I find it amazing.
Thanks for your terrific and honest review, Debbie. Usually I prefer audiobooks to print books, but it sounds like I should read a paper version of this one. Or perhaps have both on hand and switch to paper for the second half of the book.
Kathleen wrote: "Thanks for your terrific and honest review, Debbie. Usually I prefer audiobooks to print books, but it sounds like I should read a paper version of this one. Or perhaps have both on hand and switch..."Thanks, Kathleen! Those sound like good ideas! I really wanted to like this book - the beginning showed promise, but some things just confused me.
I had this one on my list forever, but I’ve never felt a huge pull to bump it up.
Nancy wrote: "I had this one on my list forever, but I’ve never felt a huge pull to bump it up."Every once in a while, I go through my WTR list and do some serious weeding. Just saying that this is only my opinion, since many readers loved this story!
Great review Debbie! I loved all the points. All valid
Nilanjana wrote: "Great review Debbie! I loved all the points. All valid"Thanks, Nilanjana! I really did want to like it more than I did!
I see. I know that lacking-feeling!
Great review Debbie. I, on the other hand, loved it and didn't think it was too long. It's interesting how you pick on the title. I've noticed that it usually is revealed in a story later rather than earlier :) Usually, you have a build up before it's revealed.
Annette wrote: "Great review Debbie. I, on the other hand, loved it and didn't think it was too long. It's interesting how you pick on the title. I've noticed that it usually is revealed in a story later rather th..."Thanks, Annette! I agree about how titles usually are formed, but personally, I didn't think pachinko played such a huge part in this story to warrant title status. Also, some characters' side stories just left me hanging.
Awesome review! I have a copy of this book sitting on my shelves since its release. I’m hoping to read it before the end of this year.
NILTON wrote: "Awesome review! I have a copy of this book sitting on my shelves since its release. I’m hoping to read it before the end of this year."
I hope you do, Nilton! So many people loved this story! I really enjoyed the first half, but it went downhill for me from there! :-(
Well thought out and nicely constructed review, Debbie
Bob (aka Bobby Lee) wrote: "Well thought out and nicely constructed review, Debbie"Thank you, Bob!
Interesting review Debbie I enjoyed this book very much, but I read the book.
Agree on all points. The title didn’t seem appropriate at all. I, also, remember feeling like I had read two different stories between the first and second halves. I really enjoyed the first part, but not the second. Good precise review!
Maureen wrote: "Interesting review Debbie I enjoyed this book very much, but I read the book."Thanks, Maureen! Yeah, I seem to be in the minority.
Lori wrote: "Agree on all points. The title didn’t seem appropriate at all. I, also, remember feeling like I had read two different stories between the first and second halves. I really enjoyed the first part, ..."Thanks, Lori! I felt exactly the same way!
Nice review, Debbie :)) And I'm with you on this book ... a bit disappointing ...
Beata wrote: "Nice review, Debbie :)) And I'm with you on this book ... a bit disappointing ..."Good to know, Beata, because I really feel like the so-called "outlier" with this book!
I enjoyed your thoughtful review, Debbie. There was some really great info on Korean history that I had not known before. Funny story: right after I finished, my husband's sister posted a picture of a Pachinko game she had found in their family basement while helping my MIL get ready to sell the home and move into an apartment. I knew right away what it was, b/c I had just read this book. = )
Darla wrote: "I enjoyed your thoughtful review, Debbie. There was some really great info on Korean history that I had not known before. Funny story: right after I finished, my husband's sister posted a picture o..."Yay! The joys of reading! You learn something new every day!
so I think it was named Pachinko cuz it was gambling and being a Korean was a gamble. But, perhaps I'm incorrect LOL. It shouldn't have been so long of a book, I agree. I listened to this after major back surgery (correction of a major spinal deformation) and I might have been under some influences of pain killers🤣 when I listened and also wrote the review. Mood is such an important influence in our liking of a book!!
Barbara wrote: "so I think it was named Pachinko cuz it was gambling and being a Korean was a gamble. But, perhaps I'm incorrect LOL. It shouldn't have been so long of a book, I agree. I listened to this after maj..."Oh, Barbara! That's so funny! 😂 But you do make an interesting point re: the meaning of the title.
Loved your review, Debbie. You described it so well! I think Kimchi would have been a good title!😊
Jodi wrote: "Loved your review, Debbie. You described it so well! I think Kimchi would have been a good title!😊"Haha! Actually, one Goodreads friend told me "... I think it was named Pachinko cuz it was gambling and being a Korean was a gamble" which makes sense to me.
Debbie wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Loved your review, Debbie. You described it so well! I think Kimchi would have been a good title!😊"Haha! Actually, one Goodreads friend told me "... I think it was named Pachinko cuz..."
There are a number of theories about the title on Goodreads, but I did a little research and found a snippet from the author, herself, that I think is the real answer... "Pachinko was a foolish game," Lee writes, "but life was not." 🤷♀️
Jodi wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Loved your review, Debbie. You described it so well! I think Kimchi would have been a good title!😊"Haha! Actually, one Goodreads friend told me "... I think it was nam..."
Thanks for looking into that, Jodi! Haha! I stand corrected.
Debbie wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Loved your review, Debbie. You described it so well! I think Kimchi would have been a good title!😊"Haha! Actually, one Goodreads friend told me "... I thi..."
But I think we should all feel free to make it mean whatever we want it to mean! IMAGINATION is a really wonderful thing, and it would be great if we all used it more often!!😃🤸♀️🎈
I loved this book, and am sorry it didn't resonate as much with you.As to the title--in addition to becoming the family business it is a metaphor for much of the story. The characters take chances hoping for better lives.
I read the print version.
