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Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
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Original price was: $17.00.$13.99Current price is: $13.99.
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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love, and growing up Korean American—“in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to life, Zauner became herself” (NPR). • CELEBRATING OVER ONE YEAR ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST
In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food.
As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band–and meeting the man who would become her husband–her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.
Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner’s voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.
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Categories: Women Writers
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Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
Price:
Original price was: $17.00.$13.99Current price is: $13.99.
Regis –
Philip Roth opens his memoir Patrimony: A True Story with a long and detailed description of his father’s health that sets the stage for what is about to come: “My father had lost most of the sight in his right eye by the time he’d reached eighty-six, but otherwise he seemed in phenomenal health for a man of his age when he came down with what the Florida doctor diagnosed, incorrectly, as Bell’s palsy, a viral infection that causes paralysis, usually temporary, to one side of the face.” Michelle Zauner does the same, but in a much more concise way: “Ever since my mom died, I cry in H Mart.” They are different, but they are the same: they are sparked by pain and suffering, they pay their respects to the ones who have gone and are missed, and they intensely connect with their roots, Jewish and Korean, respectively. And through them, Philip Roth and Michelle Zauner strive to heal their pain, using writing as therapy, no matter how different their success in that endeavor may have been.
Michelle Zauner’s writing may not be as ornamented as Philip Roth’s, but her book is a treat all the same. Crying in H Mart is like listening to a candid confession from a close friend late at night, when everybody else has already left and you stay with her, a glass of wine and many stories. It is intimate, sincere, funny and sad, bittersweet, generously emotional. At the same time, it is also a gastronomic trip: Michelle meticulously uses traditional Korean food to connect and reconnect with her mother and her mother’s relatives in Korea, and some descriptions of dishes, ingredients and dish preparations are as detailed as in a recipe book with mouth-watering pictures. There is even an almost literal transcription of one of Maangchi’s tutorial videos, specifically the one where she prepares soothing jatjuk. By doing that, I think Michelle also tried to find roots in Asian references: take the Studio Ghibli movies with their beautiful scenes of food preparation, the importance of food in Haruki Murakami’s novels or Bong Joon-Ho’s movies. From my part, I am now a Maangchi fan.
The text is extremely fluid, moving from the main plot involving Michelle’s mother to flashbacks of her childhood and adolescence in a very logical and well-connected way. Up to mid-book (when the main plot sort of resolves itself), the text is so thought-of that it even sounds excessively edited–it is like a perfectly engineered, scientifically-paced Hollywood story: there is the punchline at the end of each chapter making reference to an idea cited before and causing a shiver to run up your spine, there’s the perfect pacing from funny and comfy moments to describing delicious Korean food and then back to dramatic scenes, there is suspense and plot twists, all smooth and seamless. The last half of the book loses some of its stamina (except for a poignant scene at her parents-in-law’s house in Bucks County, all Cinema Paradiso-like), but it is still charming, lyrical and beautiful.
Philip Roth concludes his memoir concisely and in a rather bitter tone, with a short and dry sentence: “You must not forget anything.” Michele grants us with a fluid, energetic and dreamlike last scene in a karaoke (noraebang), whose atmosphere made me think of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanson in the karaoke scene in Lost in Translation, a strange simultaneous state of happiness and sadness. Indeed, this book is a testimony of Michelle’s own “finding herself in translation”, a funny feeling of being awkwardly out of context but even so pertaining, which is why this book seems to have resonated so much with many mixed-race children. Michelle trying her best to sing along Pearl Sister’s Coffee Hanjan with her aunt Nami is indeed a beautiful image to conclude and summarize her search for her own identity by not denying but strengthening her Korean roots.
Alexis Mendoza –
Beautifully written, has you crying and emotional but turning every page, haven’t read a book I related to and enjoyed this much in years
Bryan Carey –
Growing up as one of the few kids who is different from everyone else can be difficult. It can be tough to fit in, and it can be a challenge for parents of such children to reign- in their child’s tendency to possibly become rebellious. Indie rock star Michelle Zauner knows what this feeling is like and it forms the basis of her memoir, Crying in H Mart.
What you get with this book is a memoir about a Korean American girl, growing up in Eugene, Oregon and trying to find her identity. The author struggles at times to communicate with her parents and extended family, while taking comfort in things that she and her Korean relatives can relate to, like food. In fact, this book is very much about food, with references to baking and creating familiar Korean food dishes found throughout the read.
The other important part of the book is the relationship the author had with her mother and how it developed from childhood through young adulthood. There were difficult times of understanding during her youth, which is common among most children. But the real test came later, when Zauner’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and had little time to live. Her attempts to reconcile with her mom, take care of her and provide comfort, all the way to her final days form a large portion of the book and the grief she feels following her mom’s death lingers on, from chapter to chapter.
It’s always fun to read books like this, detailing a celebrity’s roots and what they overcame during their younger days. But there are aspects of Crying in H Mart that I found a little off- putting and difficult to relate to. For one, the overwhelming feeling of grief and the time it took for the author to get over this grief was exhausting. I also lost my mom to cancer, but the grieving period didn’t drag on for this long. It could be a cultural difference, I suppose. Also, as much as I love to eat, the emphasis on food as comfort was a little over the top.
Another disappointment that I had with the book is that there is very little mention or talk about the author’s band, Japanese Breakfast. I would have liked to know more about the forming of the band and its success. Instead, it is only mentioned sporadically, almost like it’s an unimportant side hustle. Maybe a sequel is in the works, one that focuses on the author’s success with her band.
Life can be difficult when you stand out in the crowd. Crying in H Mart is a book about identity and coping; family relationships; food; and grief. It’s a good book overall, but not as compelling as I had hoped, as I was unable to relate to much of it. Still, it’s worth a read, especially if you’re someone who has had to cope with a similar upbringing.
Eva –
A love this book, full of passion, sensitivity, searching for identity
Shawn Young –
This book is unlike any modern memoir that I’ve read. It was tragic, but relatable and human. I highly recommend you read it even if it’s not your style of literature.
Bryan Carey –
Vogue calls this book ‘deeply necessary’; I raise that and also call it long overdue. Crying in H Mart doesn’t use the over-analyzing, ponderous prose that so many books about cancer and death do; instead, it is refreshingly modern. Zauner skillfully takes us through her mother’s diagnosis, the stages of her cancer and her eventual death. But she never loses touch with herself or gets swallowed whole by it all; instead, she somehow manages to grow personally and professionally.
While death is one of the worst things we face, it doesn’t have to be all-consuming. Zauner channelled so many emotions as she prepared the meals of her Korean heritage and, in turn, shared this with her readers through a lyrical writing style.
We also learn about her fascinating extended family, fraught relationship with her father, rise as an indie rock musician, and the founding of Japanese Breakfast. Still, somehow, the book never overwhelms the reader.
Every culture deals with grief differently. People generalize that Europeans, particularly the British, are cold, especially in times of extreme sadness; this is far from true. There is nothing wrong with the fact that many of us grieve privately over a cup of tea and Peak Freans biscuits, but I will admit that might not be the copy for a good memoir.
Crying in H Mart holds nothing back, so if you are going through someone’s cancer battle or are still raw from a recent death, this might not be the best book for you, but when you are ready, Zauner’s words will bring some pain, some laughter, some soul searching and in the end like the author you will emerge stronger.
Michelle Zauner wanted ‘to make the ordinary beautiful’, and she succeeded.
Jill Crossland –
A capa comum não é muito boa, ela tem um material bem molinho. O livro é perfeito, Michele zauner é perfeita 💖
MEMA –
Great memoir. Many situations in the book I could relate too. I cried. It makes you reflect on yourself and you can feel her sadness and pain. The book was so good I shared with a friend. We then decided to start a book club. Get this book, you won’t be disappointed.
Amazing read! –
Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner is a poignant memoir that delves into the intricate layers of identity, grief, and the profound dynamics of mother-daughter relationships. Zauner’s writing skillfully captures the essence of her Korean heritage, weaving a narrative that is both emotionally charged and beautifully articulated.
The memoir takes readers on a compelling journey through the author’s experiences, exploring the depths of loss, the complexities of love, and the profound impact of cultural roots. Zauner’s ability to convey raw and authentic emotions makes each page resonate with a deep sense of honesty. As she navigates the challenges of her personal journey, readers are drawn into a narrative that is not just about individual experiences but also about the broader themes of self-discovery and acceptance.
The richness of Zauner’s storytelling lies in her vivid descriptions and the palpable emotions she conveys. From the aisles of H Mart to the complexities of grief, every aspect of the narrative is infused with a sense of authenticity. “Crying in H Mart” is more than a memoir; it’s a powerful exploration of the human experience and the universal quest for belonging. This book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a poignant reminder of the importance of embracing one’s roots in the journey of self-discovery.
Alessandra Avelar –
se me hizo muy emocional, vale la pena