Min Jin Lee

Min Jin Lee, novelist and journalist behind Pachinko and Free Food for Millionaires, reflects on immigrating from Korea to Queens and the toughness of working-class New York. She talks about faith and moral imagination, leaving corporate law for fiction, years of financial uncertainty, deep research, and why ordinary lives belong at the center of history.

Min Jin Lee, acclaimed novelist behind 'Pachinko,' and Gilbert Cruz, editor at The New York Times Book Review, dive deep into the timeless allure of 'The Great Gatsby.' They reflect on their early encounters with the novel, exploring how perspectives shift with each reread. The trio analyzes Fitzgerald's mastery of satire and tragedy, while also wrestling with characters like Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. As they discuss the book's critiques of wealth and aspiration, they underscore its lasting relevance in today's cultural landscape.

Min Jin Lee is the author of the best-selling novel Pachinko. She’s a Guggenheim Fellow, and the recipient of South Korea's Manhae Grand Prize for Literature. In Pachinko, she tells a sweeping, multi-generational story of a Korean family that moves to Japan. Pachinko is an international best-seller, named one of the best books of 2017 by the New York Times, the BBC, the New York Public Library, and more. In 2022, it was adapted into an Emmy-nominated television series on Apple TV+. In this episode, Min talks to Book Exploder host Susan Orlean about a passage from Chapter 4 of Pachinko: a pivotal scene that takes place in June 1932, in a small fishing village in Korea. For more, visit bookexploder.com/episodes/min-jin-lee.

On this special episode of Design Matters, we take a look back at the collective brilliance of fiction writers interviewed in 2022. Best of Design Matters 2022 with Brad Listi, Jason Reynolds, A.M. Homes, Candice Carty-Williams, and Min Jin Lee is live! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author Min Jin Lee discusses writing, representation in media, and the Asian-American identity. Her book Pachinko is being adapted for TV, praised by President Obama. Lee shares her writing journey, struggles, and importance of diverse storytelling. She explores faith, suffering, and personal growth, along with her experiences with OCD, anxiety, and body image as an Asian American writer.