Already sensing the void of not having a husband and children, Africa delves into Korean ingredients and cooking and finds a sense of healing. Initially, this memoir was about how the writer changed her diet and lifestyle after she was told that she was fat by a 'halmoni' in H Mart. This copy courtesy of NetGalley and Black Yoonicorn Press.Īfrica Yoon is the daughter of a late United Nations ambassador from Cameroon. Her story as an African woman, living in America, discovering an almost spiritual bond with an Asian culture is both curious and inspiring, I enjoyed reading about how she discovered and learnt Korean food and began to understand the nuances of their culture. It makes her sound more candid, almost as if you’re sitting and chatting with a friend. The pace of her writing is fairly crisp that you seem to be jogging along instead of taking a stroll. For one, it is much shorter and highlights key events from her life: particularly those connecting her to Korean culture. One afternoon, at Asian grocery store H-Mart, a Korean grandmother called her fat! After the initial embarrassment of the public moment, the two began an unusual friendship that led her to eating kimchi-and that moment changed everything.Īfrica Yoon’s memoir is not written in the style you would expect. To get her dream, she had to work on herself. She realized she needed a life beyond her work and began to dream about having a husband and children. She was a celebrated activist working in Manhattan and around the world, when she found she had gained 120 pounds and was now obese. Find the voice of someone out there who lifts you high when you can’t.”Īfrica Yoon née Engo was about to turn 30. Find something worth doing and work on it while you’re going through the worst time of your life. I received a copy of this from the publisher for an honest review. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it. This was a very interesting and eye opening story. She explains it, and it makes sense but still it was there often.

It was little things, she called someone she loved “The Korean” this really got old and bothered me on some deep level. Africa really is a force, she fought and crushed her goals and dreams. The meeting of the Korean elder was wonderful.

She begins, she challenges herself, goes far and moves the world towards better days. She meet an older Korean woman who tells her “you too fat-uh” it sounds harsh but this elder took her to the store, shopped with her, revived her spirit with food, healthy food. A chance happening awakens a new path for her one that will change her life. As a young woman she is feeling a bit lost, overweight, unhealthy, unhappy. 3.5 African American woman finds her way through life’s bumps with the help of A Korean connection.Īfrica is a well traveled woman, since an early age with her diplomate father.

The Korean by Africa Byongchan Yoon