2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.

Pages: 496 pages

Length: 1 month (June)

Participants: Carri, Dominique, Rebecca

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

I'm starting the audiobook today! It counts for my readathon team as well. :)

I'm currently 2/3 of the way through the book
(view spoiler)[Honestly, I'm bored. It's just a very long, rambling family saga. It's only plus is a look into the culture and social norms of the Japanese and Korean people. But that's also really irritating. I can't relate to their sense of pride and inability to think for themselves. My western culture keeps getting in the way. (hide spoiler)]

I loved this book.

I finished yesterday and was just kind of underwhelmed. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this type of saga. But it, sadly, just didn't really hold my interest.

Finished. it was a good story 3.5 stars for me. Beautifully written. It was interesting to see the interactions between the Korean and Japanese during that time. The responsibilities and burden they have towards their family was well represented in the book.