The Last Story of Mina Lee
Ratings28
Average rating3.3
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'I loved this book so much' REESE WITHERSPOON --- In 1987, Mina Lee flies from Seoul to Los Angeles to start a new life. Thirty years later, Margot Lee speaks to her mother for the last time. Between these two moments extends a lifetime of secrets. These are stories of unexpected loves and devastating losses. Of choices made and those left behind. Of a mother and daughter who have always struggled to understand each other. These are stories waiting to be told, before it's too late. Reminiscent of Celeste Ng's page-turning meditations on identity, this searing mother-daughter story explores the diverse and unsettling realities of being an immigrant in America. --- 'Suspenseful and deeply felt... raises questions about the reality of the American dream and illuminates stories that often go untold' CHLOE BENJAMIN 'Painful, joyous... A story that cries out to be told' LA TIMES 'Carefully illuminates the two sides of the silence between a Korean immigrant mother and her Korean American daughter, a silence only too familiar to many of us - and emerges with a stunningly powerful and original novel' ALEXANDER CHEE 'A timely, important novel... Fans of Celeste Ng won't be able to put down this heartfelt, cross-generational novel about the powerful bond and fragility of family and what it really means to strive for the "American dream"' POPSUGAR --- Readers fell in love with Margot and Mina... 'Beautifully rendered. Achingly sweet. Enjoyable story with wonderfully realistic characters that you want to follow' 'An emotionally gripping story of loss and belonging' 'I LOVED THIS BOOK' 'This book is filled with wonderful characters, a story to please and mouth-watering Korean food' 'It speaks to all women who have been marginalized by their families or society at large'
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THE LAST STORY OF MINA LEE defies simple categorization. One part family drama, one part mystery, it alternates timelines and perspective to reveal what happened to Mina with underlying themes of undocumented immigration, belonging, and regret.
Disclosure: I received a physical ARC of this book from the publisher and the publicity firm working on this book. I was not otherwise compensated for this review or feature.
Content warnings: death of a spouse, death of a child, death of a parent, depression, racism, suicidal ideation, stalking, domestic violence, attempted rape, animal mauling
This book is told from alternating perspectives – Margot Lee, and her mother, the titular Mina Lee. On a drive from Seattle to LA with a friend, Margot calls her mother but to no avail. Upon arriving, she discovers Mina dead. We then embark on a journey of uncovered secrets, Margot's amateur investigation as a way of processing grief, and the truth, hiding in plain sight.
I've seen some reviews of this book criticizing Margot and her strained relationship with Mina, and how ungrateful and disrespectful she is. The language barrier in this book is at times literal, but isn't there always an element of a language barrier between parents and children? That felt so authentic to me; I wouldn't call my relationship with my (adoptive) mom strained per se, but it's not one I would describe as open (on my end).
Overall this one didn't resonate with me as much as I'd hoped. I thought the pacing was uneven, and Margot felt wooden and caricatured. I wanted more depth, more self-awareness. I also wanted more time inside Mrs. Baek's head. And finally, I thought Miguel – Margot's friend – was a throwaway character in ways that bothered me, because he could have been much more.
4.5 stars
Gave me a new perspective on mother - daughter relationships, especially my relationship with my mother. But it's also gave a very nuanced look from the daughter perspective, which was a reminder to stay open with my daughter about my life and how my journey has shaped who I am. I would hate for me to leave this Earth and my daughter or my sons, to think of me as a stranger.
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