by Nancy,
Part 2 takes us from Osaka January 1953 through to Tokyo 1989.
Pachinko covers a long span of time and is a long book.
What do you think of the length?
Is it too long?
What would you cut ,if anything?
What do we think of the ending of the novel?
Is it too tragic or just right?
I see Apple TV have made Pachinko into a movie. I have seen the cast list and have another question.
Hansu is played by the very handsome Korean actor Lee Min-ho.
Does this change the perception of the character?
Was this how we perceived Hansu to look?
When reading a story it is easier to assign unlikable characters less desirable looks.
it is part of the great joys of reading to create your own version of characters.
What are your feelings on seeing characters in movies before reading the story?
Sorry this is so late, things have been hectic here.
HI Nancy,
ReplyDeleteHow are you doing? Things have been quite busy. Lillian just turned 6 and we had some nice birthday celebrating. Benjamin just finished “winter” soccer and we have a short break before “spring” soccer starts. They are really keeping us busy.
I did not think Pachinko was a long or difficult book. Certainly “I Know This Much is True” was longer. I enjoyed following this family and found their journey a bit addicting. I was constantly speculating what would happen next to the characters. I found myself trying to get back to this family as quickly as I could. That is why I finished the whole book in January. The kids frequently found me on the couch with my nose deep in its pages. Hopefully I’m showing them that books are wonderful things and that this encourages them to read more too!
How did you like the ending? I am afraid I didn’t like it. I felt like I was cut adrift! Sunja goes buries the keychain and it’s over… I felt like I had been kicked out of the family and don’t get to know what happens! Does Solomon go into the pachinko business? Or does Mozasu get him into a more honorable trade? What happened to Noa’s children? I did not feel like this novel ended so much as stopped. It lacked a closure for me. I suppose we can say this is symbolic to life as it is always going without end. I still think I would have appreciated a little more closure. Let me know if you felt this way too.
I thought the book was appropriate in its family tragedies. A book without any plight or conflict wouldn’t make for a very interesting book. I felt terrible for Yoseb and his suffering. But I felt we got a lot of hope from Mozasu and Solomon even with the unpleasant racial discrimination. I am still flabbergasted by the degree of discrimination from the Japanese! I had no idea that Koreans born in Japan still had to apply to be allowed to stay in the country. What a horrid practice! I hope it’s not something that is still done today.
The Apple TV movie sounds great but I unfortunately do not have that streaming service. I might have to wait until it comes out on some other medium. Did you watch the HBO miniseries of “I Know This Much is True”? I thought that was great! Very well done. I wonder if Pachinko would hold up. I’m afraid I am not particularly familiar with Lee Min-ho so I’m a bad judge on if he would be a good choice for Hansu. Are you familiar with him as an actor?
I was thinking for a couple of other books to add:
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg
Open house also By Berg
Savage Girl by Jean Zimmerman
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
Let me know if any of those don’t appeal to you. I don’t mind if something sounds uninteresting to you.
Much love to you!
Katie
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to be late with this post.
Our corner of the world has been grappling with disastrous floods. We live on a hill so our only inconvenience was being isolated for a week, but a lot of ours and surrounding valleys were not so lucky. We have seen some of the biggest ever recorded flooding, some of it was two meters above previous heights, so you can imagine the devastation as peoples lives were literally washed away. Since we have been able to access town we have been helping sort donations and delivering them to people in need.
It has been overwhelming to see how generous our community can be but tiring and so very sad to hear and see people so lost.
Add to this the worry for family in Latvia, so close to Putins insane invasion of Ukraine and I find myself quite despairing at the moment.
I like the sound of all your new choices I will add them to our list.
It was lovely to hear about how your children are going, they certainly keep you busy. It is such a wonderful time, kids really make life so full and joyous.
To Pachinko, I agree with you, I felt for such a long book the ending was abrupt, I too needed more.
I finished Pachinko before our flood and have too honestly say I am having trouble remembering some of it. I remember being shocked by the degree of discrimination against the Koreans though and I did enjoy the story.
I think I enjoyed the first part more though, perhaps because I am a bit of a history nerd and like to read of other cultures past more so than their present. I know the 80’s are along time ago but they still feel recent too me!!
Sorry to sound so glum, I’ll have a cup of tea and I’m sure things will look brighter.
Much love to you and your beautiful family