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The brilliant debut novel from the New York Times-bestselling author of Pachinko.
'Ambitious, accomplished, engrossing... As easy to devour as a nineteenth-century romance' NEW YORK TIMES.
Casey Han's years at Princeton have given her a refined diction, an enviable golf handicap, a popular white boyfriend and a degree in economics. But no job, and a number of bad habits.
The elder daughter of working-class Korean immigrants, Casey inhabits a New York a world away from that of her parents. As Casey navigates an uneven course of small triumphs and spectacular failures, a clash of values and ambitions plays out against the colourful backdrop of New York society, its many shades and divides.
'Explores the most fundamental crisis of immigrants' children: how to bridge a generation gap so wide it is measured in oceans' Observer.
'A remarkable writer' The Times.
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Print length
577 pages
Product description
Review
'There are two memorable episodes in which an exchange of gifts reveals a gulf in regard and understanding that could have been penned by Austen herself, so well are they judged. The sisters' stories bowl absorbingly along, while their mother is also permitted a poignant starring role, receiving the same sympathetic treatment Lee extends to almost all her characters' Daily Mail. 'It is no exaggeration to say that Lee's debut deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Eliot's great doorstopper [Middlemarch]. What is more, it is arguably even more fun' South China Morning Post. 'Explores the most fundamental crisis of immigrants' children ... an insight into the secret world of Korean America' Observer. 'Exquisitely evoked ... an epic meditation on love' USA Today. 'This big, beguiling book has all the distinguishing marks of a Great American Novel ... [a] remarkable writer' The Times. 'Ambitious, accomplished, engrossing ... as easy to devour as a 19th-century romance' New York Times. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About the Author
Min Jin Lee is an author and journalist. Her debut novel, Free Food for Millionaires, was named as one of the 'Top 10 Novels of the Year' by the Times and USA Today. She wrote Pachinko whilst living in Tokyo, and now lives in New York with her family. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Book Description
A stunning debut - a big, vibrant novel of class, race and cultural clash set against the colourful backdrop of New York society --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Review
Ambitious, accomplished, engrossing... as easy to devour as a 19th-century romance' ― New York Times
This big, beguiling book has all the distinguishing marks of a Great American Novel... [a] remarkable writer' ― The Times
Exquisitely evoked... an epic meditation on love' ― USA Today
Explores the most fundamental crisis of immigrants' children... an insight into the secret world of Korean America' ― Observer
'It is no exaggeration to say that Lee's debut deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Eliot's great doorstopper [Middlemarch]. What is more, it is arguably even more fun' ― South China Morning Post
'There are two memorable episodes in which an exchange of gifts reveals a gulf in regard and understanding that could have been penned by Austen herself, so well are they judged. The sisters' stories bowl absorbingly along, while their mother is also permitted a poignant starring role, receiving the same sympathetic treatment Lee extends to almost all her characters' ― Daily Mail --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From the Back Cover
'As easy to devour as a 19th century romance - packed with flouted parental expectations, fluctuating female friendships and rivalries, ephemeral romantic hopes and losses and high-stakes career gambles. 'Ambitious, accomplished and engrossing.' New York Times Book Review
Casey Han's years at Princeton have given her 'a refined diction, an enviable golf handicap, wealthy friends, a popular white boyfriend, and a magna cum laude degree in economics.But no job, and a number of bad habits...'
The elder daughter of working-class Korean immigrants who run a dry cleaning shop in Manhattan, Casey inhabits a New York a world away from that of her parents. Ambitious, spirited and obstinate, she's developed a taste for a lifestyle - and a passion for beautiful hats and expensive tailoring - she hasn't the means to sustain. And between the culture to which her family so fiercely cling and the life she aspires to, Casey must confront her own identity, the meaning of wealth, and what she really wants from her future.
As Casey navigates an uneven course of small triumphs and spectacular failures, a clash of values, ideals and ambitions plays out against the colourful backdrop of New York society, it's many layers, shades and divides.
'Min Jin Lee explores the most fundamental crisis of immigrants' children: how to bridge a generation gap so wide it is measured in oceans ... an insight into the secret world of Korean America ... and there is pleasure to be derived from it's heroine's peregrinations as she reconciles her desires with the conventions of her family' Observer
'Exquisitely evoked ... an American story full of class struggle, rugged individualism, social status and the haves and have-nots. Most of all, it's an epic meditation on love ... in all its tenacious and painful glory' USA Today --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
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Product details
ASIN : B06XH2M6NW
Publisher : Apollo (10 August 2017)
Print length : 577 pages
Best Sellers Rank: 12,113 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
14 in Asian American Literature
19 in Asian-American Literature
84 in Cultural Heritage Fiction
Customer Reviews: 4.3 out of 5 stars 899 ratings
About the author
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Min Jin Lee
Min Jin Lee is a recipient of fiction fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard. Her second novel Pachinko (2017) was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, winner of the Medici Book Club Prize, and a New York Times 10 Best Books of 2017. A New York Times Bestseller, Pachinko was also a Top 10 Books of the Year for BBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the New York Public Library. Pachinko was a selection for “Now Read This,” the joint book club of PBS NewsHour and The New York Times. It was on over 75 best books of the year lists, including NPR, PBS, and CNN. Pachinko will be translated into 25 languages. Lee’s debut novel Free Food for Millionaires (2007) was a Top 10 Books of the Year for The Times of London, NPR’s Fresh Air, USA Today, and a national bestseller. Her writings have appeared in The New Yorker, NPR’s Selected Shorts, One Story, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, Conde Nast Traveler, The Times of London, and Wall Street Journal. She served three consecutive seasons as a Morning Forum columnist of the Chosun Ilbo of South Korea. In 2018, Lee was named as an Adweek Creative 100 for being one of the “10 Writers and Editors Who are Changing the National Conversation” and a Frederick Douglass 200. She received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Monmouth College. She will be a Writer-in-Residence at Amherst College from 2019-2022.
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Customer reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Top reviews
Top reviews from Australia
Anne Whight
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story, my second book by Min Jin Lee, and both 5 stars
Reviewed in Australia on 6 August 2018
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Min Jin Lee's debut novel revolves around Casey, a girl of Korean ancestry, growing up in America, and her search for identity. It's also about her parents, family and friends, who are struggling to maintain their identity in a very different world. Her second novel, Pachinko (2017) absolutely blew me away, probably one of the best books I've read, and made me want to go back and read Free Food (2007). While I loved Pachinko a little more, both books are 5 star reads, and I can't wait to read the next book Min Jin Lee writes.
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Lynette Grae
5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful read from an inspiring author
Reviewed in Australia on 7 January 2018
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What a wonderful read from an inspiring author. Loved it from beginning to the end, highly recommended.!! I’ll be looking forward to more writing from this author....she is wonderful.
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Katherine Kennon
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
Reviewed in Australia on 26 July 2020
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A long and winding road of a story that had me turning through the pages quickly.
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Phillip Amata
1.0 out of 5 stars Absolute rubbish!
Reviewed in Australia on 10 September 2020
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The more I read the worse it became!
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Heart felt
Reviewed in Australia on 22 February 2021
Lovely story, I was definitely entertained with this novel. A story of a lung woman’s life and its lovely. Just lovely
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Marionh_au
5.0 out of 5 stars love, love, loved this book
Reviewed in Australia on 29 May 2018
I loved every word of this fabulous book. I didn't want it to finish. I cant wait for another one from this author.
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BookWorm
2.0 out of 5 stars Overlong with a frustrating, unlikeable heroine
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2019
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I enjoyed Lee's second novel, 'Pachinko', but this - her first novel - failed to impress me. An overlong, sprawling and ultimately directionless story about Korean-Americans living in New York in the 1990s, I was counting down the pages until I finished. The principal character, Casey, is very hard to like and irritated me greatly. A recent graduate with apparently good prospects, she manages to sabotage herself at every turn. The novel is only saved from one-star status by the subplots involving some nicer supporting characters.
As a white British person, I found the Korean cultural elements far easier to comprehend than the wealthy American culture. I could understand the struggles of the poorer immigrant families, whereas all the talk of golf, conspicuous spending and 'B school' (an expression that isn't explained anywhere and took me a while to work out) and the corporate culture that goes with it, felt completely alien. Rather than drawing me in and enabling me to understand though, it left me just as baffled and contemptuous as when I started. I simply can't comprehend people who spend crazy money on clothes full stop (even if they have it) and certainly not when they are flat broke. Despite Casey not even being from a privileged background, her sheer lack of gratitude for the opportunities she was given made me want to yell at her.
There is nothing more frustrating than a book character who constantly repeats the same stupid mistake over and over again, and Casey must be the epitome of this phenomenon. She managed to snatch failure and defeat from the jaws of victory and opportunity over and over again. Over the course of nearly 600 pages, she throws away a degree from Princeton, a relationship with a lovely well-matched man, the support of an implausibly rich and generous mentor, the love of well-meaning parents, and even the affection of her saintly friend. She seemed willing to work hard, but never stuck with anything. I honestly felt she got better than she deserved throughout, whereas the much nicer supporting characters seemed to contend with unfairness at every turn.
At best you could say this gave me a glimpse into an unknown world - New York banking - but to be honest I'd rather not have seen it.
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Alexis
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story of many lives
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2020
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I loved this book! Read her second book,Pachinko, which I really enjoyed.
Bit hard to get into but once getting into the story I couldn’t wait to get to the end of the book to see how the various lives progressed.
Can’t wait for her third to be published
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Lilliput Lady
3.0 out of 5 stars Well written if a little long
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2020
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I did not particularly connect with Casey, the main character of this book, so therefore didn't love the book. It did give an insight into the life of middle class Korean immigrants in New York and a young person trying to break away and lead their own life. Was probably a little too long and 'wordy' but beautifully written.
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Robert Wood
1.0 out of 5 stars Not Hungry
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 July 2020
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I read Pachinko and was captivated; an absorbing novel and a great read.
I assumed that Free Food for Millionaires would be in the same class. It is not even at the same school! Don't waste your time on this book, I could hardly believe it was the same author.
By all means try Pachinko, but leave this one well alone.
3 people found this helpful
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E Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2021
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The author uses words paint so many brilliant pictures and to draw you into the lives of the characters. It was a slow read because of the fullness of her descriptions but so enjoyable - please read it!
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