Review: "Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner

 

Wow, Michelle Zauner's "Crying in H Mart" was a journey. I first off want to say that I do agree with some other reviewers saying that it feels odd to rate this book, because in the end, this was written for Michelle Zauner herself to be able to work through her grief, emotions, memories, and everything that comes with the trauma of losing a loved one. 

I do not usually read memoirs, but the way Michelle describes the events unfolding in her life from the strained yet loving relationship with her mother, the drama that comes with growing up as a teen, the passages upon passages of deeply descriptive recipes and tales of delicious food… it made this telling of her story live inside my mind every single day I was reading it. And I REALLY adored the way food was described throughout this book, it being one of the main ways she processes her grief as well as how she connects with her mother. It was so descriptive you could almost smell and taste everything leaping off the pages. 

It was also heartbreaking, devastating, and will I be reading it again? No, because I did find myself having a lump in my throat at all times because of the events and the painful emotions and relations to family that are described here, but that is how you know it is well written. I feel like I really understand her story. It touched me in a moving way, leading me to want to cherish my time that I have with my mother even more. 

Rating: 4.5-4.8 Stars, 5 on Goodreads

I had rated this book 4 stars on Goodreads at first, but seeing it has been months since I've read this and I'm still thinking about it and how it emotionally impacted me, I rated it a 5 stars that leans towards 4.5-4.8 stars. I think it was a stunning memoir and a great debut for Zauner. Even though in my initial review I said I might not reread it, I have had thoughts to reread this title recently because of how touching and emotional it was, and I wish to revisit some of the recipes mentioned in the book. I think it just got to me in an emotional way in the first read-through (which is the sign of a well-written book!). 

“A familiar itch was creeping in. That aching towards something wild— when the days get longer and a walk through the city becomes entirely pleasant from morning to night, when you want to run drunk down an empty street in sneakers and fling all responsibility to the wayside.” 
― Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart