51 pages • 1 hour read
Grace M. ChoTastes Like War: A Memoir
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Tastes Like War by Grace M. Cho explores the author's journey to understand her mother Koonja's schizophrenia, connecting it to cultural trauma experienced due to war, colonialism, and racism. Through reflections on food, Cho unravels Koonja's past as a Korean immigrant who survived poverty and displacement, eventually moving to the United States, only to face new challenges and racism in Chehalis, Washington. The book contains discussions of racism, sexual violence, self-harm, anti-gay bias, and domestic violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Grace M. Cho's Tastes Like War intertwines personal memoir and cultural reflection with emotional depth. Critics praise its poignant exploration of mental illness, immigrant identity, and food's connective power. However, some find its narrative occasionally fragmented. Overall, it's lauded for its heartfelt and insightful storytelling.
Who Should Read Tastes Like War?
Readers who appreciate Tastes Like War by Grace M. Cho are drawn to poignant memoirs that explore themes of cultural identity, mental health, and family. Fans of Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner or The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui will find Cho's narrative equally compelling and evocative.