Crying in H Mart

Book Details

• Author: Michelle Zauner

• Publisher: Picador

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• ISBN: 9781529033793

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.0 x 0.7 inches

About the Book

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is a poignant and unflinching memoir about family, food, grief, and the complexities of identity. As one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2021 and a New York Times bestseller, this memoir captures Zauner's journey of growing up as a mixed-race child in Oregon, grappling with her Korean heritage, and navigating the profound loss of her mother to pancreatic cancer.

In this beautifully written narrative, Zauner recounts the challenges of being the only Asian-American child at her school, the high expectations placed upon her by her mother, and the bond they shared over the food of their culture. As Zauner moved on to college and a career in the music industry, her connection to her Koreanness began to fade, but it was her mother's illness that forced her to reckon with her roots and rediscover the tastes, language, and memories they had shared.

Rich with humor and heart, Zauner’s voice resonates deeply through her vivid storytelling. Her writing about Korean food is exquisite, and it serves as both a cultural touchstone and a metaphor for the intricacies of life and loss. Crying in H Mart is not just a book about food; it is a meditation on the emotional complexity of family, heritage, and the process of healing after a devastating loss.

This book is a must-read for anyone who has experienced grief or loss, and it offers a profound reflection on the ways in which we navigate our identities and relationships.