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sarjgbn's review against another edition
5.0
5 out of 5 stars!!!!
such a wonderful and heartwarming read that touches on so many raw and emotional subjects!!! i would recommend to anyone. so well written too!! the raw emotion accompanying loss, even loss you know is coming, was iterated very well and i couldn’t put it down. loooove.
such a wonderful and heartwarming read that touches on so many raw and emotional subjects!!! i would recommend to anyone. so well written too!! the raw emotion accompanying loss, even loss you know is coming, was iterated very well and i couldn’t put it down. loooove.
copperjomama's review against another edition
2.0
I had to abandon this book about 1/3 in. I’m not sure if I was just having a hard time relating to the story or if I really just didn’t appreciate the telling of her story. But there are a lot of books about things, events, cultures, etc that I know nothing about and find those books to be some of my favorites. I wasn’t drawn in to her or her family members and this was a book that I tolerated while reading it, but never wanted to pick it up.
camlee1978's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I love that author narrated this. I was caught off guard how, as a 45 year old white woman, I so closely connected with book on multiple layers. The Cancer journey, the ebb and flow of the mother daughter relationship and the way food connected relationships and and sustained memories. The book was so well written and the voice of the author is so easy to listen too.
rebeccabrooker's review against another edition
4.0
A modern day, memoir reminiscent of Like Water fog Chocolate. Focused on food, family, and music.
qog's review against another edition
DNF simply because I ran out of time on my library loan but will return to it eventually!
nevadajesse's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely brutal and beautiful at the same time. I’ve become a bit obsessed about learning about mourning lately, and Zauner’s journey in seeing her mother succumb to cancer and navigating the world after her passing was so touching and painful. I love the use of Korean food to maintain a connection with her culture and with her mother. Just beautiful but be ready to sob.
thickfruitsnack's review against another edition
5.0
I opened this book not knowing anything about it. It’s been on my “To-Read” list for a bit now, and when I got the chance to snag it a couple days ago, I hadn’t planned on reaching the end so quickly. I’m so glad I didn’t let this book slip by without reading it. I instantly felt myself connecting with the story & empathizing with Michelle. The emotions the flowed in each page were so intense and paradoxical at times, and I couldn’t put this book down. I was captivated by the rawness, the honesty & the transparency. There are moments in life that are so hard to explain in detail, moments that almost don’t exist unless you’ve lived them. Yet, Michelle is able to perfectly capture those moments and paint them for us readers.
cosmicbrowniegirl's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
roulettegirl's review against another edition
5.0
I've read many books over the years that have made me cry, novels and memoirs both. Few books made me cry while also making me hungry from the incredible depictions of food that tied so closely to the emotional heart of the story. And yet Crying in H Mart had my nose running and stomach rumbling throughout. Written by Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, Crying in H Mart is a memoir about the cancer diagnosis, failed treatment, and subsequent death of her mother. It is also an introspective deep dive into her relationship with her mom, and her own Korean identity which is tied so closely to that relationship.
The book starts with the diagnosis of her mother, and Zauner's decision to quit her band and move back home to Eugene, Oregon to be there for chemotherapy. Zauner gives an unflinching look at the reality of aggressive cancer and equally aggressive treatment, and her mom's terrible reaction to the treatment is heart-wrenching. Zauner is also open about the realities of caregiver fatigue and burnout, the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, and a thoughtful examination of her life as a Korean-American.
It's that last aspect that weaves through the entire book, often via descriptions of Korean food. The seemingly endless descriptions of traditional recipes could become overdone in the hands of a lesser writer, but Zauner imbues each scene with emotional resonance. It isn't *just* that she's cooking a traditional dish for her aunt, it's that she's striving desperately to feel connected to her roots after the death of her mother and to build a stronger relationship with her last living relative. The wedding food isn't only about the party, but the final celebration of her mother's life while she is still alive to be appreciated.
Zauner writes about grief honestly and emotionally, and I was crying for large segments of the second half of the book. While I wouldn't recommend reading this on public transport, I would say that it is a book well worth reading. And, if you're able to, go hug your mom.
The book starts with the diagnosis of her mother, and Zauner's decision to quit her band and move back home to Eugene, Oregon to be there for chemotherapy. Zauner gives an unflinching look at the reality of aggressive cancer and equally aggressive treatment, and her mom's terrible reaction to the treatment is heart-wrenching. Zauner is also open about the realities of caregiver fatigue and burnout, the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, and a thoughtful examination of her life as a Korean-American.
It's that last aspect that weaves through the entire book, often via descriptions of Korean food. The seemingly endless descriptions of traditional recipes could become overdone in the hands of a lesser writer, but Zauner imbues each scene with emotional resonance. It isn't *just* that she's cooking a traditional dish for her aunt, it's that she's striving desperately to feel connected to her roots after the death of her mother and to build a stronger relationship with her last living relative. The wedding food isn't only about the party, but the final celebration of her mother's life while she is still alive to be appreciated.
Zauner writes about grief honestly and emotionally, and I was crying for large segments of the second half of the book. While I wouldn't recommend reading this on public transport, I would say that it is a book well worth reading. And, if you're able to, go hug your mom.