Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Crying in H Mart

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

70 reviews

weaverca's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Content Warnings

stephanieridiculous's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Whew, what an emotional book!

A lovely exploration of identity, family, culture, and grief. While this book is heavy I didn't find it emotionally taxing. It's uplifting in the midst of it's weight, and Zauner is an exceptional story teller.

Aside from the primary topic of the book, parental death by cancer (which can get fairly graphic, but in a respectful way), the content warnings are somewhat mild. One very brief reference to past rape, references to drug/alcohol abuse, DV, occasional swear words, and this is the weirdest: there is one part where she compares something she's cooking to the consistency of male bodily fluids. Two references within a page of each other, so over quickly - but I won't be able to not think about that if I ever eat that food! I did put emotional abuse as a graphic content warning, but I suspect that's very cultural. The way Zauner explains her mother treated her would definitely classify as emotional abuse where I live, but I understand that's very different around the globe.

Content Warnings

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

part memoir, part love letter to food and the healing it can bring, crying in h mart is a moving book that also complexly examines the intricacies of familial bonds, cultures, identity, and growing up.

i admire zauner not only for her courage in baring her vulnerabilities during a turbulent time in her life, but also her great writing and the ability to describe certain oft unspoken feelings and ties that are familiar and relatable to many, me included. the straddling of two cultures, never feeling fully whole in either; the complicated bonds and strains with her mother; grappling with adulthood, etc. like, i actually get it all, so painfully familiar they are.

ofc i'd be srsly remiss if i didnt mention how excellently described and explored food is in this memoir. the descriptions are deliciously drool-worthy, conjuring familiar dishes while also introducing newer, less famous yet equally interesting ones. the bonds and connections korean food and cooking allow the author to feel w/ her mother and korean culture also illustrate their importance in a larger personal context.

just like how zauner heals from eating and cooking, i also heal from reading this book.

Content Warnings

hannah1734's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

It took me a while to get into it, but once I did I could not put it down, leading me to spend an entire 4-hour flight finishing the book. This book follows Zauner's journey of going through her mother's cancer treatment, during which she delves deeply into the often-strained relationship between her and her Korean mother. This memoir brought me to the brink of tears on multiple occasions and forced me to reevaluate my own relationship with my Asian immigrant parents in a way no other story has before.

Crying in H-Mart is great on its own, but discovering the author records music under Japanese Breakfest—a band I have been obsessed with recently—was amazing, and as soon as I found out, I started listening to their music while finishing the book (which is an experience I highly recommend). Seriously, what can Zauner not do?

Content Warnings