June’s Book Club Pick, “Tastes Like War,” is a memoir written by Grace Cho exploring the intersections of food, family, and the Korean American experience, delving into the author’s relationship with her mother and their shared journey through mental illness and cultural identity. Let’s dig into this memoir.
About The South Of Seoul Book Club
If you are familiar with the series, skip ahead to learn more about “Tastes Like War.”
Looking for book recommendations? Welcome to the South of Seoul book club. We recommend a book every month. Such recommended books explore topics like 1) South Korean history or culture, 2) the complexity of cross-cultural life, 4) the exploration of life within the diaspora experience, and 5) lenses on Korean culture around the world.
Commitment to Accessibility
South of Seoul volunteers take book accessibility into consideration when recommending titles. We consider:
- Purchasable in English In Korea: Many translated titles can’t actually be purchased in English in Korea,
- Audio Version Available: Many people find audiobooks easier to consume.
- Online Versions.: International residents can’t afford to travel with many books. Also, many books may not be available in digital form from within Korea.
Commitment to Diverse Lived Experiences
South of Seoul volunteers seek to put lived experiences at the forefront of their recommendation choices. When considering authors we look for such things as:
- Korean authors who write based on their lived experiences in Korea.
- International residents who write based on their lived experiences in South Korea.
- Ethnic Koreans who write based on their lived experience in other countries.
Reading about Korean culture from a variety of perspectives may provide readers with a greater understanding of the country and culture.
Commitment to Supporting Mental Health
South of Seoul also includes book recommendations that support the lives and mental health of our community. This means that books may tackle the issues relationships, and more.
Book Recommendation By Melissa Edwards-Whittington
June’s South of Seoul Book Club recommendation, “Tastes Like War” is brought to you by Melissa Edwards-Whittington of the KimchiRednecks. Edwards-Whittington has lived in Korea since 2017. She and her husband, Chuck, formed the KimchiRednecks YouTube channel to give people living outside of Korea or those coming to Korea, a glimpse of life here in Korea. Together with their three shih tzus, they post weekly videos about places to eat, things to cook, places to visit, or life in general living in Korea.
About The Author Of “Tastes Like War”
The author of “Tastes Like War” is Grace Cho, is a professor at the City University of New York teaching sociology and gender studies. Her memoir “Tastes Like War” was the winner of the 2022 Asian Pacific American Literature Award for adult nonfiction. Per the memoir, Cho is the daughter of an American merchant marine and a Korean bar hostess. Her parents met abroad and then moved to a rural area in the state of Washington during the Cold War.
My Experience Reading “Tastes Like War”
I began reading “Tastes Like War” after a friend recommended the book. This memoir, structured into three distinct parts, follows what Grace Cho refers to as her three mothers: the one prior to the schizophrenia, the one during the deterioration of her mother’s condition, and the final one with whom she learned to relate through her mother’s food. Each Part offers a unique perspective on Cho’s relationship with her mother, making it a well-written story with parts that are quite shocking. Throughout the memoir, we see Koonja, Cho’s mother, found her voice and her happiness through cooking. This book chronicles Cho’s attempts to connect and understand her mother.
Memoirs are a challenging genre because they are often told through the lens of the person who has experienced the stories told. In this situation, we are even more set apart, as Grace Cho is also telling what she believes is her mother’s story through this memoir as well. Since a memoir is often told from one person’s point of view, other people who lived through this experience may have differing tales or emotions about this situation. If you read the reviews on Goodreads, you will see that her family disagrees with much of what is written in the memoir. There is a controversy surrounding the book, with some questioning whether it was fact-checked or if the family approves of the story. Cho, however, has continued to assert that the book is written from her memories and stories her mother shared with her.
More Commentary And Reviews On “Tastes Like War”
The above review contains my thoughts and opinions. However, make sure to read other reviews to have a more rounded perspective toward the book. We all come to each story with our own social/cultural lens. Therefore, others may have perceived this book in a different manner and may help you decide if this is the book for you.
Kirkus Reviews of Tastes Like War
Tastes Like War Review by Ashley Hajimirsadeghi
Online Purchasing Link
You can purchase “Tastes Like War” by Grace Cho in English on Amazon.
Find More Book Club Recommendations
Did you like this recommendation? Be sure to explore our other volunteer-recommended books.
Also, check out the selections from South of Seoul Book Club 2023.
The KimchiRednecks channel was created in September 2018 by Chuck Whittington and Melissa Edwards-Whittington. They moved to Korea in July 2017 with their three Shih Tzu daughters, Sookie, Minion, and Mayhem.
The YouTube channel started as a way to share their lives here with their friends and families back in the states. They both have a deep love for Korean culture, people, and food and love being able to share that with others.
Chuck Whittington graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelors in Information Systems Management. He has worked in Information Technology roles for over 20 years. Chuck has always had an interest in Korea and has traveled here many times in the past.
Melissa Edwards-Whittington graduated from Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a Bachelors in Bible and a Minor in Elementary Education. She has worked in various roles in customer service and marketing over the years.
The YouTube channel has many interests just like they do because it is an extension of their lives here in Korea. You will often find videos on their channel about daily life in Korea, cooking, foodie adventures, traveling and exploring, computer and tech pursuits, gaming, and working on the Subaru BRZ.
Over the years, many of their friends have joined them for their videos and adventures because they enjoy sharing their lives with those around them. In addition, they add new interests from time to time, like making moonshine in Korea.
Life is about growing and changing, and the longer the KimchiRednecks live in Korea, the more they learn to love this country and culture and all it has to offer.
