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jeggert10's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Car accident, and Abortion
summerb's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
pageafter_paige's review against another edition
5.0
Michelle opens up to us about being a mixed child and her relationship with her Korean mother. Much of their relationship centers around food which is a big theme throughout and definitely made me hungry. But to them it’s more than hunger. It’s culture, and connection to each other and their roots.
One of the most powerful displays of Michelle and her moms connection can be seen through Michelle’s first two words as a baby (iykyk). Even Michelle’s relationship with her father is somewhat run through her mother.
My favorite quote can be found in the last chapter: “If there was a god, it seemed my mother must have had her foot on his neck, demanding good things come my way. That if we had to be ripped apart right at our turning point, just when things were really starting to get good, the least god could do was make a few of her daughter’s pipe dreams come true.”
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
kibbles15's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Racism, and Abortion
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
gabriella_'s review against another edition
5.0
A lot of this book I personally resonated with. While I am not Korean, the mother-daughter bonding, themes of feeling disconnected from culture, grief, and transcending love of food hit very hard. Zauner finds a way to bring a personal story up and close to the reader. She has a way with words.
I can’t express how grateful I am to read this book. It feels like a warm hug. I hope anyone who has struggled with grief, especially those who mourn a mom or motherly figure, walk away from this book with even a shred of comfort. There is so much I want to say, so much thanks I want to pay the author for being as vulnerable as she was. And so much I want to thank her for, for expressing how painful her journey has been.
Some lines of this book really stuck with me, and I’ll end this review with one that made me audibly sob.
When one person collapses, the other instinctively shoulders their weight.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing
riverofpages's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism and Terminal illness
Minor: Cursing and Racism
ejanephillips's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol
kcelena's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abortion
itsheyfay's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Abortion