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| The Last Story of Mina Lee |
Margot Lee’s mother, Mina, isn’t returning her calls. It’s a mystery to
twenty-six-year-old Margot, until she visits her childhood apartment in
Koreatown, LA, and finds that her mother has suspiciously died. The
discovery sends Margot digging through the past, unraveling the tenuous
invisible strings that held together her single mother’s life as a
Korean War orphan and an undocumented immigrant, only to realize how
little she truly knew about her mother.
Interwoven with Margot’s
present-day search is Mina’s story of her first year in Los Angeles as
she navigates the promises and perils of the American myth of
reinvention. While she’s barely earning a living by stocking shelves at a
Korean grocery store, the last thing Mina ever expects is to fall in
love. But that love story sets in motion a series of events that have
consequences for years to come, leading up to the truth of what happened
the night of her death.
Told through the intimate lens of a mother and daughter who have struggled all their lives to understand each other, The Last Story of Mina Lee is a powerful and exquisitely woven debut novel that explores identity, family, secrets, and what it truly means to belong.
I started my 2021-read with one of the recommended books by Reese's Book Club. I saw it several times in my timeline and decided to buy it during Black Friday but only got a chance to read it recently.
Cover-wise, I like the fonts and how the model backed from the reader, give curiosity in the air.
So before I start to describe my experience whilst reading this book, I will start with the storyline.
Margot is twenty-six years old, lives in Seattle, and trying to spend the holiday visiting her only parent, Mina Lee who lived in Los Angeles. Several days ago, Margot tried to call her mother, but always fail to connect. She has never been close to her mother, but there is a gut, a line of anxiety her mother didn't pick up her phone.
She traveled with Miguel (up until the end I don't know Miguel is just a friend or lover, I did skip several parts). Turned out, her anxiety is correct, she found her mother died in her apartment.
Disbelieved and shocked, Margot is haunted by the past. The reason why she resented her mother, even she loved her the most. But there are some events told by the landlord, poked her curiosity, how can her mother, the strong-willed woman, died so mundanely. Fell off the chair.
Margot starts her investigation by checking her mother's belonging, asking people who might know her mother daily. But her mother, as an immigrant from Seoul has always a secluded life. She is very quiet, a hard-worker and religious. She didn't have a lot of friends.
Interwoven with the present day, the story of Mina Lee started when she emigrated to the US using a holiday visa. With minimum language skill, she throws her life behind her and rent a room from a nice Korean Lady. There, she met the bold and beautiful Mrs. Baek.
In a not so long or short phase, the life story of Mina Lee is revealed. The reason why she left Seoul, why she worked so hard and had been harsh to Margot.
Well, for starters, I think I read too many Korean Novels with the same theme recently so I can't help comparing this book with Please Look After Mom. Both stories have a resemble theme, about figuring out the Mother's past and the entirely different character of a woman in a mother's body.
Mina Lee is a struggling woman, come to the USA in her forty. From her childhood, she lives a hard life, separated from her parents, lives in the orphanage until she finally finds a family that later she lost it again. She was heartbroken and lost, however, she chose to continue living even every day her heart shattered whenever she saw a little girl.
Being an immigrant in Uncle Sam's land is not easy, especially when Mina Lee is undocumented. There are so many rights that are lost, she even cannot speak the language. Even every day she ended up crying in her tiny room, but I admit, she has the bravado to live in a strange land without capabilities or provisions.
I adored everything about Mina Lee, her tenacity especially. I think most of the Korean Books I read always have a brave mother heroine, harsh but only because the life hardened her. Typical of Asian Mothers.
But Margot, being born in America and live without never really understand exactly her mother's hardship, didn't even want to learn Korean- the only language her mother spoke to her. And I didn't feel Margot's sadness knowing her mother's death. Yes, it is told in the book, but I don't really feel it.
The other thing that bothers me is the Miguel part, I don't really understand his role in this novel hahaha...his character is not described enough even he has a large portion in Margot's life. She even stated him as a family.
There are things also that made me wondered, such as how Mina Lee never know how to eat a burger. I mean it is the 80's, I am sure Mc. Donald has a branch in Seoul. And how Mina Lee has a date with Mr. Kim, it feels like they are in their twenties.
The story is sure melancholy but not at a slow pace. There are some sentences that are crafted beautifully, and there are also sentences that keep repeated like how beautiful sunsets in LA, or the same description about the meals they ate. Since it is the first novel, I think that's why.
I think there is still much potential that didn't explore thoroughly in the book. I was touched several times by how Mina Lee loved her daughter so much. But on the other hand, I feel like Margot is a just tool to reveal more of Mina's story. Sorry, I didn't feel her.
Overall, it is a quite good read, but if you need a full of heartfelt Korean books, I will recommend other books that may shatter your heart even after several days read it!
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