The AWA Book Review

"Books are a Uniquely Portable Magic" Stephen King

by Isabelle Tadmoury

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko was a labor of love that took Min Jin Lee almost 25 years to write. The novel is an epic tale of a Korean family from the early 1900s in Japanese-occupied Korea to modern-day Japan. This multi-generational family survives through their sacrifices, their ambition and their tenacity. It is a moving saga, beautifully told. It hit a similar chord with me as “Gentleman in Moscow.” The story sweeps you up and transports you on a journey where hardships are the norm but where the characters are complex and finely nuanced so that you begin to care deeply for them.

Min Jin Lee (right) at the 2019 Singapore Writer's Festival

Not incidentally, this is also a story of racism, prejudice and “second class” citizenry that still exists today. Ms. Lee first wrote it as a short story about a Korean student who was being bullied, then returned to make it this long and detailed novel. The author was born in Seoul but raised in the United States. It wasn't until she moved to Japan, following her husband’s work, that she developed it further (she was a corporate lawyer in New York before becoming a novelist). This could be an inspiration for any of us ex-pat wives who are looking to write a novel.

What is Pachinko? It’s a cross between a pinball machine and a gambling slots machine. Pachinko parlors, central to the development of the characters and the plot, exist throughout Japan and even though gambling isn’t legal, these low-money gambling arcades are currently a billiondollar business.

Apple TV+ is turning the book into a movie with a star-studded cast that includes Lee Min-Ho, the South Korean heartthrob from The King: Eternal Monarch. The main character Sunja, will be played by Minari star and Academy award winner, Youn Yuh-jung. Currently in production in Vancouver, the film will be told in Korean, Japanese and English. It’s slated to come out next year. I can’t wait!

Isabelle is an avid reader and book club member. She’s written a children's picture book "Three World Trade Center was our Home” which is part of the 9/11 Museum. Catch her recommendations in the magazine or on GoodReads.