#78 Pachinko

Pachinko
By Min Jin Lee

A long novel, at 485 pages, but an easy read. The novel traces three generations in the lives of a Korean family living in Japan before, during, and after WWII. Korea was colonized by the Japanese, and many Koreans came to Japan for better options. There, however, they were discriminated against, often forced to work at the lowest jobs, or running gambling parlours. The gambling was a game called "pachinko", kind of like pin-ball machines.

The novel looks at what it takes to be an immigrant, at identity, the roles of women, and survival.

Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Yes, a good solid read.