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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
unfortunately this is no Pachinko…I don’t think I ever truly got into it or connected much to the characters, I remember even thinking why is this even a chapter at one point. I stuck around for the 20 hour audio book though so that has to mean something (?) I appreciate the hats though
also it felt like everyone cheated on eachother like 4737834 whew the infidelity
also it felt like everyone cheated on eachother like 4737834 whew the infidelity
I wanted to read this as I was intrigued by the blurb and I’m glad I did.
This book taught me about Korean-American culture, Wall Street culture and the struggle of social mobility. As much as it taught me it made me feel sad. Sad about the reality of working immigrants, how common adultery is and how much our parents sacrifice to move to a foreign country for a better life. The characters were flawed and made mistakes but it felt real. I like that the novel featured relevant topics such as the fetishisation of Asian women, date rape and gambling. I wanted to keep reading to know what happened to Casey, her sister and Ella.
This book taught me about Korean-American culture, Wall Street culture and the struggle of social mobility. As much as it taught me it made me feel sad. Sad about the reality of working immigrants, how common adultery is and how much our parents sacrifice to move to a foreign country for a better life. The characters were flawed and made mistakes but it felt real. I like that the novel featured relevant topics such as the fetishisation of Asian women, date rape and gambling. I wanted to keep reading to know what happened to Casey, her sister and Ella.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Solid book but not nearly as impactful or focused as Pachinko.
Felt like the book suffered a bit from the multiple povs as they did not all contribute to the narrative of the book in my opinion. While the stories were not lacking in quality it felt as though they were not building on the same ideas.
The main character Casey was also extremely frustrating. She has trouble making up her mind and makes little progress through the book culminating in her once again forgoing a golden opportunity for an unsure future.
I think some of the ideas of the book hit better than others but were not explored fully enough or concisely enough to make a big impact. In particular I thought the exploration of opportunity and generational wealth and privilege were good themes that could've been a bigger focus.
Overall it was good and had its moments but felt a bit aimless ultimately with a meandering plot and questionable development of many of the main characters.
Felt like the book suffered a bit from the multiple povs as they did not all contribute to the narrative of the book in my opinion. While the stories were not lacking in quality it felt as though they were not building on the same ideas.
The main character Casey was also extremely frustrating. She has trouble making up her mind and makes little progress through the book culminating in her once again forgoing a golden opportunity for an unsure future.
I think some of the ideas of the book hit better than others but were not explored fully enough or concisely enough to make a big impact. In particular I thought the exploration of opportunity and generational wealth and privilege were good themes that could've been a bigger focus.
Overall it was good and had its moments but felt a bit aimless ultimately with a meandering plot and questionable development of many of the main characters.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is like an onion: layered, complex, and occasionally stinging enough to bring tears to your eyes. Some passages are so masterfully written that they unfold with breathtaking emotional depth, while others feel like witnessing a car crash in slow motion—gripping, painful, and impossible to look away from. At times, I felt like an intruder peering into Casey’s world; at others, I was her closest confidante.
That said, this book drags. It’s too long, and some sections could have used a firm editorial hand. You find yourself simultaneously wanting it to end and not wanting it to end, much like a conversation with a beloved but exasperating friend. Casey, as a protagonist, becomes someone you develop a strange, intimate relationship with: you want to shake her, hug her, tell her to stop talking, but you’d never dream of cutting her off.
In the end, Free Food for Millionaires is a commitment, but one that leaves you with plenty to chew on. Sometimes delicious, sometimes tough, but always worth tasting.
medium-paced