On the night table: Jenny Heijun Wills

By: Jenny Heijun Wills Posted:

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Jenny Heijun Wills

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/11/2024 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jenny Heijun Wills

Author, Everything and Nothing at All: Essays

I know there’s now a sequel, but I just bought the memoir I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: Conversations with My Psychiatrist by Baek Sehee, which is a translated text (by Anton Hur). The cover art is so striking. I saw it when I was doing my Toronto book launch and I was like, “Oh my gosh, I have to get this, because I also always want to eat tteokbokki and sometimes also want to die.” I’ve started looking through that one and I think that it’ll be really helpful. I’m always reading Claudia Rankine (especially when I’m writing), I’m always reading Toni Morrison, Ocean Vuong — people who just can’t help but make you wish that you could be a grown-up writer one day. Those are the people I’m carrying back and forth from school to home to suitcase.

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files Jenny Heijun Wills

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files

Jenny Heijun Wills

Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Learn more about Winnipeg Free Press Advertising solutions

More Stories

Sequestered skivvies seem like last straw

Maureen Scurfield 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My husband, who earns a hefty income, stayed in the city most of the summer working, except for a few long weekends with the kids and me at the cottage. He has giant work projects that need daily tending.

I work hard, too, with our four kids, two dogs and a cat. But I have to tell you I got a shock last week after coming home to organize my family team for a thorough cleaning of our three-storey home.

You’ll never guess what they found up in the attic — hidden boxes of sexy women’s lingerie that all looks brand-new.

I’ve kept my mouth shut so far, but my mind is spinning.

Prost! Raise a glass to Oktoberfest

Prost! Raise a glass to Oktoberfest

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Prost! Raise a glass to Oktoberfest

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

As September comes to a close, a pair of local breweries are bringing some serious gemütlichkeit.

For the uninitiated, gemütlichkeit’s a word that doesn’t translate neatly from German to English, but which roughly means friendliness and good cheer.

Both Devil May Care Brewing Co. (155 Fort St.) and Kilter Brewing Co. (450 Rue Deschambault) are hosting Oktoberfest parties this weekend featuring food, music, games and, of course, plenty of beer.

Both breweries are rolling out special releases to coincide with their respective Oktoberfests — expect malty festbiers, marzens, rauchbiers and other German-inspired brews, served up in hefty steins alongside Bavarian-inspired fare. Devil May Care’s festivities run through to Sunday and feature eats by Freebird Kitchen, while Kilter keeps the party going through to Saturday, Oct. 3, and is offering pretzels and Oktoberfest-themed hot dogs. Lederhosen is encouraged.

Read
2:01 AM CDT
SUPPLIED Bird’s eye view of the new basketball and pickleball courts at Gordon Bell High School.

Gordon Bell students relish — ‘of all things’ — new pickleball courts

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Preview

Gordon Bell students relish — ‘of all things’ — new pickleball courts

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

Manitoba’s newest public school sports facility is bringing the pickleball craze to an inner-city campus.

Gordon Bell High School unveiled four custom-made courts for the popular paddle sport this fall as part of a multi-faceted makeover.

Grade 12 student Matea Thiessen Unger called the courts “the cherry on top,” of a multi-year construction project that consumed much of her high school career.

“It was happening for so long — it felt like it was never going to end,” the 16-year-old said.

Read
6:00 AM CDT
KEN GIGLIOTTI / FREE PRESS FILES With the announcement on Thursday, Winnipeg Jets great Dale Hawerchuk (left) retook his throne as franchise leader in goals (379) and points (929).

No more Jets 1.0 or 2.0: League announces all eras of Winnipeg’s club to be merged

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

No more Jets 1.0 or 2.0: League announces all eras of Winnipeg’s club to be merged

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Thursday, Sep. 24, 2026

Mark Scheifele’s goal was always to chase down his mentor and former Barrie Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk, no matter what the official record book said.

So when the NHL and the Winnipeg Jets announced on Thursday morning that they were consolidating the franchise history to include the 1.0 and 2.0 eras (including the Atlanta Thrashers chapter of the club), Scheifele was among those to give the move two thumbs up.

“Yeah, it clarifies it for you guys more, not as much (for) me,” said Scheifele. “It’s really cool to bring in the old Jets records, and especially Dale. Chasing him down was always on my mind. So, it’s cool to do it actually in the record books.”

Scheifele remains the franchise leader in games played (961) and he’s likely to eclipse Hawerchuk in goals (Scheifele has 372 to Hawerchuk’s 379) and points (Scheifele has 907 to Hawerchuk’s 929) this season. He now has Thomas Steen’s 553 assists in his sights after amassing 535 heading into 2026-27.

Read
Thursday, Sep. 24, 2026
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Emma Hendrix (left) and Julie Gendron with some of Gendron’s projection work, which will be used in their Nuit Blanche installation.

Nuit Blanche ready to wow in city’s core

Conrad Sweatman 5 minute read Preview

Nuit Blanche ready to wow in city’s core

Conrad Sweatman 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:33 PM CDT

For one night each September, downtown Winnipeg becomes an art gallery — an amusement park, even.

During Nuit Blanche, which takes place tonight, 3D projections spill across the Exchange District, The Forks and St. Boniface, and thousands flood the city core to take in live music, DJs and installations.

“There really isn’t anything like it. I know every promoter probably tells you that, but we are the only event that works at this scale in the fall,” says Nuit Blanche general manager Kurt Tittlemier.

“Culture Days Manitoba is run with the mission statement to make free, accessible artistic programming to all,” he adds, referring to the multi-week national festival, “and Nuit Blanche is our flagship event.”

Read
Yesterday at 6:33 PM CDT
SUPPLIED A pipe bomb — wrapped in plastic bags with gasoline — was left outside AQ Sauna on Sept. 11.

Husband of rival sex club owner accused in attempted bathhouse bombing

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Preview

Husband of rival sex club owner accused in attempted bathhouse bombing

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Thursday, Sep. 24, 2026

A Winnipeg bathhouse owner says he was shocked to learn the man accused of planting a pipe bomb outside his business is married to the owner of a competing sex and lifestyle club.

Christopher Gregoire, who recently took ownership of AQ Sauna, said a live pipe bomb was found by a “heroic patron” outside the club, formerly known as Aquarius Bath House, in the early morning hours of Sept. 11.

On Thursday, the Winnipeg Police Service announced Erik Lymen Olson, 59, was facing multiple charges in the incident. Olson is the husband of Adonis Men’s Spa owner Doug Pomanski.

“This is wild,” Gregoire said after learning of the charges.

Read
Thursday, Sep. 24, 2026