Tastes Like War: A Memoir

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I am glad I read this book. It‘s not an easy one and I didn‘t like the non-linear timeline in it but the living relationship between a daughter and her mother really got me. The mother is Korean, met her American husband, a soldier in her country, and moved to the US with him. It‘s a book about loneliness, racism and schizophrenia but also about pride, delicious Korean food, traditions, heritage and love.

Deblovestoread Lovely review! Stacked 6mo

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BarbaraBB

Tastes Like War: A Memoir | Grace M Cho

#WeeklyForecast 45/23

Again my choices have been dictated by finishing the reading challenges but I‘m okay with it, and am looking forward to all three of them. First will be The Drift!

squirrelbrain Good luck with those challenges! 😃 6mo

TrishB Enjoy 😁 6mo

Suet624 Good luck! 6mo

76 likes3 comments

DivineDiana

Tastes Like War: A Memoir | Grace M Cho

so-so

This was an offer that I couldn‘t resist. As a county resident, I took advantage of the opportunity to join the Big Library Read. Sadly,I was disappointed. I love mother/daughter stories, but the abusive behaviors were disturbing.The history of Korea,the discussion of Korean food and the insights into schizophrenia were interesting.When my daughter was a child,we had Korean neighbors. She fell in love with Kimchi. It did bring back good memories.

51 likes

Crystal83

Tastes Like War: A Memoir | Grace M Cho

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I just finished this book and wow it was great!!!! I read it in one day. Reading this book put a lot of thought about Korean woman who dealt with her mother who was mentally ill. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Book 4 completed for #MagnificentMay readathon @Andrew65

12 likes

Hooked_on_books

Tastes Like War: A Memoir | Grace M Cho

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Grace‘s Korean mother was brought by her white American father into small town, rural Washington. Here, Grace tells her mother‘s and her own story, showing how deeply isolation and displacement can wound and how food can be a lifeline to home. She tackles some really tough material here, but this is a beautiful book.

2021 NBA finalist, nonfiction

EvieBee Yes! I adored this book. Her writing style is exquisite. 2y

54 likes1 comment

Cinfhen

Tastes Like War: A Memoir | Grace M Cho

so-so

I have been mulling over my review since it‘s come to light that this memoir is being labeled false by some members of the family.

While I obviously don‘t have any knowledge of either claims, I will review the memoir with the assumption that what I‘ve read is based on truth.

The writing is beautiful and lyrical; weaving family history and legacy through the lense of war, trauma, identity, food, culture, and mental illness.👇🏼

Cinfhen Audio narration was soothing and haunting. I did have a problem with the nonlinear storytelling and I felt better editing was needed in arranging and retelling the story.

Within this telling I came to feel tremendous empathy for “K” ( the author‘s mother) and I truly hope the family will find peace in knowing that others were moved by her story, regardless of who her true caregivers were in her final years.
2y

Cinfhen Shame that a story of love and memory has now been tarnished. 2y

Cinfhen Thanks for the initial recommendation @EvieBee I did enjoy my listening experience and I learnt a lot about the American Korean War. 2y

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Chrissyreadit Not sure if this would apply, but in my own family as well as in families I work with narratives are often altered, because perception can be so specific, guilt is hard to live with and memories can be easily manipulated. Often the truth is in different parts- and would still look different to an outside observer. 2y

Cinfhen I absolutely agree with your statement @Chrissyreadit and have a feeling this is the case here. However, certain family members are claiming that large chunks of the story are completely fabricated like how & where the parents met, which is very integral to the story. It seems like certain parties choose to air some grievances very publicly. 2y

Megabooks Fantastic, thoughtful review. 💜💜 2y

Cinfhen It‘s hard to review a book when a part of you feels deceived @Megabooks and while I thought the writing was stunning, I was disappointed with the organization and structure which is why this was a so-so overall for me. 2y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I don‘t, in general, mind nonlinear storytelling if it is well done and fairly clear. That said, I hate dishonesty or the feel of dishonesty in a memoir. I felt that was about Educated and the one I‘m tagging. I think I‘ll pass on this.

Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood

Cinfhen Im not against nonlinear storytelling either but it was hard to follow the story with all the time jumps @Megabooks that other book keeps popping up for me too but I‘m not feeling it! And agreed, Educated niggled me in the wrong way / felt HUGELY embellished 2y

63 likes9 comments

Cinfhen

Tastes Like War: A Memoir | Grace M Cho

On the recommendation of @EvieBee (🙌🏻) and my November #BookSpin this memoir is up next!! #NonFictionNovember

EvieBee ♥️♥️ 2y

Cinfhen I‘m shocked this hasn‘t gotten more press @EvieBee especially given the popularity of 👉

Crying in H Mart: A Memoir

EvieBee I know! I heard about it on a podcast in January before I heard about CRYING IN H MART. 2y

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EvieBee Also, isn‘t the narration just beautiful?! 2y

Cinfhen Yessss, the narration is soothing and hypnotic @EvieBee it‘s definitely heightening my reading/ listening experience. I feel very immersed in the story 2y

Cinfhen Are you on GoodReads @EvieBee I was just scrolling reviews and came across a bunch of comments from someone named Erin, who claims to be the author‘s SIL. OUCH!! She‘s claiming the memoir is false!!! 2y

EvieBee Oh, really?! Wow. 2y

Cinfhen The SIL posted a whole rant!! It‘s pretty bad @EvieBee she said the mom was never a prostitute and the dad wasn‘t even in the service!!! I‘m really conflicted now about posting a review. Someone is being deceitful. I saw Grace Cho responded that her family is bitter over their depiction & they are spreading lies🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y

EvieBee @Cinfhen As someone in this particular situation, I‘ve learned that there are always two sides to any story, especially when it comes to caring for a parent and siblings‘ contributions. As a an outsider and a reader, I really enjoyed the book, writing, and I came to love Grace‘s mom. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y

Cinfhen I appreciate your takeaway / I too came to care for K and I appreciated Grace‘s story and her love of the food preparation in regards to memory and nourishment both physically and emotionally. It‘s sad that the brother & SIL have chosen to publicly air any grievances they have. @EvieBee and I did love the audio narration. My only real complaint was the nonlinear storytelling/ I thought it was poorly organized and laid out. Too much jumping 👇🏽 2y

Cinfhen around! I had difficulty following the storyline sometimes. Like one chapter she‘s discussing splitting her mom‘s ashes and then the next chapter the mom is moving in with Grace and her boyfriend. There was a lot of time jumps that didn‘t make sense stylistically. (edited) 2y

Cinfhen I‘m really glad you suggested this one @EvieBee thanks 😊 2y

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EvieBee

Tastes Like War: A Memoir | Grace M Cho

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This was an amazing book. It‘s so good that I don‘t have words or quotes or anything. I just inhaled it. Beautiful and heartbreaking. #korea
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cinfhen Found it on #Hoopla ♥️ 2y

EvieBee @Cinfhen Yeah! That‘s where I got it from too. 2y

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