Fiction/Non Fiction: Non-fiction
Themes: Memoir, death, immigration, food.
Pages: 256
One sentence summary: A beautifully moving memoir, set around grief and the comfort food can bring in new cultures.
Overview: Zauner recounts her mother’s death and the impact it had on her in trying to care for her during her sickness. She talks about the otherness that being mixed race can bring, and how food played such a big part in her journey to regaining her own heritage and culture.
Personal Thoughts:
I often find it very difficult to review memoirs as they are such personal recounts of life that I feel like it can feel unjust to comment on. But I will say this - This was such a moving memoir to read and the book I probably have cried over most this year. It was truly stunning.
Having known nothing of Zauner’s musical background prior to her memoir, it certainly made for an interesting read. The importance of family and culture when moving continents is evident and the relevance of food is vital to Michelle’s own identity.
Zauner’s and her mothers relationship wasn’t always the easiest to navigate, which made the lead up to death a difficult one to process. Zauners account is heartfelt and truthful and will resonate with so many. This is a book you need to read.
Favourite quotes:
“when one person collapses, the other person instinctively supports their weight”
“If there was a god, it seemed my Mother must have had her foot on his neck, demanding good things come my way”
Would I read it again? Wholeheartedly. It was so touching, I couldn’t possibly not.
Read this? Plan to read it? I'd love to know! Let me know in the comments below.
Available for purchase as part of our boxes here.