A sweeping, empathetic, gorgeously written novel that earns its five stars not just through ambition, but through heart. Pachinko is literature that matters.
This is not just a coming-of-age novel—it is an invitation to consider what it means to feel, to hurt, to heal, and to love.
Reading this felt like stepping into a sunlit laundromat on a rainy day: unexpected, comforting, and oddly healing.
From searing social critiques to tender tales of healing and identity, Korean authors offer a literary richness that is gaining well-deserved recognition on the international stage.
Its premise and social commentary are the book’s strongest cards—but it doesn’t quite reach its dramatic ambitions.
With graceful writing, layered characters, and a narrative that champions quiet courage and emotional honesty, this is one of the most memorable books I’ve read in recent years.