Pachinko

 

 

 

My Rating -5/5

This work of art was my first foray into Korean literature and I adored it. This historical drama was written in such a way as if, I were a member of this imagined world and experiencing everything in real-time while reading it.

   Many decades are covered in this book. The story begins around the birth of the protagonist named Sunja and ends when she is in her seventies. Within this period, we are introduced to a large number of characters and their backstories.

The author has done marvellous work in depicting the war-stricken atmosphere of Korea and the way war destroys common livelihood and even the fulfilment of necessities becomes a herculean endeavor.

 I especially, was smitten with the character named Kyunghee. Her character has been woven so intricately that it is hard to not fall in love with her. The way Khyunghee treated Sunja not as a sister-in-law but as a sister or her undying loyalty to her husband till the end of her time makes her one of my favorite characters that I have ever come across.

  This book shows that in the end, it is us, the woman who have to compromise and suppress our desires whether for the sake of family prestige or one's reputation.

This book is a must-read by the fans of the historical fiction genre as this book would take you on a journey of a lifetime. This book will definitely be considered a classic in the future. However, if you are not an avid reader and do not wish for a five hundred page saga, then you can instead watch its televised adaptation on Appletv streaming platform.