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aksmith92's review against another edition
4.5
Michelle Zauner talks about her upbringing in this memoir—she's living a decent life and recognizes that, but somehow does not get along super well with her parents, particularly her mom. I don't know about you, but as a teenage girl once, this was highly relatable.
More importantly, though, this memoir talks about Michelle's identity as a half-Korean woman, trying to find solstice and being in the food she grew up hearing about and/or eating. She struggles regularly with her identity since she barely speaks the Korean language and only visits Korea every so often. And most important, this book is about dealing with grief and, acknowledging and accepting your past, and moving on from it during traumatic times. There is no mystery or spoiler here: Michelle talks about her family's experience with her mother's cancer diagnosis.
Michelle feels real in this book. She makes decisions you question and doesn't always know the answer. However, the heart in this book is so apparent, and it is simply moving. Not to mention all the incredible references to Korean recipes—this was SO good to add.
I do feel the 50-70% dragged just a little bit, but overall, this was an incredibly captivating story about a woman finding her own identity in massive grief while leaning on some of the most amazing food recipes she can to feel in her place and with her family. Highly recommend this memoir!
Graphic: Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction
Addiction = not described, but talked about when describing someone's past. Also implied with a potential alcohol addiction.martinatan's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Dementia, Abortion, and Pregnancy
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
saramassoudi's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment
ju_harue's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
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
annareads97's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Car accident
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
rachelhass's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent