More Happier: “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner [Revisited]

In this memoir, Michelle Zauner recounts her life growing up as a Korean-American, her complex relationship with her mother, and the impact of her mother's death from pancreatic cancer. The book explores Zauner's struggles with her mixed-race identity, her experiences with cultural heritage, and the significant role food played in her life and her connection to her Korean roots. It also delves into her rebellious teenage years, her career in music, and her journey of self-discovery and reconciliation with her identity after her mother's passing.

Published in 1925, 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf explores the lives of its characters over a single day in post-World War I London. The novel centers around Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class housewife, as she prepares to host a party. Her day is punctuated by a visit from Peter Walsh, an old suitor, and her reflections on her past choices. The narrative also follows Septimus Warren Smith, a veteran struggling with shell shock and mental illness, whose story parallels and contrasts with Clarissa's. The novel delves into themes of time, identity, social class, and the psychological impacts of war. Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style provides a deep insight into the characters' inner lives, highlighting the complexities of human experience and the societal norms of the time.