Crying in H Mart

A Memoir

De: Michelle Zauner

Narrado por: Michelle Zauner

From the indie rockstar of Japanese Breakfast fame, and author of the viral 2018 New Yorker essay that shares the title of this book, an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity.

In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band--and meeting the man who would become her husband--her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.

Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.

Powerful. Emotional. Cathartic

As a husband of 30+ years, and a father of 2 perfect Korean American Daughters I have learned so much about my family that I never understood before.

The revelations about the Korean culture ingrained into my family are now revealed as normal... Not just personality oddities That help make up the woman I love and the children I adore!

Not sure at first

When I started listening to the book. there were so many Korean references that I thought maybe this was not a book I would enjoy. So wrong! If you had a loving or difficult or tumultuous or adoring relationship with your mother, you will find this beautiful. And you might even learn about Korean food and culture as well.

“Why do you cry as if your mother died?”

I read this book because I heard the author interviewed on NPR (KPBS).

The love-hate relationship between a mother and a daughter is universal. So is the language of food. I enjoyed this book, and it even inspired me to walk into the closest HMart to try some Korean dishes.

From listening to this book, I was able to reflect on my relationship with my mother and with my daughter. I think that is when a book is beautiful, when it elicits emotion in the reader.

Crying in a lot of places

A chronicle of grief and the healing of wounds between mother and child told through references to Korean food and music. Brilliantly written, carefully read aloud by the author, and more than moving - an inspirational vessel for feeling one’s own losses more profoundly.

Great to have author narrating!!

Touching powerful. Tremendously interesting look into Korean-American culture. Everyone should hear this terrific book!!

Moving & Personal

Michelle has a great narrator's voice and pace to tell her deeply personal and captivating story; about her childhood, her connections to her mother & father and the loss and grief she travels through. It's a beautiful tribute to her mother and look at her own sense of identity and self. This book was incredible and relatable. I cried and felt moments of pain and loss within her words. I laughed, amused by her and her mother's cheek and sass. Their strength of character and love for each other show in the flavor of the book.

I making my mom listen to this with me on our next roadtrip.

Heartwrenching

Never had a book see me like this. As a Korean American who grew up in the PNW it was maybe one of the realist depictions I’ve seen out there in terms of being genuine

Purchased this accidentally

This is not my usual style but I am glad I read it!

So lots good content. Exquisite descriptions of food. Insightful of the Korean lifestyle.

Great coming of age story.

thanks michelle

as being an adopted Korean. it leaves me to wonder. a lot of emotions while listening to your narrative. thank you for staring your story

Highly recommend

Everyone with a mother should read this book. It’s visually rich, heartbreakingly honest and inspiring - I found myself thinking of my own mother and her mother and times we misunderstood each other. Michelle made me feel like I tasted each dish and that I could speak Korean! Most of all, she made me think how fragile everything is and how blessed I am to have my mother. I hope her mother can hear her music and this amazing story, wherever she is.