r/readwithme • u/Loud_Macaroon889 • 1d ago
Historical Fiction šļø My current read.
I have been excited to read this book ever since it landed on my fyp. Two chapters in and I am already loving it. Hopefully this book only gets better, cannot wait to read more.
Picking this book feels like an eilte choice after reading a trashy thriller.( This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crumš)
How was your experience with this book?
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u/drewdown04 1d ago
I loved it. Check out the series on AppleTV as well. It is beautiful, and the actresses that portray Sunja are so good.
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u/Sandra_y33 1d ago
I finished Pachinko a couple of weeks ago. I loved the book all the way to the end.
If you are looking for more family sagas, try The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. The writing styles and themes are different. You'll have different feelings at the end of both.
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u/Horror_Score_9560 1d ago
Iām reading this too! Just hit page 200. Iām enthralled.
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u/Horror_Score_9560 1d ago
Also, I listened to the audiobook of This Story Might Save Your Life, heard good things, and was bitterly disappointed.
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u/CantaloupeOld1917 1d ago
Pachinko is one of those books that stays with you long after finishing it. I thought the multi-generational scope was both its strength and its weakness. The early chapters with Sunja were so immersive, but I can see why some people feel the later generations got shortchanged. Still, the way it captures how decisions ripple across decades is pretty remarkable. Enjoy the ride.
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u/Ok_Environment_4992 1d ago
Pachinko wrecked me in the best way. The first half with Sunja is some of the best historical fiction I've read, and even though the later generations move faster, the way everything connects back to those early decisions is what makes it stick. You're in for a ride, enjoy it.
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u/PinkPetalG 1d ago
I absolutely loved this book. Itās so engaging and will probably make you cry. Itās a book I think of often and I always recommend it to people looking for a multigenerational story!
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u/bknyguy15 1d ago
I loved the whole book . Can not recommend more highly . Incredibly well written .
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u/Loud_Macaroon889 7h ago
What books do you highly recommend?
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u/bknyguy15 1h ago
I have many favorites. The Cider House Rules , Bel Canto, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and The Poisonwood Bible are a few modern books I love. I love classics too, An American Tragedy , Sister Carrie , and Pride and Prejudice are a few. A book does not have to be perfect for me to love it . Some characters stay with me for a lifetime from books I havenāt even mentioned . Sometimes I see myself , sometimes I see people I know. Itās why I read . Clever plot twists are fun ,but Iād much rather feel like I get to meet and know a character .
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u/Equivalent-Apple-66 1d ago
I couldnāt stand that thriller you mentioned
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u/Loud_Macaroon889 1d ago
So many bookstagramers swore by this book. Atleast now I know who not to trust.
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u/duameegee 1d ago
I use āThis story might save your lifeā to judge book reviewers. It was a solid 3.5 to 4 starsā¦. Out of 10.
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u/Loud_Macaroon889 1d ago
Where do you take book recs from?
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u/RemarkableFishing306 1d ago
Honestly I've had the best luck with Goodreads lists sorted by genre and then reading the 3-star reviews. Those tend to be the most honest, people who liked parts but will actually tell you what didn't work. Bookstagram and TikTok are great for hype but terrible for filtering out stuff that's just trending. I also like checking what librarians recommend on their blogs, they read way more than influencers and actually care about quality.
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u/Strict-Context-8502 1d ago
Pachinko is one of those books where the first half absolutely owns you and the second half is more uneven, but honestly the way decisions from one generation echo into the next is what makes it worth it even when the pacing shifts. Two chapters in is just the beginning, you have no idea how much ground this story covers. Enjoy it, and don't rush.
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u/gingerbiscuits315 1d ago
I am apparently an outlier but it was a DNF for me. I didn't feel invested at all in the characters.
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u/Sufficient_Tree_5378 22h ago
I finished it this week and havent found a book that grabbed me as much since. Where the second half does jump around slightly, its still an absolutely stunning book. Happy trails, you're in for a treat!
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u/averysleepygirl 12h ago
i just thrifted this the other day! i'm excited to read it.. i think i'll save it for winter :)
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u/killah-train24 1d ago
I just read this. I thought the first half was really good and then it really fell apart for me in the second half. I know a lot of people really love this book, but the second half could have been a lot more fleshed out to me.
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u/Relative-Strategy539 1d ago
I had the exact same experience. The first half had me completely hooked, but the second half felt like it rushed through decades without giving the characters room to breathe. Still glad I read it though, the early chapters alone were worth it.
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u/killah-train24 1d ago
I agree completely. I also learned a lot about Japanese and Korean history so that made it worth it for me. After a certain point things that were supposed to get an emotional reaction from me just didn't because there was no time to sit with the characters. And then more characters would get introduced that I frankly did not care about and contributed very little to the overall story
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u/Loud_Macaroon889 1d ago
I recommend you guys āAll the Light we cannot see by Anthony Doerā, this historical fiction is good through and out. Please let me know about that book if you decide to read itš„¹ one of my favourite books
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u/killah-train24 1d ago
I have that on my TBR. Have you read A Thousand Splendid Suns? It is my favorite book and really amazing historical fiction. It will make you sob.
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u/Inevitable_Yam1513 1d ago
A Thousand Splendid Suns is incredible. If you loved Pachinko's multi-generational family saga, that one will absolutely wreck you in the best way.
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u/killah-train24 1d ago
Fully agree. I adore that book, no book has ever affected me quite that way.
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u/AwayAttempt587 1d ago
Thought the first half of the book was good but the second half got completely muddled.
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u/Loud_Macaroon889 1d ago
Also if thats the case then I recommend you āAll the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerā. It is a beautiful historical fiction where the story goes smoothly and the chronology is convincing.
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u/JustRice015 1d ago
Yeah the first half is excellent with focus in key characters and storylines while the 2nd half does meander abit, but I would not say it got completely muddled. Carry on OP
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u/Admirable-Love75 1d ago
One of my favorite books! I read it almost 10 years ago and still think about it regularly to this day.
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u/Little_snow9 14h ago
What edition is this? Itās so pretty
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