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A review by thewordsdevourer
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
part memoir, part love letter to food and the healing it can bring, crying in h mart is a moving book that also complexly examines the intricacies of familial bonds, cultures, identity, and growing up.
i admire zauner not only for her courage in baring her vulnerabilities during a turbulent time in her life, but also her great writing and the ability to describe certain oft unspoken feelings and ties that are familiar and relatable to many, me included. the straddling of two cultures, never feeling fully whole in either; the complicated bonds and strains with her mother; grappling with adulthood, etc. like, i actually get it all, so painfully familiar they are.
ofc i'd be srsly remiss if i didnt mention how excellently described and explored food is in this memoir. the descriptions are deliciously drool-worthy, conjuring familiar dishes while also introducing newer, less famous yet equally interesting ones. the bonds and connections korean food and cooking allow the author to feel w/ her mother and korean culture also illustrate their importance in a larger personal context.
just like how zauner heals from eating and cooking, i also heal from reading this book.
i admire zauner not only for her courage in baring her vulnerabilities during a turbulent time in her life, but also her great writing and the ability to describe certain oft unspoken feelings and ties that are familiar and relatable to many, me included. the straddling of two cultures, never feeling fully whole in either; the complicated bonds and strains with her mother; grappling with adulthood, etc. like, i actually get it all, so painfully familiar they are.
ofc i'd be srsly remiss if i didnt mention how excellently described and explored food is in this memoir. the descriptions are deliciously drool-worthy, conjuring familiar dishes while also introducing newer, less famous yet equally interesting ones. the bonds and connections korean food and cooking allow the author to feel w/ her mother and korean culture also illustrate their importance in a larger personal context.
just like how zauner heals from eating and cooking, i also heal from reading this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, Racism, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Abortion, Drug abuse, Car accident, Drug use, and Infidelity