A review by hirisbyeris
I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying by Youngmi Mayer

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

4.5

This was incredible. Brilliant. Vibrant. Even when Mayer over explained just about everything, I felt like all the words and stories tied together and had deep intention and relevance. Even if I don’t know that all of the ties are psychologically “true” (or whatever), I feel like Mayer has clearly worked through these things and found deep meaning in all of it; I felt her earnestness, hand-in-hand with her innate Korean bitterness and emotionality, and it makes me feel inspired and somehow very trustful of her narrative. I appreciate our specific shared experiences are so many parts of being an immigrant, othered, Asian, a woman, a daughter, a mother (etc.)… I admire the way Mayer skillfully articulates her experiences and such specific nuances, and then also invites others in on it all, even if they don’t share these identities.