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archaicrobin's review
5.0
Zauner does not shy away from the difficult story of her mother’s decline and being the first line of defense and support as the cancer slowly takes her mother away. This memoir is phenomenal, heart wrenching, and beautiful. It was difficult to read at times from how bleak it is at moments, but Zauner’s prose and focus on moving on despite her loss is inspiring. I have been a fan of Japanese Breakfast for years but I am not also a dedicated fan to her as an author as well. Highly recommend reading and listing to Michell Zauner’s works!
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Medical content
mikaylawood's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Cancer, and Death
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Blood, Excrement, and Animal death
aksmith92's review
4.5
Michelle Zauner talks about her upbringing in this memoir—she's living a decent life and recognizes that, but somehow does not get along super well with her parents, particularly her mom. I don't know about you, but as a teenage girl once, this was highly relatable.
More importantly, though, this memoir talks about Michelle's identity as a half-Korean woman, trying to find solstice and being in the food she grew up hearing about and/or eating. She struggles regularly with her identity since she barely speaks the Korean language and only visits Korea every so often. And most important, this book is about dealing with grief and, acknowledging and accepting your past, and moving on from it during traumatic times. There is no mystery or spoiler here: Michelle talks about her family's experience with her mother's cancer diagnosis.
Michelle feels real in this book. She makes decisions you question and doesn't always know the answer. However, the heart in this book is so apparent, and it is simply moving. Not to mention all the incredible references to Korean recipes—this was SO good to add.
I do feel the 50-70% dragged just a little bit, but overall, this was an incredibly captivating story about a woman finding her own identity in massive grief while leaning on some of the most amazing food recipes she can to feel in her place and with her family. Highly recommend this memoir!
Graphic: Grief, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Racism, Medical content, and Car accident
Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, and Fatphobia
Minor: Addiction
Addiction = not described, but talked about when describing someone's past. Also implied with a potential alcohol addiction.martinatan's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Addiction, Cursing, Dementia, Rape, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Drug use
emilyharmonica's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, Infidelity, Alcohol, Excrement, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Grief, Drug use, and Abortion
saramassoudi's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Abandonment, and Medical trauma
ju_harue's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Medical content, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Cancer, Car accident, and Terminal illness
crieraylas's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Medical content, Cancer, Grief, Death, Chronic illness, Racism, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Addiction, Car accident, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
Minor: Infidelity, Violence, and Abortion
annareads97's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Cancer, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Terminal illness
Minor: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Car accident, and Alcoholism
kaylaswhitmore's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Fatphobia, Grief, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Car accident, Infidelity, and Body shaming
Minor: Vomit