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Kay's Lucky Coin Variety
A bittersweet coming-of-age debut novel set in the Korean community in Toronto in the 1980s.
This haunting coming-of-age story, told through the eyes of a rebellious young girl, vividly captures the struggles of families caught between two cultures in the 1980s. Family secrets, a lost sister, forbidden loves, domestic assaults—Mary discovers as she grows up that life is much more complicated than she had ever imagined. Her secret passion for her English teacher is filled with problems and with the arrival of a promising Korean suitor, Joon-Ho, events escalate in ways that she could never have imagined, catching the entire family in a web of deceit and violence.
A unique and imaginative debut novel, Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety evocatively portrays the life of a young Korean Canadian girl who will not give up on her dreams or her family.
This haunting coming-of-age story, told through the eyes of a rebellious young girl, vividly captures the struggles of families caught between two cultures in the 1980s. Family secrets, a lost sister, forbidden loves, domestic assaults—Mary discovers as she grows up that life is much more complicated than she had ever imagined. Her secret passion for her English teacher is filled with problems and with the arrival of a promising Korean suitor, Joon-Ho, events escalate in ways that she could never have imagined, catching the entire family in a web of deceit and violence.
A unique and imaginative debut novel, Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety evocatively portrays the life of a young Korean Canadian girl who will not give up on her dreams or her family.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
18 people are currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Ann Y.K. Choi
3 books56 followersOriginally from South Korea, Ann immigrated to Canada in 1975. She is a graduate of the Humber School for Writers and the Creative Writing Certificate Program at the University of Toronto. Most recently, she completed an MFA in Creative Writing at National University in San Diego, California. CBC Books named Ann a “Writer to Watch” in 2016. Published by Simon & Schuster Canada, her debut novel, Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety, was a finalist for the Toronto Book Award. The story was inspired by her family-run convenience store. A teacher with the York Region District School Board, Ann lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
April 25, 2017
I recommend that you put Ann Y. K. Choi's debut novel, "Kay's Lucky Coin Variety" on your To-Read list immediately. It's truly that good. I am so fortunate to have won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway, from Simon& Schuster Canada. The writing sparkles with the dreams of this Korean family, who the author describes so clearly that you can see them working in their store, smell spicy dumplings, brace with them to be polite at all costs and be hopeful that success will be in their future.
Canada and the USA embody the immigrant dream; we are nations which have been built on the backs of the trials and hardships of many as they relentlessly toiled to create their own luck and promise for the next generation. First generations insisted that the next must carry on their ethnic values, while the second balked as it tried to find its own way into the existing culture. Every immigrating nationality has experienced this in its time of our countries' histories, and each nationality has faced unique challenges. This particular story illuminates the period post 1962 when Canada discontinued its discriminatory immigration policy, and included those other than from the UK and Europe, like Pakistan and Korea.
Many thousands of Koreans came to Canada, in hopes of achieving their dreams. Many were skilled professionals but their lack of Canadian-certified accreditation and the immense difficulty of learning English led large numbers to menial work and/or setting up small self-employed businesses. The Confucius-ion philosophy of family before self interest prevailed as Koreans persisted to build their Canadian lives.
In "Kay's Lucky Coin Variety", Mary's family came to Toronto, Canada in 1975 from Korea when she and her brother Josh were small children. Eventually the family was solvent enough to purchase a corner store in the city centre's run-down area, where they all work in some way, surrounded by low income pensioners and families and nightly visited by pimps, prostitutes and the homeless. The children are told to change their sacred Korean names when they begin school, to "fit in". Mary resents eating Korean breakfasts of rice, garlicky kimchi and meat for breakfast, the meal her mother quotes as "the most important meal of the day", because the odours will cling to her clothing. She doesn't want to smell different than her white classmates.
Mary's mother is relentless in her efforts to establish secure futures for her children. With both parents working endless hours, they intend to see their children educated well, to pursue the practical and meritorious career expected of them and to marry respectable Koreans. Mary, headstrong in her last year of high school, intends to be a writer and follow her own path - she thinks - or maybe not? Both she and her brother have their own ideas about lovers; neither are keen on the strict hierarchy of Korean marriages.
The novel is rich with the culture, values, philosophy and difficulties faced by the Koreans who began settling in Canada when "visible" minorities were actually "minor", unlike today. A trip back to Korea for a grandmother's funeral reveals their efforts to survive under the subjugation of Japanese rule during WWII, a missing aunt connected to her beloved American GI and a country which identifies them as other than Korean, misplaced among those who never left.
"Racism" is discussed extemporaneously in Kay's Lucky Coin Variety and worth noting as an issue, because every new race of immigrants seems to have faced that abominable slap. (As a descendent of second and third generation Slavs, I saw the psychological damage of hateful bigotry. They looked different to the establishment of the times, late 19th-20th century, and were there to grow wheat but blocked from gathering, being educated and worshipping differently than the status quo. Because of fluid European borders, many ended up imprisoned unjustly in internment camps.) Canada is a polite, democratic nation but Koreans, Slavs, Hindus, Chinese and Japanese Canadians all have uncomfortable immigrant stories which have meshed to be part of our present character.
Most of all, Mary wants to find a sense of true belonging. She rejects the onerous pressures which the only son of Korean parents, Joon-Ha, carries to excell, bring outstanding honour to his family and achieve at levels which drive students in their homeland to suicide, unable to face the shame of a nations' obsession of worth being equivalent to academic success. Historically, in the 13th Century with the introduction of Buddhism, all men were to be considered equal beings. Wealth and class of the individual were not considerations as a part of the whole contribution to a harmonious society. Civic examinations gave everyone an opportunity to be employed by the country's government at the level of merit awarded from the tests. Ironically, equality begat fierce and sometimes fatal competition through to modern times.
Caught between two cultures and unaware of the true sacrifices her parents make to protect and nurture her well-being, Mary becomes terribly vulnerable as she pushes hard for what she sees as liberation from the bonds of being a traditional Korean girl.
As her story emerges through upheavals and tragedy, from the silence which Mary learns her mother uses as a shield against disappointment and as a backbone of determination to the comprehension of her future as the best collaboration of her parents, herself and all its possibilities, the young woman reclaims her Korean name - Yu-Rhee.
"A name, like a picture, was worth a thousand words. It was a single-word poem that defined a person. ...sacred. Your reputation will one day be built on it."
Life is hard.
But Yu-Rhee holds that "lucky coin" dear to herself because after all is said and done the most important lesson that her resolute mother could ever give her is that, in the end, we truly all make our own luck.
Five stars!
Canada and the USA embody the immigrant dream; we are nations which have been built on the backs of the trials and hardships of many as they relentlessly toiled to create their own luck and promise for the next generation. First generations insisted that the next must carry on their ethnic values, while the second balked as it tried to find its own way into the existing culture. Every immigrating nationality has experienced this in its time of our countries' histories, and each nationality has faced unique challenges. This particular story illuminates the period post 1962 when Canada discontinued its discriminatory immigration policy, and included those other than from the UK and Europe, like Pakistan and Korea.
Many thousands of Koreans came to Canada, in hopes of achieving their dreams. Many were skilled professionals but their lack of Canadian-certified accreditation and the immense difficulty of learning English led large numbers to menial work and/or setting up small self-employed businesses. The Confucius-ion philosophy of family before self interest prevailed as Koreans persisted to build their Canadian lives.
In "Kay's Lucky Coin Variety", Mary's family came to Toronto, Canada in 1975 from Korea when she and her brother Josh were small children. Eventually the family was solvent enough to purchase a corner store in the city centre's run-down area, where they all work in some way, surrounded by low income pensioners and families and nightly visited by pimps, prostitutes and the homeless. The children are told to change their sacred Korean names when they begin school, to "fit in". Mary resents eating Korean breakfasts of rice, garlicky kimchi and meat for breakfast, the meal her mother quotes as "the most important meal of the day", because the odours will cling to her clothing. She doesn't want to smell different than her white classmates.
Mary's mother is relentless in her efforts to establish secure futures for her children. With both parents working endless hours, they intend to see their children educated well, to pursue the practical and meritorious career expected of them and to marry respectable Koreans. Mary, headstrong in her last year of high school, intends to be a writer and follow her own path - she thinks - or maybe not? Both she and her brother have their own ideas about lovers; neither are keen on the strict hierarchy of Korean marriages.
The novel is rich with the culture, values, philosophy and difficulties faced by the Koreans who began settling in Canada when "visible" minorities were actually "minor", unlike today. A trip back to Korea for a grandmother's funeral reveals their efforts to survive under the subjugation of Japanese rule during WWII, a missing aunt connected to her beloved American GI and a country which identifies them as other than Korean, misplaced among those who never left.
"Racism" is discussed extemporaneously in Kay's Lucky Coin Variety and worth noting as an issue, because every new race of immigrants seems to have faced that abominable slap. (As a descendent of second and third generation Slavs, I saw the psychological damage of hateful bigotry. They looked different to the establishment of the times, late 19th-20th century, and were there to grow wheat but blocked from gathering, being educated and worshipping differently than the status quo. Because of fluid European borders, many ended up imprisoned unjustly in internment camps.) Canada is a polite, democratic nation but Koreans, Slavs, Hindus, Chinese and Japanese Canadians all have uncomfortable immigrant stories which have meshed to be part of our present character.
Most of all, Mary wants to find a sense of true belonging. She rejects the onerous pressures which the only son of Korean parents, Joon-Ha, carries to excell, bring outstanding honour to his family and achieve at levels which drive students in their homeland to suicide, unable to face the shame of a nations' obsession of worth being equivalent to academic success. Historically, in the 13th Century with the introduction of Buddhism, all men were to be considered equal beings. Wealth and class of the individual were not considerations as a part of the whole contribution to a harmonious society. Civic examinations gave everyone an opportunity to be employed by the country's government at the level of merit awarded from the tests. Ironically, equality begat fierce and sometimes fatal competition through to modern times.
Caught between two cultures and unaware of the true sacrifices her parents make to protect and nurture her well-being, Mary becomes terribly vulnerable as she pushes hard for what she sees as liberation from the bonds of being a traditional Korean girl.
As her story emerges through upheavals and tragedy, from the silence which Mary learns her mother uses as a shield against disappointment and as a backbone of determination to the comprehension of her future as the best collaboration of her parents, herself and all its possibilities, the young woman reclaims her Korean name - Yu-Rhee.
"A name, like a picture, was worth a thousand words. It was a single-word poem that defined a person. ...sacred. Your reputation will one day be built on it."
Life is hard.
But Yu-Rhee holds that "lucky coin" dear to herself because after all is said and done the most important lesson that her resolute mother could ever give her is that, in the end, we truly all make our own luck.
Five stars!
February 25, 2016
It’s a remarkably grim YA story that belies any of the luck invoked in the title. Mary does not have an easy go of it and at first her story clashes with the dreamy love triangle she finds herself enmeshed in that is reminiscent of Patricia Park’s Re Jane. How could I not appreciate the story of a 2nd generation Korean story set just up the road from where I grew up. So much of it was familiar even down to the disappearance of an aunt. (in my case an uncle disappeared and was given up for dead only to turn up in North Korea 40 years later)
I am here for books that represent the environment I grew up in, that share a common language of the second generation experience. I realize that the gossiping parents that trade in their kids achievements isn’t confined to Asians. Their constant reminders of the sacrifices they’ve made and the implied fealty that it demands is common across cultures and yet there is a distinctly Korean flavour here which I recognize and love.
I am here for books that represent the environment I grew up in, that share a common language of the second generation experience. I realize that the gossiping parents that trade in their kids achievements isn’t confined to Asians. Their constant reminders of the sacrifices they’ve made and the implied fealty that it demands is common across cultures and yet there is a distinctly Korean flavour here which I recognize and love.
May 9, 2016
Kay's Lucky Coin Variety is a heartfelt story. A solid look at what it's like to be in a new place but still have to conform to the cultural ways of another. This was a book I breezed through. I found myself wanting to listen to all that the main character had to say.
One of the biggest reason I wanted to pick up Kay's Lucky Coin Variety was because like Mary, I too came to Canada at an early age. I was curious to see how my personal experiences would compare with hers. As I expected, there were definitely a few similarities along with some major differences.
First of all, I connected with Mary on a cultural level. During my childhood, there was a sense of being different. Even though contrary to her, my parents encouraged me to make friends no matter their skin colour, it was still difficult. These new friends went about things in such a different way than I did I found it hard to fit in and to feel like I belonged. I could also really identify with the need to excel at school and in extracurricular activities. Like Mary, I took piano lessons. I didn't love it or hate it but it was like there was an unspoken rule that I had to learn and play well. The expectations were just there. I also found it funny that Mary gets mistaken as Chinese because I get mistaken as Korean all the time (I'm Chinese). Hm..
On an emotional level, I didn't relate to Mary as much. The amount of resentment she had for her mom was jarring. I didn't expect her to give up control of her life but I would've liked to see her appreciate her mother more. At the same time, I thought some of the things her mom said to her were somewhat harsh and inappropriate so I can understand parts of Mary's anger and frustration. My family has never put that kind of extreme pressure on me which I'm very thankful for.
I thought Mary made some poor choices. It was like she was rebelling for the sake of rebelling. She kept things bottled inside her. Many times I wanted to shout at her to be out with them all but no, she couldn't do it. I felt so sad for the tragic events that unfolded but very content with how they affected Mary and her views. I love that she eventually comes to realize and appreciate her parents. (A shout out to my parents: thank you and I love you both very much!)
Mary's dad was beyond awesome. "You just remember to always treat everyone the way you want to be treated..." (ARC p.161). Such a simple saying but right on point. Throughout the story, he shares his insight with Mary. He educates his daughter about the illusion of being in control and the difference between true love and infatuation. I have so much respect for him.
This was a lovely read. Parts of it gave me heartache while others had me in tears of joy. The characters were tried and true. I really enjoyed Kay's Lucky Coin Variety.
One of the biggest reason I wanted to pick up Kay's Lucky Coin Variety was because like Mary, I too came to Canada at an early age. I was curious to see how my personal experiences would compare with hers. As I expected, there were definitely a few similarities along with some major differences.
First of all, I connected with Mary on a cultural level. During my childhood, there was a sense of being different. Even though contrary to her, my parents encouraged me to make friends no matter their skin colour, it was still difficult. These new friends went about things in such a different way than I did I found it hard to fit in and to feel like I belonged. I could also really identify with the need to excel at school and in extracurricular activities. Like Mary, I took piano lessons. I didn't love it or hate it but it was like there was an unspoken rule that I had to learn and play well. The expectations were just there. I also found it funny that Mary gets mistaken as Chinese because I get mistaken as Korean all the time (I'm Chinese). Hm..
On an emotional level, I didn't relate to Mary as much. The amount of resentment she had for her mom was jarring. I didn't expect her to give up control of her life but I would've liked to see her appreciate her mother more. At the same time, I thought some of the things her mom said to her were somewhat harsh and inappropriate so I can understand parts of Mary's anger and frustration. My family has never put that kind of extreme pressure on me which I'm very thankful for.
I thought Mary made some poor choices. It was like she was rebelling for the sake of rebelling. She kept things bottled inside her. Many times I wanted to shout at her to be out with them all but no, she couldn't do it. I felt so sad for the tragic events that unfolded but very content with how they affected Mary and her views. I love that she eventually comes to realize and appreciate her parents. (A shout out to my parents: thank you and I love you both very much!)
Mary's dad was beyond awesome. "You just remember to always treat everyone the way you want to be treated..." (ARC p.161). Such a simple saying but right on point. Throughout the story, he shares his insight with Mary. He educates his daughter about the illusion of being in control and the difference between true love and infatuation. I have so much respect for him.
This was a lovely read. Parts of it gave me heartache while others had me in tears of joy. The characters were tried and true. I really enjoyed Kay's Lucky Coin Variety.
March 13, 2016
A Korean immigrant coming of age story set behind the counter of a Toronto convenience store. Yet another casualty of Simon & Schuster's unfortunate cover decisions, there's far more to this book than meets the eye. Choi's writing is a continual revelation for it's quiet, subtle brilliance. Unlike the sugar filled junk food sold at Mary/Yu-Rhee's convenience store, the craftsmanship shown here in this debut novel is quality fare.
June 23, 2016
The original review is posted on Genuine Jenn.
This is a coming-of-age story of a South Korea girl living with her family in Toronto, Ontario Canada, set in the 1980's. Her parents moved the family to Canada to make a better for their two children, working hard day and night in a family run convenient store. Mary who is the main character is having a hard time fitting into school and finding her place in the new world. She has a multi-cultural group of friends who all seem to be in the same situation. Mary's mother wants her to marry a good Korean boy and so she has been set up with one who holds a bunch of secrets that Mary unfolds.
This was written well for a debut novel, moving the story along at a steady pace, having the reader wonder how Mary will deal with the problems that she is faced with and will she achieve her goals in the end. Mary grows immensely throughout this novel and it is a great journey to be on with her. I felt like I could empathizes with Mary and feel her emotions as she overcame some very real situations. The story and characters were very well developed bringing us along on their journey in life. I also liked reading this novel as I got a glimpse into another culture and some of their beliefs and traditions.
I look forward to reading more from Ann Y. K. Choi. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a coming-of-age story of a South Korea girl living with her family in Toronto, Ontario Canada, set in the 1980's. Her parents moved the family to Canada to make a better for their two children, working hard day and night in a family run convenient store. Mary who is the main character is having a hard time fitting into school and finding her place in the new world. She has a multi-cultural group of friends who all seem to be in the same situation. Mary's mother wants her to marry a good Korean boy and so she has been set up with one who holds a bunch of secrets that Mary unfolds.
This was written well for a debut novel, moving the story along at a steady pace, having the reader wonder how Mary will deal with the problems that she is faced with and will she achieve her goals in the end. Mary grows immensely throughout this novel and it is a great journey to be on with her. I felt like I could empathizes with Mary and feel her emotions as she overcame some very real situations. The story and characters were very well developed bringing us along on their journey in life. I also liked reading this novel as I got a glimpse into another culture and some of their beliefs and traditions.
I look forward to reading more from Ann Y. K. Choi. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2016
Kay's Lucky Coin Variety was an excellent book about a Korean-Canadian girl, and all the trials and tribulations she must go through as she becomes a young woman, and finds her place. The book is made so much better through the use of first person, as Mary - or Yu-Rhee, her Korean name - discovers her dreams, and herself. She is a wonderful narrator, her internal prose is beautiful, the way she sees the world wonderful. The book is not as happy as it seems, with heartbreak and tragedy, but is so much better for it.
Although I do not understand the the struggles of an immigrant first-hand, I loved reading a book set in the city I grew up and live in.
The cover does not do the book justice, but I can't fault the book for that. It was so much better than I thought it would be, and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Goodreads and Simon & Schuster Canada for the Advanced Copy!
Although I do not understand the the struggles of an immigrant first-hand, I loved reading a book set in the city I grew up and live in.
The cover does not do the book justice, but I can't fault the book for that. It was so much better than I thought it would be, and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Goodreads and Simon & Schuster Canada for the Advanced Copy!
October 8, 2016
I really wanted to like this book. It starts out strong but I found the plot was built around too many unbelievable obstacles and struggles. It felt like the author was trying to address multiple problems kids of immigrants face instead of focusing on one or two
February 8, 2025
For a short book, the story covered a number of years. I thought the story would take place during one specific time in the 1980s, but instead, the reader comes with Mary on a journey into adulthood.
I did not anticipate events to unfold in the manner they did, which held my interest. I think anyone who grew up as a child of immigrants (or even someone with strict parents) can definitely relate to this story. There were plenty of elements that were so raw and real, especially the themes of balancing a family's expectation versus your own true desires in life.
The only area that fell short for me was the ending. I was mostly satisfied, but I wanted more closure for Mary and the life she wanted to live.
I did not anticipate events to unfold in the manner they did, which held my interest. I think anyone who grew up as a child of immigrants (or even someone with strict parents) can definitely relate to this story. There were plenty of elements that were so raw and real, especially the themes of balancing a family's expectation versus your own true desires in life.
The only area that fell short for me was the ending. I was mostly satisfied, but I wanted more closure for Mary and the life she wanted to live.
April 23, 2017
I am so honoured to have met Ann YK Choi, and I'm glad I met her before I read this book. When she talked about her experiences of being the daughter of immigrants, much of her Toronto life paralleled mine, even more so than most of the other tales of immigrant daughters I have discussed with acquaintances over the years.
But let me get to the book. The language of the prose dances across the pages like ballet. The beauty of such simple words describing heartbreaking situations for Mary (Yu-Rhee) drew me in, clasping my hands, knowing in my heart what would happen and wanting to hide my eyes but keeping them on the page.
I can only comment on the story from the perspective of a daughter of immigrants. The story tore my insides out because I relived painful situations from my own youth when I was in the middle with Mary. It was very real to me, even during those parts of the story that may have seemed a bit too dramatic for a literary audience - I could and have seen communities become that overwhelmingly vindictive when the need for survival arises. That's all I'm going to say because I don't want to spoil the story for people who haven't (but must) read the book yet.
This is one of the most Canadian novels I have read. If you want to understand what most of us whose parents have arrived since the declaration of multiculturalism have gone through in urban centres of this country, read this book. I am so glad Ms Choi had the courage, strength, and drive to write it.
But let me get to the book. The language of the prose dances across the pages like ballet. The beauty of such simple words describing heartbreaking situations for Mary (Yu-Rhee) drew me in, clasping my hands, knowing in my heart what would happen and wanting to hide my eyes but keeping them on the page.
I can only comment on the story from the perspective of a daughter of immigrants. The story tore my insides out because I relived painful situations from my own youth when I was in the middle with Mary. It was very real to me, even during those parts of the story that may have seemed a bit too dramatic for a literary audience - I could and have seen communities become that overwhelmingly vindictive when the need for survival arises. That's all I'm going to say because I don't want to spoil the story for people who haven't (but must) read the book yet.
This is one of the most Canadian novels I have read. If you want to understand what most of us whose parents have arrived since the declaration of multiculturalism have gone through in urban centres of this country, read this book. I am so glad Ms Choi had the courage, strength, and drive to write it.
July 26, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars A very satisfying book!, July 10, 2017
Verified Purchase This review is from: Kay's Lucky Coin Variety
Ann Y. K. Choi really knows how to tell a story. I loved reading this book & learning about immigrant life in Toronto in the 1980s.
I also enjoyed learning about Koreans through the eyes of Mary (her American name). Her trip to Korea opened her eyes & helped her understand her mother whereas previously she was angry that her life wasn't her own.
Mary keeps trying to be her own person only to end up digging herself deeper into problems created by her "saviors."
Unfortunately, I ended up with the proofs. I don't know how many changes were made to the final copy, but I only found two typos in the entire book.
All in al, this was a very satisfying book. I can't wait to read Choi's next booK!
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch... 😉
Learn the story behind “Publish Crimes and Impunity in New Orleans.” and help us meet our goal. @indiegogo
https://igg.me/at/CrimesImpunityNOLAn...
Verified Purchase This review is from: Kay's Lucky Coin Variety
Ann Y. K. Choi really knows how to tell a story. I loved reading this book & learning about immigrant life in Toronto in the 1980s.
I also enjoyed learning about Koreans through the eyes of Mary (her American name). Her trip to Korea opened her eyes & helped her understand her mother whereas previously she was angry that her life wasn't her own.
Mary keeps trying to be her own person only to end up digging herself deeper into problems created by her "saviors."
Unfortunately, I ended up with the proofs. I don't know how many changes were made to the final copy, but I only found two typos in the entire book.
All in al, this was a very satisfying book. I can't wait to read Choi's next booK!
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch... 😉
Learn the story behind “Publish Crimes and Impunity in New Orleans.” and help us meet our goal. @indiegogo
https://igg.me/at/CrimesImpunityNOLAn...
October 24, 2017
I own a copy of this book because my dog shredded some of the pages and I had to buy it from the library. But I would have bought the book anyway because this is an outstanding debut by Ann Y.K. Choi. Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety is an earnest coming-of-age story about growing up Asian in Canada when your dreams don’t reflect the cultural values or aspirations of your family. I didn’t have the exact same pressure from my Asian family as the main character, Mary, but had similar feelings and hopes, everything from wanting to become a writer to crushing on the blue-eyed teacher. Mary struggles with trying to forge a path that keeps her traditional parents happy and honours her Korean heritage, all while being true to herself. She finds her own way, but not without experiencing great pain and tragedy. In the novel, Mary is disappointed about how very few Asian Canadian writers there are (this is set during the eighties) and the Asian Canadian writers who do exist no one knows about. How wonderful that today we have many talented Asian Canadians writers, including the author of this book.
May 7, 2024
This story was amazing!! It will make you feel happy, sad, mad every possible emotion. It follows a Korean immigrant family that moves to start a life in Canada in the 1970s. The book follows Mary and Josh who are in high school in the 1980’s. Their lives revolve around the convenience store their parents own. It follows how they navigate life in Canada and the people they meet through the store.
I got to learn so much about Korean culture while reading this book! I thought the information was given in a digestible way. I also enjoyed when the author wrote the Korean saying and then translated it in English.
I loved the way immigrant families were displayed it sounded allot of what my parents described back in the 1980s. I am from the Greater Toronto area so I got to recognize places downtown and the different areas throughout the setting. When reading this story I truly felt like I was back in time picturing the 1980’s style as well as the cars and buildings.
I got to learn so much about Korean culture while reading this book! I thought the information was given in a digestible way. I also enjoyed when the author wrote the Korean saying and then translated it in English.
I loved the way immigrant families were displayed it sounded allot of what my parents described back in the 1980s. I am from the Greater Toronto area so I got to recognize places downtown and the different areas throughout the setting. When reading this story I truly felt like I was back in time picturing the 1980’s style as well as the cars and buildings.
May 7, 2019
I seem to be finding it harder and harder to give an author the benefit of the doubt while reading, and I think it’s becoming a problem. The realization came partway through Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety after reading something particularly unsubtle or repetitive and putting the book down, likely more forcibly than was necessary, slightly perturbed at the lack of respect I was being given as a reader. But I had to sit back and consider it further. This is Choi’s debut, and, as such, while it’s possible that she made the conscious choice to do things in a way I don’t find particularly compelling, it’s more likely that inexperience framed the writing, that she thought things had to be written in a certain way to make the story apparent to her readers. And I suppose I can respect that enough to soften my crusty heart at least a little.
Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety is a coming-of-age story following Mary, a Korean immigrant living in 1980s Toronto. The majority of the story looks at her love life, how she tries to gain the attention of her English teacher––her secret crush––while trying to come to terms with the affections of a traditional Korean suitor. But the book also delves into the weight of burdens and expectations thrust upon individuals coming from lower-class, minority backgrounds trying to make a life for themselves and their families, largely explored through Mary’s emotionally-muted relationship with her family.
I think the main source of my dissatisfaction for Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety is the opposite of my complaint about Stephen Markley’s Ohio: I wanted more. We frequently get bombarded with background and exposition without approaching anything resembling a forward-moving plot, and then something violent or traumatic abruptly happens. These moments feel abrupt because they aren’t always effectively set up, they lack the vibrant imagery to come alive when they occur, and we’re quickly finished with them, stepping back into exposition. We move away from these passages without further building toward a sturdy or coherent narrative, and it all left me stumbling to decipher the point of it all. Is it simply to show us how hard immigrants have it? Was the intention more to explore the simple, romantic aspects of the story, and the cultural or violent aspects were added to make it more meaningful? Without a compelling narrative holding things together from the centre, the rest isn’t enough. Did Choi mean for this to be a rudimentary lesson of Korean culture directed at Canadians? In all honesty, I probably found the passages explaining Korean practices, beliefs, and traditions to be the most enjoyable in the book, probably because I knew so little about them going in, and it was all told to me in a way that was interesting and accessible. So I think the two lessons I came out of this book with were that Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety likely wasn’t the book for me, and that I probably need to pick up some dense non-fiction on the history and culture of the Korean peninsula.
Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety is a coming-of-age story following Mary, a Korean immigrant living in 1980s Toronto. The majority of the story looks at her love life, how she tries to gain the attention of her English teacher––her secret crush––while trying to come to terms with the affections of a traditional Korean suitor. But the book also delves into the weight of burdens and expectations thrust upon individuals coming from lower-class, minority backgrounds trying to make a life for themselves and their families, largely explored through Mary’s emotionally-muted relationship with her family.
I think the main source of my dissatisfaction for Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety is the opposite of my complaint about Stephen Markley’s Ohio: I wanted more. We frequently get bombarded with background and exposition without approaching anything resembling a forward-moving plot, and then something violent or traumatic abruptly happens. These moments feel abrupt because they aren’t always effectively set up, they lack the vibrant imagery to come alive when they occur, and we’re quickly finished with them, stepping back into exposition. We move away from these passages without further building toward a sturdy or coherent narrative, and it all left me stumbling to decipher the point of it all. Is it simply to show us how hard immigrants have it? Was the intention more to explore the simple, romantic aspects of the story, and the cultural or violent aspects were added to make it more meaningful? Without a compelling narrative holding things together from the centre, the rest isn’t enough. Did Choi mean for this to be a rudimentary lesson of Korean culture directed at Canadians? In all honesty, I probably found the passages explaining Korean practices, beliefs, and traditions to be the most enjoyable in the book, probably because I knew so little about them going in, and it was all told to me in a way that was interesting and accessible. So I think the two lessons I came out of this book with were that Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety likely wasn’t the book for me, and that I probably need to pick up some dense non-fiction on the history and culture of the Korean peninsula.
July 1, 2016
Upon reflection, after reading this book I realized that one of the reasons that I enjoyed this book so much was due to the author's talent for reaching inside her readers hearts and minds and being able to relate to them.
I also loved that this story was set in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I truly enjoy reading books that contain "real" settings, especially settings that I can easily visualize in my head. Being born and raised in a small town north of Toronto, I have often visited many of the locations mentioned in the book.
I will never again be able to visit a Variety Store without thinking about this book and wondering about the lives of the people working behind the counter.
Visiting Korea for the first time since emigrating to Canada as a small child, Mary was shocked at what she saw. "[She] looked out at the endless rows of high-rise apartment buildings set against a dreary November sky. It made [her] claustrophobic. Were there any houses left in Seoul? This was not the Korea [she] remembered." Reading this brought to mind the changes I have seen in my own hometown. Author Ann Choi uses very few words and yet is still able to evoke a sense of nostalgia in the reader for their own childhoods. That nostalgia is universal. It crosses gender and even racial lines. No matter who you are or where you grew up, your childhood home will always have a special (and usually rose-coloured) place in your memory.
What struck me the most about Mary's visit "home" to Korea was that it was no longer her home. She felt like an outsider and was more comfortable in her adopted homeland of Canada. I loved that fact. It proves that immigrants who move to Canada become full-fledged Canadians and not just long-term visitors.
What people who discriminate against immigrants seem to forget is that we are all the products of immigration (except members of the Aboriginal groups). It may have been a few generations since our ancestors moved to Canada, but they all came to Canada with the same goal as modern-day immigrants - the goal of a better life.
I have often heard that writers are told to "Write about what you know." It is evident to me that Ann Y.K. Choi has followed this advice. Although I am unable to prove it, I believe that she has taken settings and scenes from her own life and fictionalized them to fit within her story. If this is not the case, then I am even more impressed since reading the story truly made me feel as if these characters were actual people and not just two dimensional fictional characters.
I enjoyed the story very much and I believe this book should be required reading for all adults. It is especially important reading material for anyone who seeks to understand the life of Canadian Korean immigrants.
The writing is fantastic. The characters are believable and realistic and the story is both interesting as well as absorbing. I rate KAY'S LUCKY COIN VARIETY as 5 out of 5 stars.
I also loved that this story was set in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I truly enjoy reading books that contain "real" settings, especially settings that I can easily visualize in my head. Being born and raised in a small town north of Toronto, I have often visited many of the locations mentioned in the book.
I will never again be able to visit a Variety Store without thinking about this book and wondering about the lives of the people working behind the counter.
Visiting Korea for the first time since emigrating to Canada as a small child, Mary was shocked at what she saw. "[She] looked out at the endless rows of high-rise apartment buildings set against a dreary November sky. It made [her] claustrophobic. Were there any houses left in Seoul? This was not the Korea [she] remembered." Reading this brought to mind the changes I have seen in my own hometown. Author Ann Choi uses very few words and yet is still able to evoke a sense of nostalgia in the reader for their own childhoods. That nostalgia is universal. It crosses gender and even racial lines. No matter who you are or where you grew up, your childhood home will always have a special (and usually rose-coloured) place in your memory.
What struck me the most about Mary's visit "home" to Korea was that it was no longer her home. She felt like an outsider and was more comfortable in her adopted homeland of Canada. I loved that fact. It proves that immigrants who move to Canada become full-fledged Canadians and not just long-term visitors.
What people who discriminate against immigrants seem to forget is that we are all the products of immigration (except members of the Aboriginal groups). It may have been a few generations since our ancestors moved to Canada, but they all came to Canada with the same goal as modern-day immigrants - the goal of a better life.
I have often heard that writers are told to "Write about what you know." It is evident to me that Ann Y.K. Choi has followed this advice. Although I am unable to prove it, I believe that she has taken settings and scenes from her own life and fictionalized them to fit within her story. If this is not the case, then I am even more impressed since reading the story truly made me feel as if these characters were actual people and not just two dimensional fictional characters.
I enjoyed the story very much and I believe this book should be required reading for all adults. It is especially important reading material for anyone who seeks to understand the life of Canadian Korean immigrants.
The writing is fantastic. The characters are believable and realistic and the story is both interesting as well as absorbing. I rate KAY'S LUCKY COIN VARIETY as 5 out of 5 stars.
July 9, 2016
A contemporary voice in the Canadian literature scene. This is definitely a book that is imbued with intersectionality. The main character is "Mary" who is the daughter of a couple that owns a variety store in Moss Park. She has a crush on her English teacher, enjoys the friendship of a diverse group of girls at school, and is expected to help out at the store.
The novel definitely resonates with anyone who grew up in an Asian household. There seems to be a particular immigrant holding pattern that is repeated. Among Korean Canadians, many of the kids contributed to the household by working in the family's corner store. If you think that this is the female retelling of Ins Choi's Kim's Convenience, it is not. This is a much darker story where Mary has to go through a very difficult adolescence as well as a hard young adulthood in order to navigate her place in the world. She rejects a lot of her Korean heritage because this is her way of rebelling against her mother. Her parents understandably hold on to their previous lives in Korea because these memories are the most valuable things that they possess since coming to Canada meant starting off with nothing.
The strength of this book is definitely in the character development. The plot falls apart on me in the end but I still loved this book. Hoping that Ann Choi continues to write!
The novel definitely resonates with anyone who grew up in an Asian household. There seems to be a particular immigrant holding pattern that is repeated. Among Korean Canadians, many of the kids contributed to the household by working in the family's corner store. If you think that this is the female retelling of Ins Choi's Kim's Convenience, it is not. This is a much darker story where Mary has to go through a very difficult adolescence as well as a hard young adulthood in order to navigate her place in the world. She rejects a lot of her Korean heritage because this is her way of rebelling against her mother. Her parents understandably hold on to their previous lives in Korea because these memories are the most valuable things that they possess since coming to Canada meant starting off with nothing.
The strength of this book is definitely in the character development. The plot falls apart on me in the end but I still loved this book. Hoping that Ann Choi continues to write!
August 14, 2016
I loved this book. It was Good with a capital G in a way that you don't experience often - even with books I end up enjoying, it takes effort to read them, and Kay's Lucky Coin Variety took no effort to read at all. Loved what it brought up about Canadian identity, representation of minorities in fields like literature, and identity in itself. I had my ideas about what Joon-Ho would become to Mary based on overused tropes I have become accustomed to in reading YA, but my assumptions were completely spun in on themselves, which was super fun to experience while reading. I never would have guessed Joon-Ho would become the scariest character to me over the course of the story, but he did - that was a really interesting component of the story to me as well, as well as in the way he immediately ceased to be after his death. Looking at Mary's experiences through an intersectional feminist lens - knowing her circumstances, her past with Joon-Ho, and the way women are still treated today when coming forward with sexual assault cases, let alone an Korean girl from an immigrant family in Toronto the 80s - is a really thought-provoking experience and caused me to have a real sense of fear for her safety while reading. I highly recommend this book as a book club choice in all the room for discussion!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2016
A good read. It was interesting to get Choi's take on growing up as a child of immigrants, feeling torn between two cultures and not seeing herself reflected in the world around her. The expectations and pressure that Mary felt her mother was putting on her in contrast to her own hopes and dreams, and the way the Korean culture prevents her from communicating with her parents was very compelling.
Although the plot took some interesting turns, a lot of the teenage angst, dealing with bad relationships, school and growing apart from her friends was a little too melodramatic for me. And I didn't have any patience with her relationship with her teacher, from either side of the equation. I also found many of the characters one-dimensional and there more to advance the plot than to serve as characters in their own right. The hard, unemotional mother and the kind, well-meaning father is a little too clichéd. Even her brother, Josh, jumps in and out of the story without any life of his own.
That said, it was a decent story and very thought-provoking. Set in Toronto, where I've always lived, and with a protagonist that's roughly my age, it's fascinating to see how different someone's experience can be, especially when on the surface things seem very similar. A worthwhile read.
Although the plot took some interesting turns, a lot of the teenage angst, dealing with bad relationships, school and growing apart from her friends was a little too melodramatic for me. And I didn't have any patience with her relationship with her teacher, from either side of the equation. I also found many of the characters one-dimensional and there more to advance the plot than to serve as characters in their own right. The hard, unemotional mother and the kind, well-meaning father is a little too clichéd. Even her brother, Josh, jumps in and out of the story without any life of his own.
That said, it was a decent story and very thought-provoking. Set in Toronto, where I've always lived, and with a protagonist that's roughly my age, it's fascinating to see how different someone's experience can be, especially when on the surface things seem very similar. A worthwhile read.
September 19, 2016
Kay's Lucky Coin Variety is a immigrant coming of age story set in Toronto. The reader probably correctly assumes that the story is somewhat autobiographical in that the author is also Korean Canadian and came to Canada during the 1970s which is the same time that the book's protagonist, Mary, arrives. My main concerns about this book are the marketing. It is obviously a Young Adult title but not catalogued or processed as such. Mary is an adolescent through most of the book and dealing with adolescent issues albeit some pretty dicey ones. There should be no stigma attached to this designation. Many of the best books I have read in the past few years were aimed at young adult audiences. My second concern is the dust jacket. I could not believe that a book published in 2016 would sport such a dated/retro design! Do the publishers not want young people to read this book? It was almost a turn off for me and I'm far from a young adult! It looks like something I would have pulled from the shelves in the 1960s! A good read but a marketing head-scratcher, Simon & Schuster!
March 13, 2016
In Kay's Lucky Coin Variety, we meet Mary (Yu-Rhee) and her family who immigrated to Toronto from Korea in the 1970s when Mary was six. They own a convenience store in a rough part of town.
Mary's life is a study in contrasts. None of her friends are Asian, she lives an all Canadian life in high school and then returns home to work in the store where the aromas of Korean cooking waft through the aisles. Her parents have traditional goals for her, including education and marriage. Mary chafes at the restrictions those expectations place on her.
This is a poignant, sometimes heartbreaking story of the challenges faced by immigrants who give up everything to make a better life for their children and the children who don't always understand that sacrifice. Kay's Lucky Coin Variety is a debut novel by Ann Y.K. Choi. I loved it and very much look forward to her future work.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Goodreads for an advance copy to review.
Mary's life is a study in contrasts. None of her friends are Asian, she lives an all Canadian life in high school and then returns home to work in the store where the aromas of Korean cooking waft through the aisles. Her parents have traditional goals for her, including education and marriage. Mary chafes at the restrictions those expectations place on her.
This is a poignant, sometimes heartbreaking story of the challenges faced by immigrants who give up everything to make a better life for their children and the children who don't always understand that sacrifice. Kay's Lucky Coin Variety is a debut novel by Ann Y.K. Choi. I loved it and very much look forward to her future work.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Goodreads for an advance copy to review.
March 29, 2018
This book was a story that I felt could easily be interpreted as a memoir. It is written in such personal level by the character Mary, a Korean immigrant that one can easily connect with. Although the book was a page turner there were many times where I found myself getting frustrated with Mary, the way she accepts Joon-Ho back after the proposed marriage and how she tried to help him with it. Mary seemed to be very naive and that caused her to accept and forgive people too easily. The fact that she continued to chase Will even when he was dating the other teacher caused me to be annoyed with the kind of character she is. I think what made Mary a character that caused such frustration is how relatable she is, she makes decisions in a way most teenage girls would which any reader has either been or has known. Overall I really enjoyed the book and I think the character of Mary peeked my interest in the novel even more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2018
Kay's Lucky Coin Variety was a fantastic book. I really enjoyed reading it, especially since I could picture where everything was happening since it took place in Toronto. I really like the main character, Mary. I found she was very easily relatable, since she is also a teen. I thought that the author took an interesting turn having the affair with her High School English Teacher. Although it is legal, I still found it uncomfortable in some parts. I can understand meeting him at a coffee shop as a normal thing, but having a sexual relationship with him was a bit uncomfortable. I could never imagine anyone having an affair with a teacher. I did like how Mary was able to stand up to her mother and choose her own career. That is something I think other young teens reading this book could relate to. I defiantly think this is a book for all teen to read!
March 15, 2016
Emotional, insightful and extraordinarily written!
I rarely read anything like this; I was not expecting the endless plot twist that unravelled during the last hundred pages! Truly, it had me wanting to read more and more. This was a happy surprise!
As for the story plotline, the protagonist, an Asian-Canadian had things that I could relate to myself. I loved how it was set in Toronto! (My hometown!!) It was an insightful read; I could easily picture the life of immigrants as they start off a new life in a brand new place. There were however a few difficult (emotionally) chapters which added to the depth of this novel.
Overall I thought this was an excellent read! Solid 4 stars! Thank you Simon and Schuster for giving me an advanced copy to review!
March 28, 2018
Overall I thought this was a very well written book and I really enjoyed it. I thought it could’ve been a little bit longer with all the different sub plots happening at the same time. I found it was a bit rushed at the end especially but I still liked it! I thought it was great how the main character Mary was very motivated to do what she wanted. The way she didn’t let her parents dictate her entire life and did what made her happy made me really like her! There were times where I thought she was a bit frustrating and made bad decisions but that was a very small part of the book so I was able to look past it. In general it was a great book and I would definitely recommend it to other people!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2016
A touching novel about an immigrant girl caught between two cultures. On the one hand, she has the Canadian and western way of placing above all the individual's freedom and liberty; and on the other hand, the Asian way of placing the family's reputation and expectations first. A coming of age story that illustrates the importance of family and friendship in building an individuals character. Ann Y. K. Choi elegantly demonstrates in her novel what many immigrant children go through in the new world.
December 2, 2016
As an immigrant, I personally could relate to this book and really enjoyed the story. I know how is feels to be in the middle of two cultures and you just want to emerge yourself in the new and be part of the crowd. I thought the author did a great job to describe the tension between the parents and children and their struggle in a new country. There were some plot twists that were well done added to the story for a little excitement. I am really looking forward to discussing this with the group and get their take on it.
March 25, 2016
I won this book through Goodreads and am delighted that I did or I might not have discovered this treasure. Set in Toronto in the 1980s, teen aged Mary works in her parents' variety store. Belonging to two worlds, Korean and Canadian, she grows, loves, loses and learns. Everything about the time and setting was so familiar to me I felt like had visited her store and had been at Convocation Hall for her graduation. Well done, Ms Choi. I look forward to your next book.
March 13, 2016
A gripping story of a Korean family in Canada. The story was raw and painted a realistic picture of the struggles that immigrants face, all the work and sacrifices. I loved the setting; Toronto and all its different areas. The story spans about 5 years, and it was nice to see the growth of Mary. The last 100 pages were especially emotional and suspenseful.
I won this book via Goodreads First Reads Giveaway from Simon and Schuster.
I won this book via Goodreads First Reads Giveaway from Simon and Schuster.
August 2, 2016
This book was amazing. One of those books that's impossible to put down. The fact that the book takes place down the street from where I just moved to two days ago was a nice bit of circumstance as well.
December 14, 2016
This is a debut novel by a Canadian author of Korean heritage. She offers us a glimpse into the life of an immigrant family and the relationship between generations. It was an easy read but full of messages. I am sure that we will be hearing more from this author.
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August 26, 2016too many things happened too fast for such a short book!
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