ContentsView article sectionsAbout The South Of Seoul Book ClubCommitment to AccessibilityCommitment to Diverse Lived ExperiencesCommitment to Supporting Mental HealthBook Recommendation By Melissa Edwards-WhittingtonAbout The Author Of “Tastes Like War”My Experience Reading “Tastes Like War”More Commentary And Reviews On “Tastes Like War”Online Purchasing LinkFind More Book Club RecommendationsJune’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: 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: 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. SOUTH OF SEOUL EDITORIAL INFORMATION Article Information & History Historical Record Originally written by KimchiRednecks Originally published June 4, 2024 Article History July 22, 2024 Article edited Less than 1% of the article changed July 22, 2024 Article edited Less than 1% of the article changed June 4, 2024 Originally published Written by KimchiRednecks No formal audit has been recorded for this article under the current South of Seoul editorial process. 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