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loonaglow's review against another edition
emotional
informative
2.0
it’s not even that it was badly written, the writing was beautiful there was just so much mention of food in every chapter
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
acmarinho3's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Uau.
Que memoir!
Terminei-o com o coração apertado, fã de Michelle e da sua sinceridade. Abriu-nos o livro da sua vida, nua e crua, numa honestidade que às vezes magoa, mas que é necessária para compreender o quão real é. Tem todo o meu respeito por não ter romantizado o cancro da sua mãe, por não ter procurado eufemismos ou meias-palavras para descrever a dor que sentia e que ainda hoje sente, ainda que mais madura e abraçada pelo tempo. Adorei a relação com a comida e a maneira como nos mostra que quando perdemos alguém que amamos, continuamos a tê-la por perto nos pratos que nos faziam, nos supermercados onde íamos em conjunto, dos ingredientes que preparávamos em conjunto, entre outros. Michelle partilha como nem sempre as relações pais-filha/o são fáceis, mas são sempre fruto de amor. Gostei mesmo muito.
Que memoir!
Terminei-o com o coração apertado, fã de Michelle e da sua sinceridade. Abriu-nos o livro da sua vida, nua e crua, numa honestidade que às vezes magoa, mas que é necessária para compreender o quão real é. Tem todo o meu respeito por não ter romantizado o cancro da sua mãe, por não ter procurado eufemismos ou meias-palavras para descrever a dor que sentia e que ainda hoje sente, ainda que mais madura e abraçada pelo tempo. Adorei a relação com a comida e a maneira como nos mostra que quando perdemos alguém que amamos, continuamos a tê-la por perto nos pratos que nos faziam, nos supermercados onde íamos em conjunto, dos ingredientes que preparávamos em conjunto, entre outros. Michelle partilha como nem sempre as relações pais-filha/o são fáceis, mas são sempre fruto de amor. Gostei mesmo muito.
emilycxmpbxll's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
prsmablydeadarm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
really beautiful also when her dad dies she should write another book because everything she mentioned about him felt like Woah there’s a lot to unpack there!
smyles42's review against another edition
5.0
I first picked up this book, not because I like the author’s music (which I do), but because I love food memoirs. Crying in H Mart is so much more than a food memoir though. It is the story of a mother and a daughter, sometimes at odds, but caring deeply for each other. This is a story of loss and grief, healing, growth, and culture. Parts of this book are completely heartbreaking and I had to put the book down for a couple minutes. Korean food is what ties the story all together, both Zauner eating it and learning to make it on her own to feel closer to her mother after her passing.
To put it simply: I love this book. I won’t say that I “enjoyed” it, because it was quite sad at times and hit pretty freaking close to home. It was easy to read though and I really liked the author’s voice. It is personable and feels like a friend telling me about their life. I am also very close to my mother, so it was very difficult to read the parts where her mother is going through cancer treatments and her eventual passing. It was beautifully and vividly written, though; I could picture the scenes in my head and feel the emotions that the author evoked.
Honestly, I’m having a hard time completely and succinctly putting my feelings for this book into words. Just read it. It was fantastic. It contains so much in an unassuming package. Be prepared for some tears, especially if you’ve lost a loved one to cancer. Expect to get super hungry at all the delicious-sounding food mentioned. You will commiserate with Michelle and you will root for her as she goes through her 20s to become the awesome lady she is today.
One part that I had to mention: There is a whole passage about the band Modest Mouse. I love this band. They are my favorite band! I am very jealous that Zauner got to see them in the early aughts, which I would argue was their best era, but it was really neat to read her description of a show she went to and the first time she went crowd surfing!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
EDIT 5/26/2022 - The audiobook was fantastic and even more heart-wrenching.
To put it simply: I love this book. I won’t say that I “enjoyed” it, because it was quite sad at times and hit pretty freaking close to home. It was easy to read though and I really liked the author’s voice. It is personable and feels like a friend telling me about their life. I am also very close to my mother, so it was very difficult to read the parts where her mother is going through cancer treatments and her eventual passing. It was beautifully and vividly written, though; I could picture the scenes in my head and feel the emotions that the author evoked.
Honestly, I’m having a hard time completely and succinctly putting my feelings for this book into words. Just read it. It was fantastic. It contains so much in an unassuming package. Be prepared for some tears, especially if you’ve lost a loved one to cancer. Expect to get super hungry at all the delicious-sounding food mentioned. You will commiserate with Michelle and you will root for her as she goes through her 20s to become the awesome lady she is today.
One part that I had to mention: There is a whole passage about the band Modest Mouse. I love this band. They are my favorite band! I am very jealous that Zauner got to see them in the early aughts, which I would argue was their best era, but it was really neat to read her description of a show she went to and the first time she went crowd surfing!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
EDIT 5/26/2022 - The audiobook was fantastic and even more heart-wrenching.
eviesellers's review against another edition
5.0
oh my GOD. i just wanted to start this book tonight and read a few chapters before i went to bed, but i ended up reading it all in one very tear-filled, audibly sobbing sitting.
this book is absolutely beautiful. michelle writes in a style that is so personal yet also retains a sense of elegance if that makes sense? like you're a few hours into deep conversation with a friend and you start getting philosophical with it, but it's still your friend talking.
the notes about korean culture in this book, while not something i can necessarily connect to as a whiter than white american girl, are absolutely beautiful and gave me many insights that i didn't have before.
what this book did best was capture the complex nature of mother and daughter relationships, whether during the easygoing affectionate times of childhood, the tenuous teenage years, or the rediscovery of one another in a new light as adults. it's a tough thing to put on paper, but my god did michelle do it.
its other best feature is the way it discusses grief. i've never experienced the loss of a parent or necessarily even a super close family member, but this book spoke to grief in a way i can't even describe. there is sadness (SO much sadness), hope, nostalgia, understanding, and so much love. if either of my parents are reading this (hi mom i think you actually read my reviews) (hi dad i'm not sure you read my goodreads stuff but if you're here that's cool), i love you more than anything and can't even fathom the unthinkable loss that is losing you.
tldr no one i love is allowed to die thanks
this book is absolutely beautiful. michelle writes in a style that is so personal yet also retains a sense of elegance if that makes sense? like you're a few hours into deep conversation with a friend and you start getting philosophical with it, but it's still your friend talking.
the notes about korean culture in this book, while not something i can necessarily connect to as a whiter than white american girl, are absolutely beautiful and gave me many insights that i didn't have before.
what this book did best was capture the complex nature of mother and daughter relationships, whether during the easygoing affectionate times of childhood, the tenuous teenage years, or the rediscovery of one another in a new light as adults. it's a tough thing to put on paper, but my god did michelle do it.
its other best feature is the way it discusses grief. i've never experienced the loss of a parent or necessarily even a super close family member, but this book spoke to grief in a way i can't even describe. there is sadness (SO much sadness), hope, nostalgia, understanding, and so much love. if either of my parents are reading this (hi mom i think you actually read my reviews) (hi dad i'm not sure you read my goodreads stuff but if you're here that's cool), i love you more than anything and can't even fathom the unthinkable loss that is losing you.
tldr no one i love is allowed to die thanks
rhopeg12's review against another edition
5.0
A raw depiction wonderfully written about the often complicated bond between a mother and daughter. Because Michelle was a bit older (25) when she lost a parent to cancer, she was able to put into words what I couldn’t as a 13 year old. The theme of Korean food and cooking was beautifully woven throughout.