Wars are declared by those in power who are looking to conquer more, fought by soldiers and the price is paid by the common folk whose lives are destroyed by these wars. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee is story of one such family affected by war and it’s aftermath.

Spanning a period of 80 years, the story follows the lives of Sunja and her family. Already struggling under Japanese colonization, they run a boarding house in a small seaside village in Korea. As Sunja is growing up, she loses her father to illness. She and her mother run the boarding house with two servant girls.

Sunja befriends a Korean businessman, Hansu, and falls in love with him. Soon, she realised she is pregnant and that her lover is already married, she breaks off ties with him. She accepts the marriage proposal of a sickly but kind minister, Isak who is a staying at the boarding house for a little while. She moves to Osaka, Japan with him to start a new life.

From here starts a new journey for Sunja who very soon realises that Koreans are not readily accepted by the Japanese and they are at best considered a burden on Japan. The war torn country is not easy on any of them and they struggle daily for survival and happiness.

Min Jin Lee has woven and intricate tale of love, loss, loyalty and survival. Over a span of seven decades, Sunja and her sons not only survive the war and it’s after effects on general public; but also face discrimination for being Koreans living in Japan.

Pachinko is a gambling machine famous in Japan and not only does it refer to the life altering effects pachinko had on Sunja’s and her sons’ lives but also the gamble Sunja took when she refused to be a mistress of her lover and instead married Isak.

The characters in the story are very well depicted, each person’s story and growth is perfectly written. From a timid, naive young girl, Sunja grows to be a loving and dedicated wife and a hardworking mother and sister-in-law. The hardship of losing her father young and then her husband to the authoritarian regime makes her a strong-willed woman who works day and night to support her family and provide the best life she can for her sons.

There was consolation: The people you loved, they were always there with you, she had learned. Sometimes, she could be in front of a train kiosk or the window of a bookstore, and she could feel Noa’s small hand when he was a boy, and she would close her eyes and think of his sweet grassy smell and remember that he had always tried his best. At those moments, it was good to be alone to hold on to him.

How common people are affected by wars that they have no say in, is very intricately woven in the story. The lives of Sunja, her mother, her sons Noa and Mozasu, her brother-in-law who was working in Hiroshima when the bombs hit, her sister-in-law and Hansu, are intertwined with each other and the war.

The author has created complex yet emotional characters and connects their lives to the geo-political situation of the country during and after the World War. She has shown how racism, xenophobia, classism, gender discrimination, body image and intergenerational trauma affect the people.

“Sunja-ya, a woman’s life is endless work and suffering. There is suffering and then more suffering. It’s better to expect it, you know. You’re becoming a woman now, so you should be told this. For a woman, the man you marry will determine the quality of your life completely. A good man is a decent life, and a bad man is a cursed life—but no matter what, always expect suffering, and just keep working hard. No one will take care of a poor woman—just ourselves.”

I enjoyed reading the book. It is a somewhat thick book but every character and every detail is important to understand their trials and tribulations. This book is a must read for all.

My rating: 4.9/5