Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

The narrative begins in the early 1900s in Yeongdo, a small fishing village in Korea. Sunja, the cherished daughter of a humble fisherman, becomes pregnant by Koh Hansu, a wealthy fish broker who is already married. Refusing to be his mistress, Sunja accepts a marriage proposal from Baek Isak, a gentle minister passing through on his way to Japan. This decision sets the stage for a multigenerational saga that unfolds against the backdrop of Japanese colonialism, World War II, and the challenges faced by Koreans in Japan.

As the family navigates life in a foreign land, they confront systemic discrimination, poverty, and the struggle to preserve their cultural identity. The novel delves into the lives of Sunja's sons, Noa and Mozasu, and her grandson, Solomon, each grappling with their heritage and the societal pressures of assimilation.