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The Last Story of Mina Lee

the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick
3.53 goodreads logo

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( 45,377 ratings, 4,133 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim is a poignant tale exploring the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Mina Lee, an older Korean immigrant living in Los Angeles. As her daughter, Margot, delves into her mother's life to uncover the truth, the story unfolds with rich layers, touching on themes of family, identity, and the immigrant experience. The narrative beautifully weaves together the past and present, revealing hidden secrets and deepening the connection between mother and daughter despite the generational and cultural gaps.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to poignant tales about family, belonging, and the immigrant experience. It intricately weaves a mystery around the life of a Korean immigrant, exploring themes of identity, culture, and the unspoken bonds between a mother and daughter. Perfect for those who appreciate rich, character-driven narratives with emotional depth.

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A searing mother-daughter story exploring the diverse and unsettling realities of being an immigrant in America.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'I loved this book so much' REESE WITHERSPOON In 1987, Mina Lee flies from Seoul to Los Angeles to start a new life. Thirty years later, Margot Lee speaks to her mother for the last time. Between these two moments extends a lifetime of secrets. These are stories of unexpected loves and devastating losses. Of choices made and those left behind. Of a mother and daughter who have always struggled to understand each other. These are stories waiting to be told, before it's too late. Reminiscent of Celeste Ng's page-turning meditations on identity, this searing mother-daughter story explores the diverse and unsettling realities of being an immigrant in America. --- 'Suspenseful and deeply felt... raises questions about the reality of the American dream and illuminates stories that often go untold' CHLOE BENJAMIN 'Painful, joyous... A story that cries out to be told' LA TIMES 'Carefully illuminates the two sides of the silence between a Korean immigrant mother and her Korean American daughter, a silence only too familiar to many of us - and emerges with a stunningly powerful and original novel' ALEXANDER CHEE 'A timely, important novel... Fans of Celeste Ng won't be able to put down this heartfelt, cross-generational novel about the powerful bond and fragility of family and what it really means to strive for the "American dream"' POPSUGAR --- Readers fell in love with Margot and Mina... 'Beautifully rendered. Achingly sweet. Enjoyable story with wonderfully realistic characters that you want to follow' 'An emotionally gripping story of loss and belonging' 'I LOVED THIS BOOK' 'This book is filled with wonderful characters, a story to please and mouth-watering Korean food' 'It speaks to all women who have been marginalized by their families or society at large'

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Nancy Jooyoun Kim's The Last Story of Mina Lee receives praise for its suspenseful narrative and evocative exploration of themes such as the American dream, social class, and immigration. Critics highlight its emotional depth, describing it as haunting, powerful, and original, with a delicate portrayal of the complex relationships between mothers and daughters. It's been noted for its courage in addressing vulnerable aspects of the human heart, marking a significant debut in contemporary fiction.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472281616

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 December 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Headline Review

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nancy Jooyoun Kim is a graduate of UCLA and the University of Washington, Seattle. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, Guernica, NPR/PRI's Selected Shorts, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, Asian American Writers' Workshop's The Margins, The Offing and elsewhere.

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