sapphotoni's review
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Medical content, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Excrement, and Vomit
lauradoyaga's review
Moderate: Child abuse, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
eatingbrains'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, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Excrement, and Fatphobia
Minor: Abortion, Body shaming, Drug use, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Car accident, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexism
jaduhluhdabooks's review
5.0
It is a reminder of humanity. Of the fealty of this body and this life. And for me - it points me back to the The Lord, which is why I think it's the hardest to read because I wonder where her grief points her. And that is the question I am left with. Grief needs something to hold on to, it can symbiotic or parasitic. I think I will sit with this story for a long time and hope for the best. Because grief and hope can too, coexist. I am the lived reality of that truth.Â
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, and Fatphobia
doomluz's review against another edition
5.0
Some parts were difficult to hear, like the conflicts between Michelle and her parents. But it was also relatable as both my partner and I have immigrant parents (though obviously there's some differences between Korean culture and Mexican). The parts describing the mother's illness were also difficult.
Overall it was vivid, great descriptions, and cathartic. Also I wouldn't recommend listening/reading when you're hungry or before bed because I kept getting hungry.
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Cancer
Moderate: Infidelity, Fatphobia, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion
ajreffsin's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts
peppers_books's review
5.0
anyways,,
one thing i noticed is that it felt like she jumped around different periods of her life for no rhyme or reason and would drop random information on us unexpectedly. like it's present day, then we're back ten years, oh and btw they have a family dog! it might not seem important but it made the experience seem disjointed and broke up the flow of the book. the biggest thing though was when she just dropped a relatively detailed description of her fathers abusive childhood? i didn't understand the purpose and it was honestly kind of shocking to just be like bam! terrible thing that doesn't expand on what is currently being talked about. okay moving on.
i am korean as well and that is such a big part of her identity, so this book is special to me in its own way. i could connect with and see my own experience reflected back which made it more impactful.
i will say, a huge huge warning for death of a parent due to cancer. as i mentioned, nothing felt sugar coated so all the ugly realities of illness and grief and anger are there in plain sight.
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Fatphobia
Minor: Child abuse