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fearnotmysister's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
By fate I started reading this in a parking lot of an Hmart and basically didn't stop crying until days later when I finished it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
_eleanorgreen8_'s review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
I absolutely loved this book, and was really interested to read it after hearing that it was written by the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast. I'd never read an autobiography before, and this book did not disappoint as it was so fascinating, engaging and honest. The way Michelle Zauner writes is so accessible and straightforward, but also extremely thoughtful and descriptive - I particularly loved her intensely detailed, mouthwatering descriptions of Korean food. She did also make me cry quite a lot with some of the heartbreaking accounts of her mother's illness, which goes to show how raw and emotional Zauner's writing is. Overall a deeply interesting and moving insight into the authors life; I would definitely like to read more autobiographical books from now on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Cancer, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief and Child abuse
onebook_more's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
An absolutely stunning memoir and meditation on grief, loss and culture.
If you grew up with food as a love language in your family, this is going to be a gut punch in the best way.
If you grew up with food as a love language in your family, this is going to be a gut punch in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion and Child abuse
daria_morgendorffer's review
I couldn’t stand the selfishness and the whining of the author. It seemed like she made her mom’s illness all about herself and how she felt, disregarding everyone else. The audiobook was extremely hard to listen to due to the author’s monotone voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Terminal illness
iamninjabuni's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
1.0
I do not recommend listening to this as an audiobook as the author (who reads it) is incredibly monotone and difficult to listen to. I often found myself having to go back because I had completely zoned out to whatever she was droning about due to her complete lack of tone. My review does not reflect how difficult it was to listen to her, but the content of the book itself.
That aside, I think that this book was written for the author herself and it probably should have stayed in her journals. I understand that this is a book on grief and have tried to view it through that lens, everyone grieves differently. I had hoped to find something to relate to in the realm of parental loss or the difficult relationship between mother and daughter but did not find the author relatable at all. That wouldn’t be a big deal, but the author seems to have gone out of her way to alienate her audience.
She comes off as whiny, spoiled, petulant, and ungrateful – maybe it is an only child thing? There is no introspection. She bemoans her disconnection to her culture while also stating that she never bothered to learn it. She gives no thought to what her family members may be feeling and comes across as self-centered. Again, something I could dismiss to grief if she didn’t spend so much time talking about how angry she was that her sick mother wouldn’t eat the food she made and how difficult it was for her to care for her. That could also be chalked up to her mentally and physically abusive upbringing, which the author brings up in an offhanded way and does not really address. Again – maybe this should have stayed private
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
marlajensine's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
poetrynati's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Hers was tougher than tough love.
No one can accuse this book of being bland. It's full of feeling and sensations, not all of them usual and some uncomfortable, but many warm and delicious. Like Korean food, I'd say.
It was hard to swallow at times, though. My experience with an abusive (and I need to use that word, because tough love is only love to a point) mother is fresh and still happening nowadays. I don't have the luxury of being able to put any space between me and her like the author, so I felt everything very vividly. I disagree with her thoughts that it was all only a matter of cultural difference. As a latina, I'm well familiar with what she was talking about, but abuse is abuse whether it comes with a colorful cultural background or not. I hope one day Michelle finds healing and stops craving to be like her mother, especially if she herself decides to have children someday.
That all being said, I still loved this book. It made me hungry, for Korean food but also for love and family affection. For embracing your cultural roots. And music, too. Japanese Breakfast is a fantastic band and I'm glad I found out about it reading this.
Read as part of the lovey dovey book club.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
brysonchristina1's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I highly recommend the audiobook if you aren't familiar with Korean. It felt more immersive to listen to Zauner say the Korean words/phrases she included throughout the memoir than I think it would have felt reading those.
This was a heavy topic and Zauner did a good job delving deep into the heaviness of her emotions while also bringing some light into the story she's telling. I especially enjoyed Zauner describing her form of therapy through food at the end of the book.
It was difficult for me to hear Zauner describing some of the abuse she faced in her childhood and placing the blame of that abuse on herself.
This was a heavy topic and Zauner did a good job delving deep into the heaviness of her emotions while also bringing some light into the story she's telling. I especially enjoyed Zauner describing her form of therapy through food at the end of the book.
It was difficult for me to hear Zauner describing some of the abuse she faced in her childhood and placing the blame of that abuse on herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
katyfortner's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.25
I think I wasn’t in the right mind frame to read this book right now. While I enjoyed it and it didn’t make me reflect on my life and my friend’s hardships, it was really sad. Also, I understand forgiving your mother because she is no longer here but I don’t think parental abuse should be tolerated or bypassed because it was the way she loved her child. She shouldn’t have hit her child no matter the cultural norms.
The writing is very good and really pulled at your heart strings. The author is very strong to have gone through all of this and still coming out on top of life.
The writing is very good and really pulled at your heart strings. The author is very strong to have gone through all of this and still coming out on top of life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Child abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Minor: Abortion