Reviews tagging 'Racism'

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

11 reviews

dryad3's review against another edition

slow-paced

1.0

 I didn't like this book. It was clear I wouldn't like it after reading the first chapter, but I was curious for a few reasons, so I continued. The first thing that struck me was how the psychiatrist was providing such awful, random advice and not addressing real issues. Next, the transcripts from the writer's therapy sessions showed her to be a hypocritical, petty person. At one point she lashes out at a "friend," intending to end their friendship, because she hadn't liked a recommended book. The therapy conversations never went anywhere, and I was happy to reach the epilogue, which was bizarrely followed by many more chapters! The text after the epilogue, in some ways, didn't seem like it was written by the same person, yet in other moments was quite direct: "I couldn't stand others who seemed to be fully confident in who they were, it made me breathless and nauseous." I'm still surprised that someone took direct transcriptions of their therapy sessions, published them, achieved international success, and it's an accounting of rambling everyday pettiness and bad advice. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism and Homophobia

lqne's review against another edition

inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia

Minor: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Homophobia, and Sexism

ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Fatphobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Lesbophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, and Addiction

king_rune's review against another edition

emotional inspiring fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Minor: Homophobia and Racism

bashsbooks's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

I was really excited to read this book as someone who has been treated for depression and anxiety - and had a rocky go of it. But I found it to be kind of lacklust and boring, and I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe because I felt like I'd already had similar conversations and revelations with my own therapist? I don't know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Fatphobia

Minor: Lesbophobia, Racism, Misogyny, Suicide, and Xenophobia

hereforthefunofit's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.5

i felt myself not wanting to pick up this book but almost everytime i did, i got something valuable from it. also, did not read the postscript.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Fatphobia

Minor: Racism and Suicide

yaoipaddle's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

3.5

3.5 stars

Better than I thought. I read it in about one day!

I really related to Se-hee at times and it is always nice to feel seen. What I really liked was this just bringing back memories of sessions with my own therapist.

I didn't like how the front had the mix of essays and transcripts but then it abruptly stopped and only had essays at the end. I wish it was more evenly spaced out. I am not sure if all the essays at the end were added in the translated version or later releases. I would like to know.

If you like memoirs and have been a 20-something year old woman with low self esteem you may like this. To be honest I find Se-hee including parts about herself that I didn't really like made the book feel more honest. Not like we have to fully like someone to like their book. Kinda the whole point and weird if you feel like you have to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Classism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Eating disorder and Racism

myeonmae's review against another edition

inspiring reflective slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Mental illness

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Bullying, and Racism

calcifowl's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Racism

shushkeepitdown's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

This book feels like a call out at me because I also related to some of her problems but at the same time when I continued reading I kept thinking at random points 'wow this person is kind of a dick' and I think that's the point to some extent. Due to her problems she faced now she looks at the world in a very black and white way. I love that she decided to get help to improve her thinking and her issues, most usually won't and that's why I think this book is ok. It isn't too triggering but it talks about heavy topics so be careful.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Lesbophobia, Racism, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts