Pachinko by Min Jin Lee is a great novel spanning four generations of a Korean immigrant family living in Japan starting in the early 20th century. Strong, hardworking women are at the heart of this novel. When young Sunja’s gentle minister husband is imprisoned, she goes to work to provide for her family, trying to give her elder son the best education possible and keep her younger son out of trouble, all the while keeping a powerful secret that could destroy everything shes worked for.

Lee is a master storyteller and this book is rich in details describing the struggles Koreans have faced in Japan, even the ones born there. Thoroughly researched, full of wonderful characters, I loved this book. I thought it would have benefited from ending a few chapters earlier, but still a great read.