Pachinko - Is everything by chance?

         Throughout the reading of Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, all of the novel's characters deal (to some extent) with situations that were either brought about by personal choice, pure luck, or unfair odds. Personally, I do think that my life is in some ways like a game, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a 'casino game'. I believe that it is based on a mix of chance/luck as well as free will, possibly a 50/50 split. I do believe in karma, so I whenever I'm faced with a tough or unfortunate situation, I wouldn't say that the odds are stacked against me – instead I use it as motivation to be the best possible version of myself that I can be. I don't think that the odds are 'unchangeable' either, in most situations. So far, reading Pachinko has changed my perception on life, as I had no idea of the struggles that Koreans faced during and after the period when Japan colonized Korea. This made me more thankful and aware of how privileged I am, to be living in a society that is more just and fair than that which was there during the time described in Pachinko.