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ka_schulze's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
livruther's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape and Abortion
edencameron's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Death of parent
kingsteph's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Cancer and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Rape
jeggert10's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Car accident, and Abortion
toastyghosty13's review against another edition
4.0
The only mistake I made in opening this book was to choose to read it while visiting my parents during Thanksgiving break; it made me even more sentimental and concerned for their health and well being. While I do not condone some of the rhetoric between Michelle and her mother, Michelle loved her mother and this book made me be more aware of the love I constantly have for my parents no matter what.
Michelle's relationship with her mother was tumultuous while growing up.
Michelle eventually found out that her mother had
This book is a love letter to her mother, but also a critical analysis of her father.
Between all of this, Michelle does recount her experiences of trying to find a place of belonging, although not as majorly as the content on her parents. She discusses feeling like an outside in different communities because she is too far from the norm for any of them, "too korean or too white". It was heartbreaking to read about how she was very alone in a lot of this until her adult years where she forged meaningful relationships with bandmates and her significant other, Peter. It made me so so happy that Peter was as supportive as he was. He hung in there through all of Michelle taking care of her mother, and their life choices like school and jobs plunging them into long distance. I did long distance with my now fiance for years, it was incredibly difficult but worth it in the end. It seems to have worked out for Michelle and Peter as well, since they got married right before her mothers death so that she could attend the wedding.
The ending of this book had a nice turn around where Michelle talks about her success in later years. Her music has granted her some limelight, and she even starts touring internationally. This book comes to a close following her tour and how the last show is in Korea near some relatives. She is able to go there and it almost feels as if she has some closure, being able to live her dreams creating music and spending time with those she loves.
This book is beautifully written. It will make you ugly cry and put you in a horrible mood the entire time but it is completely worth it. It reminds you of how the relationships with the ones you love most, whether they are blood family or found, are the most important thing even through some of the hardships (obviously not all hardships).
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Car accident
Minor: Excrement, Vomit, and Abortion
jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
katschkekat's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, and Alcohol
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
2.5
It was alright. I teared up a few times. The descriptions of food were verbose and evocative, sometimes excessively so. I love Maangchi.
This is a story of grief and mourning, of finding your identity and how it changes as you grow, relationships and connections.
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, and Excrement
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, and Cultural appropriation
mirandyli's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Colonisation