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sudosonia 's review for:
Free Food for Millionaires
by Min Jin Lee
It’s difficult for people, especially minorities, not to be depicted as full on stereotypes: a violent father, a timid mother, a successful sister, the black sheep of the family. I love how Min Jee gives each character a full spectrum of characteristics and emotions. Joseph is capable of violence, but he is also capable of caring for his family, feeling the weight of failure, and wanting his children to succeed. Casey is selfish, caring, creative, analytical, a lover and a cheater. No one is all good or all bad, which isn’t usually a priority in portraying Asian American characters in the media. Min Jee gives these characters the depths to explore all kinds of feelings and all the nuances in between. I love reading books that provides multiple insights into each characters thoughts because we get to understand different characters interpreted the same interaction.
Throughout the book, it became increasingly apparent that not all things that are good have good intentions and not all things that are wrong had wrong intentions. Some of the things Casey did hurt people around her, but her intention a lot of the time seems like an experiment. “What would happen if x happened? How would that make me feel?” And in this one life, it seemed like Casey’s intention was to figure it out.
Later in the book the characters that were classified as the “good people who could do no wrong” ended up in situations where they were taken advantage of due to their limited life experience, they eventually suffered and ended up in a hospital. It was Casey each time, that was able to guide them into the light. Casey who was familiar with judgment and navigating terrible situations, stood by them and comforted them in ways they each needed.
I wish I could read this book again for the first time! Looking forward to Lee's next books.
Throughout the book, it became increasingly apparent that not all things that are good have good intentions and not all things that are wrong had wrong intentions. Some of the things Casey did hurt people around her, but her intention a lot of the time seems like an experiment. “What would happen if x happened? How would that make me feel?” And in this one life, it seemed like Casey’s intention was to figure it out.
Later in the book the characters that were classified as the “good people who could do no wrong” ended up in situations where they were taken advantage of due to their limited life experience, they eventually suffered and ended up in a hospital. It was Casey each time, that was able to guide them into the light. Casey who was familiar with judgment and navigating terrible situations, stood by them and comforted them in ways they each needed.
I wish I could read this book again for the first time! Looking forward to Lee's next books.