Pachinko

Beginning in early 1900s Korea, Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean family as they struggle to survive and thrive in Japan. It starts with Sunja, a young woman who becomes pregnant by a wealthy married man. To save her family from disgrace, she marries a kind minister heading to Japan, where Koreans face severe discrimination. Over the next seven decades, Sunja and her descendants navigate poverty, war, and prejudice in a country that refuses to accept them. Some work in the pachinko parlors—gambling establishments associated with Korean immigrants—while others pursue education and legitimate business, but all face the reality of being perpetual outsiders. This sweeping epic examines questions of identity, belonging, sacrifice, and what it means to forge a home in a place that rejects you.

Min Jin Lee is a Korean-American author. Born in Seoul, she immigrated to the United States as a child. She worked as a lawyer before turning to writing. Pachinko was a finalist for the National Book Award and spent years on the New York Times bestseller list. It was adapted into an acclaimed Apple TV+ series.