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toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"The Last Story of Mina Lee" explores the complex relationship between mother and daughter through the daughter, Margot trying to solve her mother's mysterious death. Intertwined with this storyline is Mina's story, which takes us back in time to 1986 when she first arrived in America.
I feel like this was a solid read, but it could've been *epic.* It had all the elements there, but it never seemed to really take off. I thought the writing was great even though it was pretty simplistic and I enjoyed the dual timelines, though Margot as a character truly bored me to tears and I didn't feel like she had a personality. Still, it was hard for me to predict what would end up contributing to the fate of Mina Lee, and I liked that, even though all of the things that did happen to contribute to it fell flat for me in the end or were flat out anti-climactic.
Though I did like this author's writing, there was a ton of repetition that could've been edited down. The entire premise of this book hinges on the death of Margot's mother, but I felt like the author kept wanting to remind us of that fact. So many sentences started or ended with something like "since her mother's death." I feel like as a writer, you need to trust that the people who are reading your book are going to remember such a major plot point.
Something I thought was done right in this book was capturing grief, understanding that there are things we will never know about the people we love or perhaps never understand about them, but loving them anyway. Overall, a decent book, but there are things I would've liked to see done differently.
I feel like this was a solid read, but it could've been *epic.* It had all the elements there, but it never seemed to really take off. I thought the writing was great even though it was pretty simplistic and I enjoyed the dual timelines, though Margot as a character truly bored me to tears and I didn't feel like she had a personality. Still, it was hard for me to predict what would end up contributing to the fate of Mina Lee, and I liked that, even though all of the things that did happen to contribute to it fell flat for me in the end or were flat out anti-climactic.
Though I did like this author's writing, there was a ton of repetition that could've been edited down. The entire premise of this book hinges on the death of Margot's mother, but I felt like the author kept wanting to remind us of that fact. So many sentences started or ended with something like "since her mother's death." I feel like as a writer, you need to trust that the people who are reading your book are going to remember such a major plot point.
Something I thought was done right in this book was capturing grief, understanding that there are things we will never know about the people we love or perhaps never understand about them, but loving them anyway. Overall, a decent book, but there are things I would've liked to see done differently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual content, Rape, Alcohol, Death, War, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, and Addiction
Minor: Homophobia, Police brutality, and Child abuse
in_love_with_bookish's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
wai's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh, my heart. This book really captures the experience of Asian diaspora in the USA, with the story of Mina Lee, a Korean immigrant who first came to the USA in the last 1980s, and her daughter, Margot Lee. Adding in the mystery of how Mina died, and Margot's absolute resolve to know the truth, really pushes you to want to keep reading, if only to know how it ends. Plus, I honestly love dual narratives that includes switching between flashbacks of the past to what is the book's present (in this case, late 2014). This book was so touching and I know it will stay with me even as I move on to other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Child death
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