Umma's Table — Yeon-sik Hong

The joy of food and tradition unites a family faltering in the face of illness and loss

Following his acclaimed English-language debut, Uncomfortably Happily, Yeon-sik Hong returns with a graphic novel that is as insightful as it wrenching while it probes life with aging parents and how we support the people we love.

A new father named Madang moves to a quiet cottage in the countryside with his wife and baby. He's excited to build a strong foundation for his growing family but his priorities are divided. His elderly parents are impoverished and struggling to survive. He becomes the primary caregiver for his ailing mother, Hyung-Soo, which also means negotiating a fraught relationship with his father.

As his mother's illness worsens, he accompanies her on many hospital trips. Madang overcomes his exhaustion and frustration by reminiscing about family meals, and particularly Hyung-Soo's kimchi. Memories of her cooking and the act of dining together are elevated to glory, with Madang and his brother often breaking into song in response to the magnificent meals. These joyful depictions, however, are juxtaposed with Hyung-Soo's hospital room.

After Hyung-Soo dies, Madang is struck by the incomparable dedication she showed in caring for and feeding her family, which always came first. With an unassuming wisdom, Umma's Table serves as a reflection on the enduring nature of family and the power of tradition.