I finished this book months ago, and I'm still thinking about it. The smallest things reminds me of its characters and their separate tragedies; smallI finished this book months ago, and I'm still thinking about it. The smallest things reminds me of its characters and their separate tragedies; small pieces of history that I never knew anything about.
Pachinko is a family saga, telling the story of a Korean family's hardships in Japan during � and after � the Second World War. The Korean families become trapped in a small space between Japan and Korea; never properly accepted as Japanese, and still too foreign to be considered Korean when visiting their old country. Always longing for a place to fit in, while realising that such a place will never exists.
Ultimately, Pachinko is a story of identity. Of traditions and history. And of man's cruelty towards anything or anyone that seems different.
�Living everyday in the presence of those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage�
Lee writes beautifully, creating sympathetic characters and spinning heartless fates. The book maneuvers expertly through four generations and paints a vivid picture of their hardships, relationships and constant battle to fit into a society that doesn't even acknowledge their existence.
It's one of the best historical novels I've ever read....more
People always seem to be talking about this novel and Allende in general. For the longest time I have been wanting to read "The House of Spiritis", buPeople always seem to be talking about this novel and Allende in general. For the longest time I have been wanting to read "The House of Spiritis", but I never found the motivation for it, until this weekend when I watched the movie adaption.
Of course the book, once again, turned out to be much better than the movie. Even though the movie has Meryl Streep, the book has poetry, metaphors and the agony of an entire generation. Allende's writing is simply beautiful, and she writes herself into the tradition of Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez, another writer whom I admire.
"The House of Spirits" is a novel that deals with the tragedies and joys of three generations. It is filled with love, war, hatred and history - infused with lovely bits of magical realism, hovering chairs and floating tables, ghosts and predictions for the future. The magic mingles with the historical aspects, and softens the harsh reality the characters have to endure.
I found this novel to be extremely gripping and utterly beautiful. Now I have finally understood what the Allende-craze is all about - and I wholeheartedly agree. ...more
Gold fever. We all know the phenomenon; an obsession, a never-ending fascination and a desperate need for more. As I read this book I experienced someGold fever. We all know the phenomenon; an obsession, a never-ending fascination and a desperate need for more. As I read this book I experienced something similar; reading fever. When I first began reading this book, I simply couldn't stop. I wouldn't stop. It wasn't even possible. With an almost destructive greed I had to read on, to keep turning the thin pages - and when I finally reached the end, and there were no more pages to turn, I felt completely empty, saddened by the fact, that the book had run out of words. It's been a long time since I've felt this way.
Usually I'm always focusing on a beautiful languages with mesmerizing metaphors and beautiful sentences. This book however does not contain any of those factors; the writing style is simple, there is hardly any use of adjectives or long passages of descriptions, which I normally hold so dear. However I loved it just as much. Perhaps even more. 'Cause it turns out that sometimes a good story with a beautiful message is more than enough.
I may have finished reading this book; but I am not at all done with it. This is one of those rare books I will keep with me forever. In my heart and in the back of my mind. ...more
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