A review by nose_in_a_book
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

This is one of those books where I didn’t enjoy it but I did deeply feel. She is an excellent writer in that she exposed the inner workings of her mind with precision, getting to the very heart of who she is with a poetic and acerbic lens. Her grief is never watered down nor is it aiming to be likable. It’s authentic even when not necessarily trying to be. She’s an unreliable narrator to the highest degree which frustratingly leaves little room as a reader to actually get any genuine perceptions of those around her (particularly her mom) that aren’t manufactured by her own bias. I wish there were more moments like her mom watching tv with her grandma or their fight at Cafe Seoul/ Seoul Cafe scattered about because I don’t feel like by the end of the book that I know her mom much better than I did chapter one. That said, maybe it’s because I don’t have those cultural touchstones from being Korean to recognize deeper meaning behind subtle gestures or moments talked about. This isn’t a book written with me in mind nor should it be. Despite that, the emotions explored are universal and her experience is easy to empathize with regardless of culture. If you need a way to focus your own grief, fear, or sadness, this is an excellent conduit to process.