"Crying in H Mart" A Lovely Sendoff to a Woman I Never Knew

     I'm going to be honest with you, I wasn't actually sure I would have liked Crying in H Mart. I mean of course a part of me knew that my bias for any and all things about the Asian-American experience would have pulled me through it, but this book had lay there on my table for multiple days before I even dared to open it. I mean of course I knew about it, I follow Japanese Breakfast on Instagram, and while a fan of a couple of their songs, my appreciation for them grew significantly as I learned more about their story.

    I mean this book was not what I expected. Actually, I'm not sure what I expected, but what I received was a touchng tribute to author Michelle Zauner's mother, a figure worthy enough to deserve the attention of a whole book. I don't know what it was that pulled me through this book in less than two days, that pulled out the passion of binging that I seldom see in myself these days. Perhaps part of me was connecting to Zauners struggle to stay connected to her culture with the passing of her mother, or the fact that I saw so much of myself in her, I hope I can replicate her success one day.

    Let's get this out of the way immediately, I honestly think the "memoir" part of this book is a bit disingenuous. While this entire book is told from Michelle's perspective, in my opinion, it is more an exploration of how her mother served as a tether between her and her own culture. Honestly, I would probably be a mess too. While I'm not just half-Asian like her, and I know significantly more Vietnamese, the Asian-American experience has this universality to it. This bonding over this disconnect, and how our parents are the only rope holding us to the other side of a massive canyon many of us have never seen or will experience.

    Listening to Triple 7 by Japanese Breakfast on repeat, I can only think about how this book commanded my attention, how it shifted my mood the entire time I read it. While part of it was the rainy weather, this entire weekend I have been somber and almost self-loathing. As an aspiring writer, I only hope to wish to have even a 10th of Zauners earnesty and when writing. I mean every time I write a poem I almost immediately stash it away, afraid I won't have anything worth saying or writing about. So believe it, all the hype, this book really is that good. I mean anytime, and I do mean anytime, a music reference was made in this book I immediately dropped whatever I was doing to check it out. Yesterday the acoustic version of Everlong was on constant repeat for me, and I think Michelle Zauner has given me a new appreciation for the song.

Final Score: 85/100

    Representation matters, and don't ever let anyone tell you that. In a world with carefully crafted persona's and identities, and algorithims that want to strip your individuality down to its bare parts, authenticity still shines true. I really do mean that, I love this book, not enough to marry it or anything, because it tells a uniquely individual story. Honestly, a part of me contemplated not putting a rating on this review. After all how the hell could I put a review on someone's deeply personal story? Either way I highly recommend you read this book, it will keep you grounded and somber, but it's highly worth the read, even if you aren't a Japanese Breakfast fan. Which oddly is hardly mentioned, though I suppose that's because the success came after the death of her mother, which once again reinforced my idea that this book is less memoir and more tribute to her mother. Regardless of the details, it is extremely good and deserves your praise and attention, go read Crying in H Mart, nurture your soul.