'Pachinko' by Min Jin Lee and 'Impossible Monsters' by Michael Taylor

 Pachinko, Min Jin Lee (4.0)

The title of this family saga is a little misleading. While the Pachinko parlors of Japan play a part towards the last third of the book, much of it is focused on several generations of a Korean family before, during and after the Japanese occupation and the Korean war in both Korea and Japan. The story gives an impression of how Korean’s were treated by the Japanese, what their choices were (few) and how interwoven the lives of both North and South Koreans were before the separation. The author portrays how hard it was for families who wanted to integrate into Japanese society and how that was essentially impossible. I found the characters interesting, mostly compelling and appreciated this history covered.

 

Impossible Monsters: Dinosaurs, Darwin and the Battle Between Science and Religion, Michael Taylor (4.0)

The first half of this book was very similar to ‘Dinosaurs at the Dinner Table’ – a review of how in the early 1800’s in Britian fossils were being discovered and interpreted. Where this book adds value is in the second half. The author dives into the struggle those finding the fossils were having with their world view up to that time. The evidence in front of them did not gel with their religious beliefs of a 6k year old world. Some found comfort in thinking that time worked in a different way. Some agreed with the idea of evolution – but not for humans (we were made in God’s image, right?). While it is understandable to have that crisis of thought in the 19^th century, this book makes one shocked that there are still a large number of people who reject the obvious science of our past.