Pachinko
by Min Jin Lee
Nominations: Dayton Literary Peace Finalist 2018, Dublin Longlist 2019, National Book Finalist 2017, NY Times Finalist 2017
Date Read: November 3, 2019
Spanning four generations, Pachinko chronicles the lives of Koreans who have immigrated to Japan and their struggles in acceptance by and assimilating to Japanese culture. While their treatment wasn't surprising considering Japan's homogenous culture, I was surprised by how much some went to hide their origins so they could "pass" without prejudice.
The characters in Pachinko are all strong willed and determined, particularly the women. As in most cultures, the women are taught to rely on the decision-making and money-making of the men, however, when life turns dire, Sunja and Kyunghee take the fate of their families into their own hands and figure out how to put food on the table and even save some yen for emergencies. Even as Yoseb lays dying from his wounds, he expects, nay demands, his wife adhere to his choices and decisions, a stance I found frustrating and childish. I admire how these two strong women form a sister-like bond and stick together through the worst life has to offer.
I found Noa to be a tough character. I cannot understand how someone could internalize their ancestry with such loathing and embarrassment to the point where he would end his own life. I understand how hard he had fought to create a life where he was perceived as Japanese but going so far as to end his life seemed extreme, particularly in light of how much he was loved and wanted. Clearly, his mother had struggled to give him the best life she was capable of giving him but it just wasn't enough in the end.
Having lived in Japan and having had my son there, I understand the pride Japanese people have in perpetuating their culture and sharing a common reference point with absolute strangers. In some ways, I found this powerfully alluring. Yet in others, I found it completely stifling. With the population crisis they are experiencing, Japan will need to adapt and begin welcoming outsiders into their insider culture.
Comments
Post a Comment