What a wonderful book. Written by Michelle Zauner, she tells of her Korean mother and American father and their life in Eugene, Oregon, US. Her young life revolved around her mother and her mother’s cooking. The title refers to H Mart, a chain of Korean grocery stores across the US where Zauner and her mother frequently shopped.
Zauner is in her 20s when her mother’s health crisis leads her back home. Caring for her mother in what turns out to be her final months is a labor of love. She cooks dishes she remembers from her childhood to coax her mother into eating. She also attempts a closer relationship with her father – the two of them were never close but take a trip together which leads them to a tighter bond.
I’ve never followed the music of Japanese Breakfast, but this book makes me want to add it to my list. Zauner’s lyrical descriptions of the food eaten and prepared by her family made me so hungry! I recommend this book highly.
