There are books that are made to be read with the book in one hand and a snack in the other (or for extra deliciousness, on audiobook with food in both hands). While food is not central to much of the book, descriptions of the most delicious Korean food is interlaced throughout. 

CW: cancer, discussion of cancer treatment

Crying in H Mart is a novel by the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast, Michelle Zauner. I hadn’t heard of this band before reading this book, but turns out I love her sound! The book is a memoir of Michelle’s life as a half-Korean girl in Oregon, including her relationship with her parents, caring for her mother through her battle with cancer, and rediscovering her identity. 

People who have had experience with cancer may find a good half of this book hard to read. I repeatedly struggled with it, as Michelle does not beat around the bush in describing the lengths to which cancer and the treatment impacted her mother. As Michelle was the primary caregiver, the passages are intimate and sensitive, capturing the care and tenderness that went into her mother’s last months and the desperation Michelle feels to do everything possible to make the pain stop and cancer go away.

After her mother’s death, she starts to rebuild her relationship with her mother’s culture. Her mother often made Korean food for Michelle, but never taught her how to do it herself. Michelle interprets this as an act of love, one that would not be the same with help from the person the food is for. So instead, she learns to cook with a Korean YouTuber (this woman is even named in the acknowledgements). As she discovers her culture through food, her music also becomes more well-known, and the book ultimately ends with Michelle playing in Seoul for her extended family. 

For all that it was hard, I did enjoy this book, and saw a lot of similarities to Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi. If you liked it, you’d like this book, and definitely vice versa.