September 2020 Book Selection: Pachinko

Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee | “A saga about four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan, exiled from their home. Pachinko follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them all. Deserted by her lover, Sunja is saved when a young tubercular minister offers to marry and bring her to Japan. So begins a sweeping saga of an exceptional family in exile from its homeland and caught in the indifferent arc of history. Through desperate struggles and hard-won triumphs, its members are bound together by deep roots as they face enduring questions of faith, family, and identity.” Meeting: https://mit.zoom.us/j/96532875591 6:00pm – 7:00pm

• • • • • • • • • • September 16: Chapter 1-5
                  • September 23: Chapter 6-17 (Book I: Gohyang/Homeland)
                  • September 30: Chapter 1-20 (Book II: Motherland)
                  • October 14: Chapter 1-21 (Book III: Pachinko), Ending
                  • TBA: Next Book Selection/Voting

The Literary Society is a student-run organization sponsored by the Literature Section. The MIT Literary Society creates a comfortable atmosphere for undergraduates to freely discuss their book interests. We read one book every month and meet every Tuesday – twice a month for book discussions, and twice a month for silent sustained reading (SSR) meetings. The group votes on book selections, choosing from genres that range from the classics to contemporary works. All members get to lead a part of each discussion. Other events may include guest speakers from MIT’s faculty and viewings of movies based on books. Our Mission: Founded in the spring of 2006, the MIT Literary Society is an undergraduate reading group that focuses on literary discussion outside of the classroom. The purpose of the MIT Literary Society is to complement the often rigorous and technical MIT education by creating a forum that encourages discussions on the current literary climate. The group is designed to encourage the exploration of various genres and interpretations, and also to develop one’s leadership skills by coordinating discussions. Our Constitution Contact: Interested in joining us? Our member mailing list is being managed by ranjanan@mit.edu; litsociety-interest@mit.edu. If you want to be added to this list, contact us at litsociety-exec@mit.edu.