Moon of the Crusted Snow was published in 2018, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but you would never know. Rice’s fictional story of an Anishnaabe community that loses all electrical power and access to gas, followed by the rest of the world, achingly shows us the dark side of humanity and lack of empathy that follows in the face of a crisis. 

I first saw Waubgeshig Rice at his 2018 Vancouver Writers Festival reading in 2018, prior to the launch of his novel, and I instantly knew he was an incredible storyteller. Having only recently read Moon of the Crusted Snow, I was amazed at Rice’s ability to predict the end-of-times and the downfall of people as they fight for resources. In Rice’s novel, the families fight over food in the grocery store, only leaving some canned goods and a sparse amount of necessities. Perhaps when the novel was published in 2018 that would have seemed like a dark and far-fetched possibility. Of course we would be scare and leave food for everyone, especially seniors, however we now, globally, know this wouldn’t be the case- as eloquently shown by Rice. 

How far will you go to protect your family, and how far is too far? Rice forces the reader to confront the dark truths of starvation and lack of resources. Moon of the Crusted Snow is a dark but eloquent and necessary read, and you can purchase it here or here.

Interested in learning more? Check out Waubgeshig Rice’s website to stay updated!

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Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is an effervescent story of love, reconciliation, grieving and self-reflection.  A deeply personal memoir meant to place you in the time and space of the narrator, while also leaving room for your own feelings and reflection. Zauner perfectly encompasses the fragility of fraught mother-daughter relationships, and the effectiveness of reaching out and cultural ties. 

Discussing themes of loss, heritage, and forgiveness, Zauner forces the reader to confront their own familial ties and identity politics. In a heartwarming and engaging 256 pages Zauner takes us through the growing up and breaking down of childhood. If you yourself have ever gone through parental loss, or struggles with familial relationships Zauner is there to hold your hand and guide you in a way that is both uplifting and validating. 
Rich with stories of Korea, love, food-service, and rock and roll, Crying in H Mart will leave you both broken-hearted and hopeful. This memoir recounts the complexity of a relationship and the ability to love someone through a terminal diagnosis, learning to forgive both them and yourself in the process.