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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I can’t decide if this book was a tad bit too long, or just right. Min Jin Lee takes you through the story of Casey and her supporting characters along her post-college years after Princeton, making all of the wrong decisions, some right ones, and some decisions that made me question why I judge people’s decisions.
In short, I loved it. In long, I was blown away by the realistic but beautiful prose of the story. I savored the book’s reflection of the humanness of being in your 20s (and 40s… and 50s…) and feeling completely behind, confused, but living life regardless. I loved the Korean family and identity aspect of the book, from Jay & Casey to Unu to Hugh to Ella & Ted. The experience of being in a community connected to identity is relatable, and the author did a spectacular job of making me feel like I could understand what Casey was going through with her parents, her relationships, her professional life, and herself.
At certain points I felt like the book had run its course. Around page 300 something, I was like, are we really introducing a new subplot? Are we really still doing this? But by the end, I understood why we needed all of the book. We needed character development for everyone (except, pointedly, Joseph Hong - but maybe that was a purposeful choice).
My biggest takeaway from Free Food for Millionaires is that you can’t predict how life will happen, which people will come in and out of your life, how money will affect you forever, or how your sense of self may change. I would never want to be Casey, but I’ve learned a lot from her, and want to take on the parts of her I admire - her non judgment, her pointed selfishness, and her ability to let life happen and live in the moment. I will not take on her addiction to hats.
Would definitely recommend to a friend, but you need to stay in it. 560 pages later, and I’m ready for something a little breezier!
In short, I loved it. In long, I was blown away by the realistic but beautiful prose of the story. I savored the book’s reflection of the humanness of being in your 20s (and 40s… and 50s…) and feeling completely behind, confused, but living life regardless. I loved the Korean family and identity aspect of the book, from Jay & Casey to Unu to Hugh to Ella & Ted. The experience of being in a community connected to identity is relatable, and the author did a spectacular job of making me feel like I could understand what Casey was going through with her parents, her relationships, her professional life, and herself.
At certain points I felt like the book had run its course. Around page 300 something, I was like, are we really introducing a new subplot? Are we really still doing this? But by the end, I understood why we needed all of the book. We needed character development for everyone (except, pointedly, Joseph Hong - but maybe that was a purposeful choice).
My biggest takeaway from Free Food for Millionaires is that you can’t predict how life will happen, which people will come in and out of your life, how money will affect you forever, or how your sense of self may change. I would never want to be Casey, but I’ve learned a lot from her, and want to take on the parts of her I admire - her non judgment, her pointed selfishness, and her ability to let life happen and live in the moment. I will not take on her addiction to hats.
Would definitely recommend to a friend, but you need to stay in it. 560 pages later, and I’m ready for something a little breezier!
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
at first i was afraid i would struggle to get through this book, but it was actually quite gripping and im planning to buy a physical copy so i can read it again and mark it up.
I love the third person omniscient narration style, it means there’s sooo much story packed into the story.
Joseph's silence, Casey's stubbornness, Tina's compliance, and Leah's devotion are all figments of an asian immigrant household. I admire Min Jin Lee's attention to detail and way of words. This book yells money and honor, but murmurs love and grief.
Unlike other reviewers, I didn't mind the protagonist. Certain issues that Casey experienced were highly relatable, like her relationship with religion as a Korean-American, her struggle with the shame and guilt that's unique to Asian-American women, her musings about love, and her desire to make something of herself post-undergrad.
It was the side characters, like Ella and Casey's mother, that I disliked. They may be side characters, but for the large portions of the book dedicated to their development, they were still one-dimensional.
Some of the dialogue, especially those written in English that we knew were spoken in Korean, felt unnatural and difficult to follow.
I definitely prefer Pachinko, but anyone with the Korean-American immigrant experience may enjoy this book for its relatability and the wide cast of characters representing the various facets of the immigrant experience.
It was the side characters, like Ella and Casey's mother, that I disliked. They may be side characters, but for the large portions of the book dedicated to their development, they were still one-dimensional.
Some of the dialogue, especially those written in English that we knew were spoken in Korean, felt unnatural and difficult to follow.
I definitely prefer Pachinko, but anyone with the Korean-American immigrant experience may enjoy this book for its relatability and the wide cast of characters representing the various facets of the immigrant experience.
this book felt like a telenovela. this would make a GREAT TV show. there are plot twists, cheating (AND A LOT OF IT), familial conflicts, divorce, and so much more.. i applaud Lee Minjin for keeping me so entertained with a story that felt like it was going nowhere and that was SOO contradictory!! some of these characters i could not STAND (Casey i am sorry) and some characters i wish we could've seen and been with more (Ella!!!!!) but it was overall an entertaining book, but not much substance. also it was long AS HELL
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes