What an absolutely wonderful book. It is so sensitive, and incredibly tender. At the same time it never shied away from the more painful memories and aspects of her own personality or her mother’s life. This was such a heart-wrenching tribute to a mother without being too schmaltzy or syrupy.


The prose is incredible and my favorite thing about it is the theme of relating to her mother and her Korean identity through food. Through all of the sadness and emotions, it also sparked a curiosity in me for the Korean dishes she mentions with such reverence.

I would consider this one of the best memoirs I’ve read recently.

A fitting and beautiful tribute to a woman who was truly “Lovely.”