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Min Jin Lee has written quite a novel on the Korean experience under colonial rule of Japan, and as “foreign�� residents living in Japan into the late years of the 20th century. Writing the story of four generations of one family, she takes us on their journey from occupied Korea, specifically Yeongdo, to various cities in Japan over the course of several lifetimes. As readers, we see the various ways in which Korean children are bullied at school; their parents are limited to certain jobs and poor housing. The struggle to belong and/or succeed is important. Success seems more possible than belonging. Each generation moves beyond the one before. First daughter, Sunja, couldn’t read, but her sons went to school in Japan. But so much hinges on chance. Her son Mozasu worked in Pachinko parlors.

He loved all the moving pieces of his large, noisy
business. His Presbyterian minister father had believed
in a divine design, and Mozasu believed that life was like
this game where the player could adjust the dials yet
also expect the uncertainty of factors he couldn’t control.
He understood why his customers wanted to play
something that looked fixed but which also left room for
randomness and hope.. (loc 5345)

In many ways this combination of randomness and hope, with its combined emotions of sadness, hope in family, pleasure in children, controlled anger at social slights and subversion, and so much more, is a major feature of so many of the Korean characters we meet in this novel. They struggle to live the best life possible and hopefully enjoy happiness.

I recommend this novel as a fascinating portrait of the status of Koreans during the 20th century during their occupation by Japan and as foreigners in n Japan. It’s a well-written story, filled with interesting characters and facts.