In the New York Times Best-Selling memoir, ‘Crying In H Mart’, author Michelle Zauner tells the story of the special relationship between a Korean mother and her half-American daughter. She details what it was like to take on the primary caregiving role when her mother is unexpectedly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her narrative zooms in and out, toggling between the nuanced moments of her mom’s last months and flashbacks from her upbringing that shaped her cultural identity as a young hapa girl growing up in Eugene, Oregon. After losing her only connection to her Korean heritage, Michelle grapples with the question, “without the women who connected me to my heritage, was I even Korean anymore?”
Albeit heartwrenching, her story hit home for me for several reasons.
Relatable content
If you’ve ever witnessed a close loved one suffer and/or pass away from cancer, this is book going to resonate. The author does an incredible job of portraying the acute details of each stage in her mom’s health decline. Her ability to analyze such a deeply traumatic time so poetically and objectively is a gift to anyone who can relate. I noticed while I was reading, Zauner’s recollections surfaced memories I had repressed from when my grandma passed away similarly.
You definitely need to be in the right head space to receive the gems of and generally enjoy a book like this. However, the transparency and vulnerability Zauner bears naturally encourages readers to look at loss and hardship from an artistic lens. She shares the legacy her mother leaves behind by allowing us all to experience the love they shared.
A true lyricist
Also showcased by the indie pop band she leads, Japanese Breakfast, Michelle expresses her talent through various creative endeavors. She is *goals* for aspiring writers and musicians alike, representing for hapas across the west coast. Her voice speaks for those who straddle the hyphen or question the communities to which they can claim belonging.
From the struggle to find belonging, fulfill her role as a dutiful daughter, and redefine her identity as a Korean American woman without her mother there to guide her, Michelle does a magnificent job dissecting her Asian American identity, her most cherished childhood memories, and the love and wisdom her mother imparted on her.
The domino effect of Zauner’s success
As if becoming a New York Times Best-Seller wasn’t enough critic acclamation, Rolling Stone announced on March 20, 2023, that a film rendition of ‘Crying In H Mart’ is officially underway. The project will be directed by writer, actor and director, Will Sharpe, who most recently starred in season two of pop culture phenomenon, White Lotus.
Personally, I love stories that evoke real emotions, and this book gets the job done. You’ll be laughing one minute and balling your eyes out the next.
One audible reading tip- I never listen to a book this intimate with other people present. It takes my focus away from digesting the story. It feels more comfortable to listen to this alone so I can be all the way in my feels 🙂
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