I just finished Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and I truly loved it but I’m also so upset with the ending

Earlier today with a few chapters left, if you asked me, I would’ve told you that this book was perfect. Simply perfect. It’s nothing like I’ve ever read before. I didn’t think generational bold exist and now that I know I’ll definitely read more, though after a long break from that.

BUT

After finishing it, I feel like my feelings of awe have been eclipsed by this girl/woman Hana. She groomed Solomon and it brings me so much rage. There was no reason for her to be so horrible to begin with, yes her parents were divorced but she still had her dad and brothers who were alright in the book’s description. Why did she turn out that way. Then she moves in with her mum and decides to molest(yes they were kids but she was 4 fucking years older) her step-brother, adopted brother. I am beyond disgusted. It took me back to when I nearly put down the book when Sunja was being groomed but thanks the heavens she was reminded that was a foolish decision and it was plainly laid out for us throughout that Hansu was scum of the earth personified.

I hate hate hate that something terrible happened to Solomon and his first thought was to tell Hana. I cannot blame him for his attachment as I cannot blame Sunja but the fact that that bitch had the audacity to continue flirting with him, push herself into his life and bring her baggage time and again just to pull him back into her manipulative palm made me so goddamn sick. She stole from a child after his birthday, who does that???. I prayyeeddd that they would get caught, I prayed that someone, anyone would find them out and he would get a rude awakening lecture that Sunja got(less harsh tho).

And the fact that I don’t see people talking about it enough indicates to me how normalised this is in our society; for young boys to have their first sexual experiences at 13/14 with grown women under the guise of learning and gaining experience for later. I was recently following an online discussion about that in the black-American community and that starting that early essentially becomes sth to brag about. This reminded me of that and how society tends not to take male child sexual assault as seriously.

Anyway, Hana got a bad ending and sure you might argue that’s her karma. But this book made a point from the beginning for the characters to be proven wrong and have them confront their mistakes. I hate that that relationship was kept secret until she died, “secret girl” I fucking hate those words. Also the fact that she could always reach out to her dad and brothers, again, there was NO reason for her to be like this. She could’ve asked them for money or stayed with them if she didn’t like her mother. She was no longer pregnant so there was nothing stopping her from going back to someone who she wouldn’t blame constantly for abandoning her. People she knew she could trust.

I hated her so much I wished she’d just disappear, but sadly that would also mean her mum too and Mozasu would be heartbroken ugh. It really felt like Sunja’s story repeated; to be made prey to this broken person and the forever emotionally imprisoned by them. Maybe that was the point idk.

This all really ruined the book’s ending for me. There are other flaws sure, but this just triggered me so badly and I cannot shake the bitter taste.