Pachinko Audiobook By Min Jin Lee cover art

Pachinko

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Pachinko

By: Min Jin Lee
Narrated by: Sandra Oh, Min Jin Lee
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About this listen

One of the New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

In this New York Times bestseller, four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan–the inspiration for the television series on Apple TV+.

In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger. When she discovers she is pregnant–and that her lover is married–she accepts an offer of marriage from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decision to abandon her home, and to reject her son's powerful father, sets off a dramatic saga that will echo down through the generations.

Profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty.

NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2017 * A USA TODAY TOP TEN OF 2017 * JULY PICK FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR-NEW YORK TIMES BOOK CLUB NOW READ THIS * FINALIST FOR THE 2018 DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE * WINNER OF THE MEDICI BOOK CLUB PRIZE

Roxane Gay's Favorite Book of 2017, Washington Post

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER * WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER * WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER

©2017 Min Jin Lee (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing
Family Life Historical Fiction Sagas World Literature
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What listeners say about Pachinko

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Who Knew?!

Sprawling, multi-generational tale of one Korean family in Japan. Not an easy place to be a foreigner. Sandra Oh’s performance is wonderful. Gets a bit soapy at times and some characters are thinly drawn. But absolutely worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible. Best audio book I’ve ever listened to. And I’ve listened to many.

The story was spontaneous yet precise. The narration was perfect . The author paints a vivid picture, so clear, and so descriptive, you’ll travel through time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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History of Korean experience

All of it
Wonderful characters
Loved following the family
Characters well defined
And believable
Relatable


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    5 out of 5 stars
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Transfixing historical drama

Loved learning so much about the history of Koreans in Japan for the first time. Incredible characters, story and performance.

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Beautiful

This epic story of a Korean family through multiple generations and perspectives was a work of beauty. I learned so much about Korean history and culture that I never knew. So blessed to have this window opened for me.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Multi-generational storyline

Heartbreaking yet triumphant. Gives us an inside look at the racism and sexism that runs through this area. Hardships of war and undercurrents of politics. A beautiful story of 4 generations of Koreans living in Japan. Not a favorable portrayal of Japanese culture and biases. Excellent narration.

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Exquisite storytelling

This was an incredible story and though it spanned many years it didn’t feel rushed and held my attention throughout. I cared about the characters and loved that it illustrated the complexity of each dealing with cultural and circumstantial obstacles to persevere and strive for happiness, love, and survival. The narration was excellent.

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Get absorbed into a world of fascinating, complex characters

I cried when the book ended because I was so sad to leave the universe of these beautiful characters. And the narrator’s reading was perfection. I felt like a part of the story.

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Wonderful, textured historical fiction.

I was completely swept up in this book’s fascinating historical context, bringing me in to a world of individual struggles and prejudices that was both familiar and foreign. The character development and unpredictable but compelling plot left me hoping for a sequel, yet fully satisfied.

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Captivating

I felt genuinely invested in each of the characters, there was so much interesting information about the culture from a native perspective. Their experiences were relatable. The end could be described as anti-climactic but I felt it was meant to encourage thoughtful contemplation. I plan to go back to the last chapter when I can just sit quietly with the last scene.

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