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luciz's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
hufflepuffbiologybuff's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Excrement, and Car accident
Minor: Cursing, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
flamesocks's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abortion
linearev's review against another edition
4.75
However, I was not in the slightest, ready, for the heavy hitting force of the fact, that this is a self biography. A portrait of no the the Korean minority in USA but also of a complicated relationship between a mother and daughter. A generational tradition of complicated love and amazing food. It introduces the reader to the inner workings of someone who is both rather relatable as she is partly American, yet also somewhat astranged (from someone who grew up so differently). And yet, the brilliance of her writing reveals itself by letting us into her Korean side and guiding us through that world. It left me feeling both entertained yet also more knowledgeable each time I finished a chapter. Because somehow she balanced this complicated self portrait with humor which created the sort of entertainment often found in fictional books.
All to say that this was very good. It sort of reminds me of the new and popular “I’m glad my mom died” which ironically takes the opposite stance of the maternal relation between the main people, yet left me with the same feeling of stepping out of the life of someone compelling and complicated. I liked it enormously and hope to read more from her soon.
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
kmae314's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Terminal illness and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
emilyharmonica's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol
crieraylas's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Violence, and Abortion
princessblueyes's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
smacey's review against another edition
4.75
Michelle Zauner does an incredible job telling the story of her complicated relationship with her mother and experience of losing a parent to cancer. She shows immense amounts of vulnerability, bravery, openness, honesty, empathy, and strength throughout this book. While I have not experienced a parent enduring a terminal illness, I have, as many other women have, played the role of the daughter in an equal parts beautiful, equal parts difficult mother-daughter relationship and found myself relating to many of the feelings Zauner described having as a result of navigating such a relationship. It was also so fun to read about the various Korean cuisines Zauner described cooking and eating and the way in which food was a central part of her life, culture, and familial relationships. Additionally, I think she does an incredible job giving insight into the experiences of a biracial woman in America and navigating the complexities of having two different cultures that sometimes feel so central to who she is and at other times so far removed from her. As a later generations European American, I cannot relate to this aspect of her story, but I appreciate her willingness to share with the world her cultures and unique lens as a Korean American.
One of the only negatives I have to say about this book is, although Michelle Zauner is arguably best known for being the lead singer of the band Japanese Breakfast, I felt like she could've (and wished that she would've) spoken more on her life as a famous musician and how that relates to the rest of what was told in this memoir. I respect entirely that this was not a book about that aspect of her life, but I was left at times getting pieces of that and how the events she described impacted her musical career both before and during the height of it but wishing I had been let in more. This is obviously a personal memoir though, and I completely respect that she may not have wanted to make that much of a focus of the book at all and felt that she included what was only necessary to include from that part of her life.
Definitely a well-written book and worthwhile read, particularly for women who have navigated any type of "tough love" motherly relationship, experienced a parent with a terminal illness, or identify as being biracial.
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
kaylaswhitmore's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Infidelity, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit