Reviews

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

katkatekate's review

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emotional hopeful sad

4.0

hawk_just_hawk's review against another edition

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3.0

Probably a more interesting read if you haven’t already been through years of therapy. The psychiatrist has some… interesting suggestions

spiritedstardust's review against another edition

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I just found this dull and repetitive. I DNFd it about half way through.

heyjulianahey's review against another edition

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As a reader of translated books and a fan of Korean literature, I was immediately drawn to I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee, translated by Anton Hur. The title, the cover, an endorsement from BTS’s RM? I was sold. 

The book is a bestseller in Korea, but seemed to be getting mixed reviews by English-speaking readers, so I was even more curious to find out for myself. And I loved it.

Part therapy transcripts, and part notes and reflections, the book follows the author’s journey with therapy as a first-timer, and this is where I think some readers struggled, especially those who are seasoned therapy-goers. 

Personally, I found many parts I could relate to, and every time I thought it was getting a bit repetitive, it would hit me with a quote so relatable it left me reeling for hours. 

I appreciated the author’s vulnerability, and the perspective of both the author and the therapist in a culture where seeking treatment for mental health conditions is still largely frowned upon.

You can check out my full review—including my favorite quotes from the book—on Instagram @heyjulianahey

elisajoyce's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

stereograph's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

bynarii's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced

3.0

livmorgan170900's review

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

utalit's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

2.5

ofbooksandcoffee's review

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hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0