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A review by zreadz
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is a beautiful story. As an only child, I found myself relating deeply to Michelle Zauner, even though my relationship with my parents differs from hers. I went into this book blind, and I’m glad I did—knowing its content beforehand might have made it too painful to read, as I imagined myself in her shoes throughout. The memoir’s first-person perspective immerses you in one of life’s scariest and most certain realities: the death of those we love and the inevitability of having to move on afterward. When we witness this in others, we often distance ourselves to stay sane, avoiding the overwhelming grief of another. This book doesn’t allow for that distance, offering profound insight into the process of grieving someone who raised you, shaped you, and is a part of you. I also appreciated the exploration of Korean culture and being taken on a journey through grief, food, and, above all, everlasting love.
I recommend this book to both those who have lost loved ones and those who haven’t yet. I’d even recommend it to those who have witnessed or struggled to understand someone else’s grief, grappling with what it truly means and how it sits within you. It’s a tough and tragic read, but reducing it to just those two words would be an injustice. I loved reading about identity, coming of age, and the matriarchal dynamics that influence mother-daughter relationships. Like Zauner, I’m not religious, but like Nami, I’d like to believe our loved ones are happy somewhere, and that our ancestors help us navigate the enormous emotions of grief, love, sadness, anger, and joy that life brings. Our memories, our tastes our worldviews are gifts imparted on us by the ones we love.
Thank you Chongmi, Halmeoni, and Eunmi.
I recommend this book to both those who have lost loved ones and those who haven’t yet. I’d even recommend it to those who have witnessed or struggled to understand someone else’s grief, grappling with what it truly means and how it sits within you. It’s a tough and tragic read, but reducing it to just those two words would be an injustice. I loved reading about identity, coming of age, and the matriarchal dynamics that influence mother-daughter relationships. Like Zauner, I’m not religious, but like Nami, I’d like to believe our loved ones are happy somewhere, and that our ancestors help us navigate the enormous emotions of grief, love, sadness, anger, and joy that life brings. Our memories, our tastes our worldviews are gifts imparted on us by the ones we love.
Thank you Chongmi, Halmeoni, and Eunmi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Death of parent