Pachinko

Synopsis: Min Jin Lee’s 2017 novel is a saga about four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family, trying to control their destiny in 20th century Japan. Pachinko begins in early 1900's Korea with Sunja, the cherished daughter of a poor yet proud family. Her unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame the entire family. Deserted by her lover, Sunja is saved when a young tubercular minister offers to marry and bring her to Japan. The experiences of this family provide the lens through which we examine Japan’s annexation of Korea, it’s entry into World War II as an Axis power, and the ultimate formation of what we now call North and South Korea.

Review: So, what is Pachinko, anyway? The title of this book doesn’t give much away! This novel is historical fiction at it’s best: using the daily life of relatable characters to illuminate our understanding of a part of history. The relationship between Japan and Korea is long and too complex to summarize here. Suffice to say that when Japan annexed Korea in the early 20th century, it did not make life better for the Koreans. Many Koreans were forced to move to Japan to find jobs for their families, but faced discrimination and horrific living conditions when they arrived. Pachinko, we find out, is a kind of Japanese arcade game, and working in a Pachinko parlor was considered a typical job for a Korean trying to get ahead. Many Japanese looked down upon pachinko parlor workers, viewing them as shady and dishonest—or just, you know, Korean. There are so many IDEAS in this book! What does it mean to be a nation? What does it mean to be a family? Ideas of racism, class difference, or the grinding life of women who are indoctrinated to believe that their lot in life is to suffer. Lee has created characters that you really care about, even when they are morally compromised.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: It’s a cookingthebooksblog first! Two books in one blog, not just a recipe but the entire cookbook! Eric Kim is a New York Times staff write and food blogger. He grew up in Atlanta, the son of two Korean immigrants, and what he presents is a compilation of recipes that pay homage to his Korean roots as well as his American upbringing. This has become my current favorite cookbook for lots of reasons. First of all, Korean food is just delicious. More than that, this book really tells a story, with lovely essays ranging from what it means to grow up and leave home, to what Thanksgiving means to a first generation immigrant family (complete with a full Thanksgiving menu!), to the vital importance of cabbage and white rice in Korean cuisine. Even if you don’t cook, this is a great book just to read. I don’t think its possible to choose just one recipe, but I’m cooking my way through the book, with Gochugaru Shrimp and Grits next in line.