Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee

17 reviews

naomi_k's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Classism, Bullying, and Sexism

bookcheshirecat's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

4.0

“I wonder about others like me, who seem totally fine on the outside but are rotting on the inside, where the rot is this vague state of being not-fine and not-devastated at the same time.”

➽  I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki is all about the author's experiences with mental illness. Baek Se-hee has been dealing with anxiety and depression all her life. The story is told in a unique format, as it consists of conversations between the author and her therapist. The writing is quite simple and easy to understand, but I didn't mind that. In my opinion, it suited the story and made it accessible. There were quite a few relatable moments for me, as I also struggle with anxiety. You could tell that the author was willing to open up about a deeply personal topic in order to shed some light on what it's like to live with mental illnesses!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Minor: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse

ryanbada's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Body shaming, and Toxic relationship

tomoonarmy's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

rieviolet's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

I appreciated the author's openness about her feelings and struggles but I wasn't particularly keen on the sections that were the direct transcripts of her therapy sessions. They felt a bit dry in terms of narrative style, with a more specialized language or explanatory segments that I was less enthusiastic to get through. 

The parts with the author's own reflections and commentary were by far my favourites. The final part of the book with its brief reflective vignettes really struck a chord with me.

To me, sadness is the path of least resistance, the most familiar and close-at-hand emotion I have. A habit that has encrusted itself into my everyday.
Things will get better with time. Or no, everything is dynamic, which means life will have jump-for-joy moments as well as bad ones, going back and forth like the tide.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Alcohol

Minor: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Racism

rupanjali's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

heatherjay94's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

The book follows the author's journey to improving their mental health through a series of reflective essays and transcripts of their therapy sessions, detailing their struggles with self-image, low self-esteem, and dependency issues, among other things.

I didn't expect to relate to this book as much as I did. It was saddening to see someone trying to find their way out of the bog of self-hatred. I see parts of myself in their thoughts, as well as fragments of my old self. I think if I'd found this book 2-3 years ago, I would have struggled a lot more to finish it.

I respect the courage it must have taken to write a book like this - to bare yourself in such a way that will no doubt invite contempt and derision from some people, even the ones who do relate to your struggles. The book was like a mirror for me in parts, and I have to admit I didn't like what I see. 

But still, I'm glad I read it. I don't think I'll revisit it any time soon, but I don't regret picking it up. I wish the author all the best in their journey to healing, and I hope the book finds its way into the hands of those who need it. Sometimes we just need to know that we aren't alone in our pain and ugliness. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts