Blog Week 10: Prompt 1

    Pachinko has been an easy-to-read novel for me and I learned a lot from it. My cultural knowledge has increased the most. I never knew of the tensions between Korea and Japan before Pachinko. My previous understanding was that tensions between North and South Korea were high, but not Japan as well. The novel provides a continuous context of these tensions through the main characters' interactions with the world around them. The beginning of the novel was the only time this context was not provided since Hoonie and Yanjin lived such rural and tight-knit lives. Still, they had experiences of being marginalized. This was especially the case with Hoonie due to his cleft palate. 

    Once the novel shifted to Sunja's life, we were introduced to the tensions between Koreans and the Japanese. The example that jumped out most to me was when the Japanese boys approached Sunja and harassed her. Not only was this scene the introduction to the character of Hansu, but it also introduced the readers to the severity of racism experienced by the Koreans. Once Sunja and Isak moved to Japan, they, along with me, learned just how poor Koreans were treated in Japan. The reader is introduced to the close-quarter living the Koreans have to endure. For example, sometimes ten Koreans had to share one room in the slums. They would alternate sleeping schedules to allow everyone to use the room. This was such a surprise for Isak and Sunja because Isak's background was quite wealthy. They expected his brother to be able to provide a comfortable life for both families. 

    Along with important cultural knowledge, I was introduced to the controversial character of Hansu. The class discussions on him were always illuminating. Even though he did so much for the family, it seems a lot of it was rooted in selfishness. Noa was his son, and so he tried to do as much as possible for him. Yet, he took advantage of Sunja and caused her great pain in her life in the way she saw herself as such a horrible sinner. I learned how important initial intentions are when meeting someone for the first time. Even though Hansu did so much good for the family, his initial intentions were rooted in selfishness. 

    This was my second favorite book of the quarter, behind The Secret River. Both have been memorable, and I'm glad I was able to be introduced to them.