I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki offers a poignant exploration of depression through diary-like therapy sessions, resonating with readers for its candidness and relatability. Baek Sehee's narrative, translated by Anton Hur, is praised for its authenticity and wit, though some may find the fragmented style challenging. Overall, it provides solace in shared human struggles.

A reader who would enjoy I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee, translated by Anton Hur, is likely intrigued by personal narratives addressing mental health. Fans of My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh or Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig may find solace and connection in this candid exploration of depression and desire.

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee and translated by Anton Hur explores an individual's journey through therapy sessions. It depicts their struggles with depression and self-image while seeking comfort in tteokbokki, a Korean dish. The narrative candidly reveals the complexity of emotional health and highlights the importance of self-acceptance and understanding.

Contemplative / Melancholic / Emotional / Bittersweet / Dark

**Baek Sehee**  
The memoir's author, a South Korean writer, who candidly shares her journey with depression, anxiety, and personal growth, offering insight into her struggles and relationships.

**The Psychiatrist**  
A compassionate therapist who supports Sehee through talk therapy and helps guide her understanding of mental health challenges without revealing their personal identity.

**Sehee’s Father**  
A violent figure in Sehee's upbringing, whose abusive behavior contributes to her anxiety and low self-esteem during her childhood.

**Sehee’s Older Sister**  
Initially a source of tension and control in Sehee's life, whose relationship with her evolves from being fraught with difficulty to finding reconciliation and understanding.

**Sehee’s Mother**  
Sehee’s mother often provides advice that feels unsupported by her actions, leading to a complex relationship that serves as a lens for Sehee's self-discovery.

**Sehee’s New Friend**  
A person whom Sehee meets after starting therapy, representing personal growth, with whom she shares common interests and introversion, and navigates friendship challenges.

Study Guide

Book Brief

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Content Warning: This guide contains discussions of the source text’s depictions of depression, anxiety, and disordered eating.

Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Content Warning: This guide contains discussions of the source text’s depictions of depression, anxiety, disordered eating, domestic and family violence, and suicidal ideation.

Prologue-Interlude 4

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Chapter 5-Interlude 8

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Chapters 9-12

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Chapters 13-15

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki Chapters 13-15

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Book Club Questions

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Baek Sehee

Transl. Anton Hur

Adult

Autobiography / Memoir

Nonfiction

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I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki

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