Crying in H Mart: A Memoir

I really enjoyed this book, both for the insight into the grief of losing a parent (and trauma of seeing a parent suffer with a terminal illness) and also the cultural aspects. It left me desperate to try some Korean cuisine, even travel a bit! The journey to self discovery, dealing with past trauma, generational family trauma, realising that your parents are flawed humans, I think are things lots of people can relate to.

This was a wonderful, emotional story that weaves together cultural identity, food, and the painful reality of caring for a sick parent. Michelle Zauner writes with honesty and warmth, and the details around Korean food traditions give the book a richness that balances the grief at its heart. I found myself drawn into both the personal narrative and the wider cultural themes, and while it’s not always an easy read, it’s deeply rewarding. A powerful memoir about love, loss, and the role food plays in memory and connection.

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year only realised half way through it’s a memoir, I cried so much it’s just beautifully written about her relationship with her mom I couldn’t put it down

I feel bad for rating a memoir so low as I really enjoy them and someone else's life experiences are as valid as our own... I don't know who the author is and, whereas I feel sorry for her loss and empathise with her as I am an orphan, this book looks like she wrote it to make peace with herself and her loss rather than for people to read it. There were nice moments but most of it was pretty boring. Too much description of food and jumps back and forth in time.

So many people had told me how wonderful this book was and how it had moved them to tears that it was probably a little overhyped for me. I did enjoy it, and I think it's a strong memoir, but ,perhaps I'm a heartless fiend, I didn't find it particularly moving. It is a well-observed memoir, though, with lots of great content. I just made the mistake of buying into everything I'd heard about it, rather than allowing it to speak to me on its own terms. Some wonderful insights into Korean cuisine and also the alternative music scene.

Such an emotional rollercoaster set to the best food porn ever (if you love Korean food as I do) and then she is also the front woman for Japanese Breakfast pop band. I want to read it all over again and make the dishes…

The difficult and loving relationship of a mother and daughter where (Korean) food and cooking unites them both and is ever present in their lives.

This was sad and it made me very hungry. Those things are not mutually exclusive. I'll need to look into her music now.

Top d+

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.

An emotional memoir that shows how we view food and culture as a point where we can meet our loved ones. This book takes us on a poignant journey of discovery, guilt, sadness, love, devotion, sacrifice and the raw memories that stay with us for a long time even after losing our loved ones. A must read for those who want to understand the nuances of relationship and how different generations show their love each other. Bonus- Those who are familiar with Korean culture, music and food, this book will open deeper meaning to all that you've known.

Crying in H Mart is a beautifully written memoir that left a deep impression on me. I truly appreciated Michelle Zauner’s raw honesty throughout the book. It’s clear she isn’t trying to hold back or hide the pain she experienced while watching her mother go through an excruciating battle with illness. As she cares for her mom, Michelle also struggles to fill the void left in their household—especially in the kitchen—by trying to recreate the dishes that once brought them together. I admire Michelle’s strength and resilience in finding her own way through such a difficult time. She quickly realized that traditional therapy wasn’t helping and was instead becoming a financial burden. In a powerful turn, she redirected her energy into something positive: starting a YouTube channel where she began experimenting with cooking Korean food. It became not only a creative outlet but also a meaningful way to stay connected to her heritage and her mother. I lost my grandmother when I was 17 years old. She raised me from the time I was eight months old and passed away from blood cancer at the age of 62. Reading this memoir, I could deeply relate to the pain of losing a loved one. But more than that, it was inspiring to see how Michelle found a constructive and heartfelt way to cope with her grief. This book is a moving reminder that even in our most painful moments, we can find positive ways to heal and honor those we’ve lost.

The book wasn't in the best condition