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rachelwierick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
molhog93's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Child death
Minor: Rape
cereads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, and Pregnancy
foliage_and_fiction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Trying to imagine Mina’s loss, pain & struggle…to say I was moved while reading her story would be an understatement. I’m always drawn to a complicated mother/daughter theme & I especially loved the deep dive into the relationship between an immigrant parent & their American born child - how this can cause a lack of communication & understanding in each other. Oh & the FOOD 🤤 Wow did this novel make me hungryyyyyy. Vegan Jjigae has now been handwritten into my cookbook my mom gave me & it will be a regular meal in my house for sure!
All of that said, there were parts I was really disappointed with. The ending pissed me off so much & it felt way too rushed. Like Juyoon Kim tried to fit too many themes into one book, so some of it was wrapped up too perfectly while the rest was glossed over with little explanation. The “mystery” theme in the book didn’t feel needed whatsoever. I could have read another 300 pages about Mina’s life & the dynamic between her & Margot instead. Also, the gay Hispanic BFF was unnecessary & it seemed he was only added for more “diversity”. Miguel was a one dimensional, stereotyped character IMO.
Minor: Child death, Death, Racism, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
in_love_with_bookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Choosing if and when and how to share the truth might be the deepest, most painful necessity of growing out into the world and into yourself
I really don’t know how to begin with this book. It was definitely an emotionally challenging book to read filled with loss, grief, heartbreak, and despair. I felt the sadness in my soul. At times I was reading through my tears and at times I couldn’t breathe. This was devastation on paper and I don’t think I’ll ever recover from the havoc it created in me.
The Last Story of Mina Lee is about a bond between a daughter and a mother, Margot Lee and Mina. Through alternating between Mina’s past as a Korean War orphan and an undocumented immigrant and Margot’s present as a daughter coming to terms with the suspicious and sudden death of her mother, The author stars revealing the complexity of their dynamics, the difficulty of understanding each other and communicating their hurt and pain and leaning into each other in their darkest moments.
Maybe it was the tiniest of things, at times, on a consistent basis, that kept us alive, and if she could not create such kindnesses for herself, couldn’t she allow someone else to do so for her?
Margot and Mina had a difficult relationship in the past but as Margot starts to dig deep into her mother's past, she starts to know the woman she was by learning everything she went through from love, war, grief, and the loss of everything that was dear to her mother. And by learning about her mother, Margot starts to understand herself more coming to terms with who she was and who she is now.
The story is really hard-hitting and deeply emotional as it tackles sensitive issues like the loss of family, poverty, grief, and immigration. The author doesn’t shy away from revealing what lurks behind the face of her characters baring them naked to the reader with all the insecurities, scars, and vulnerabilities that live inside them. And in doing so, she creates a bond so deep it burns.
What was the point of learning a language that brought you into the fold of a world that didn’t want you? Did this world want her? No. It didn’t like the sound of her voice.
This book ruined me and I love it for it. Beautifully written and stunningly poignant, this book is criminally underrated. I wish everyone will give this story a chance because it’s so worth it.
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
theresenatalie's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racial slurs and Suicidal thoughts
healydwya's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, and Death
wai's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Child death