First published 2021
Michelle Zauner grapples with her complex relationship with her Korean-American identity after her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. Revisiting their shared love of Korean food, Zauner recounts her upbringing as one of the few Asian kids in her Oregon town, her strained but loving bond with her demanding mother, and the life-changing months she spent in Seoul. As her mother's health declines, Zauner must confront her cultural roots and the bitter loss that follows. Honest, vivid, and brimming with the flavors of home, Zauner's story is a moving testament to the power of family, food, and the enduring ties of identity.
Genres: autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, cultural, asian-american, family-drama, food-writing
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Eugene, Oregon, Seoul, United States
239 pages · Hardcover
Content warnings: terminal-illness