Summary
In her memoir Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner examines grief, cultural identity, and personal growth. Zauner experiences the loss of her mother to cancer and turns to Korean cuisine for comfort. As a person of mixed heritage, she explores her cultural background. Dishes like kimchi and jjigae serve as connections to her mother. This connection offers both sorrow and a path to healing. Zauner recounts her journey to reconnect with her roots. As a consequence, the story underscores the bond between parent and child.
Overview
In her memoir Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner explores themes of identity and grief through her relationship with her mother, Chongmi. The narrative shifts between past and present, covering Zauner's journey from childhood in Eugene, Oregon, to adulthood. Zauner's musical ambitions often clashed with Chongmi's traditional expectations, creating both conflict and connection.
Chongmi's battle with cancer brings Zauner back to Eugene from Philadelphia to care for her mother. They attempt to reconnect over Korean foods, despite the strain from Chongmi's declining health and a family friend, Kye, complicating their routine.
When chemotherapy fails, Zauner marries her boyfriend, Peter, to share a moment of joy before Chongmi passes. After her mother's death, Zauner faces the challenge of preserving her Korean heritage and honoring her mother's memory. She channels her grief into creating her debut album, Psychopomp, as a tribute to her mother’s enduring influence.
Themes
Cultural identity through food
Crying in H Mart centers on food as a key aspect of cultural identity. Food serves as a link to her Korean heritage and represents her relationship with her mother, Chongmi. Korean dishes like kimchi, bulgogi, and banchan connect her to her origins and strengthen maternal bonds. Zauner notes that Korean food was both a means of bonding and a source of her mother's approval. During her mother's illness, Zauner cooks traditional Korean dishes such as doenjang jjigae and jatjuk. She finds comfort and a connection to her cultural lineage in these culinary practices. Food plays a central role in preserving family legacy and honoring her mother's memory, affirming Zauner's own identity.
The emotional journey through grief
In Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner presents a narrative on navigating grief after her mother's death. She documents the experience of mourning and its impact on her life. Zauner describes her mother's cancer battle and its effect on her personal journey. Moments shared and flavors from Korean cuisine connect her to memories of her mother. This exploration of food and memory examines identity reconstruction during mourning. Grief emerges as a transformative force in shaping personal identity.
Role of H Mart
In Michelle Zauner’s memoir, H Mart serves as a significant venue for exploring identity and emotion. The store is not merely a grocery store but a cultural hub where communities gather to engage with shared heritage and belonging. For Zauner, H Mart is a vital connection to her Korean ancestry. It offers comfort through the familiar scents and flavors of Korean cuisine, allowing her to recall memories of her mother. H Mart provides a space for authenticity and nostalgia, offering a respite from mainstream cultural pressures. This connection supports Zauner as she navigates grief and maintains the presence of her mother's love.
Quick facts
Published in 2021, Crying in H Mart originated from Michelle Zauner’s 2018 New Yorker essay of the same title, which went viral.
In her memoir, Zauner candidly addresses her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis and its profound emotional impact.
Crying in H Mart emphasizes the importance of Korean cuisine as a bridge connecting Zauner to her heritage and late mother.
Zauner is also the lead singer of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast and explores grief through music.
Crying in H Mart received widespread acclaim, becoming a bestseller and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Crying in H Mart won the Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir & Autobiography in 2021.
A film adaptation is in development, with Zauner personally adapting the screenplay and overseeing the soundtrack.
Former President Obama named 'Crying in H Mart' among his favorite books of the year.
Cooking Korean dishes was therapeutic for Zauner, helping her process grief and connect with cultural roots.
YouTube personality Maangchi played a significant role in Zauner’s rediscovery of Korean cooking after her mother's death.
Zauner's connection to Korean culture deepened further when performing in Seoul with her band.
Zauner plans to write a second book while living in Seoul, further exploring her Korean heritage and language.
Film adaptation
Crying in H Mart has been optioned for adaptation into a feature film by Orion Pictures. In addition to writing the screenplay, Zauner is contributing music to the project through her band, Japanese Breakfast. Will Sharpe was initially set to direct. In January 2025, Zauner announced the adaptation had "paused" due to Hollywood strikes and the director's departure.
About the author
Michelle Zauner (1989-) is a writer and a musician whose work explores themes of identity and personal loss. Born in Seoul, Korea, and raised in Eugene, Oregon, she is the lead singer with the indie pop band Japanese Breakfast and gained attention with their debut album Psychopomp, which addresses themes related to her mother's death. Zauner has also written essays for publications such as The New Yorker and Harper's Bazaar. Her 2021 memoir Crying in H Mart examines her experiences with grief and her connection to her Korean heritage through food.
