I have had this book for going on 5 years now, and that just felt like far too long without having read it! I really liked the sound of this, as a fan of both speculative fiction and works by Korean authors, and this was not an exception. I loved the length of it, as I find books with minimal plots to be very interesting, but can easily drag if they go on for too long, which this didn't. It was very interesting getting to witness Kim Jiyoung in all the aspects of her life, from her role as a wife and mother, to being an employee, and a friend, and how she seemed to struggle, at least to an extent, in each of these parts. I really enjoyed the footnotes within the story, providing readers with real data to back up how Kim Jiyoung was feeling, particularly towards the discrepancies in life she experienced as a woman, and I think it helped not only to give the book a unique tone, but in bringing validity to her feelings, and of women everywhere too.

"Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982" was an interesting short story that tells the story of a woman growing up in Korea as a case-study of her psychiatrist. I really liked that there were non-fiction references provided in the book and I found the ending particularly chilling.

This was a fantastic book, albeit a frustrating glimpse into our society and the societal norms in South Korea. Revolving around gender inequality, misogyny, careers, glass ceilings, unfair treatment and unrealistic expectations. It filled me with so much rage at times.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I found this book dry and it seemed to be confused whether it was fiction or non fiction. Wouldnt recommend sorry.

I'll be honest, I tried to read this and the writing was so stiff and monotonous to me I found myself losing interest every time. I really was interested to check this one out seeing as it was so highly acclaimed, frequently mentioned, and also had a subsequent movie. Our of consideration for the author, it may well have been the translation that I struggled to connect with. I liked seeing that there were little footnotes of factual relevance referencing the actual issues women face today in Korea. I loved the IDEA of reading and learning more about gender equality in South Korea, something which women struggle with and can also relate to globally.

I think personally I struggled a lot to get through it, as someone who tends to lean towards light-hearted, less overly realistic reads so I ended up dnf halfway through.

I would absolutely welcome more interestingly wonderful books like this though, as they're so few and far between. I also think this is a very important title for many to read, and though I didn't personally manage to finish it, I would still wholeheartedly recommend it to others for the simple fact that this kind of "story" is one that should definitely be told.

I wasn't going to give this a rating initially, as I didn't feel it would be fair, but since it is a requirement of the site I will give it my average score. If I am ever able to stomach a heavy book like this again, I will certainly consider to pick it up and try once more.

Told from the perspective of Jiyoung’s therapist, we see how a life of dealing with misogyny can truly affect a woman’s mental health. The never ending disappointment of having to prove yourself as a woman, while also never being seen to ever do the “right” thing according to society’s standards, leaps off the page.
It’s interesting how the events of Jiyoung’s life are accompanied with statistics about gender equality in Korea. At first the format seems awkward and disjointed, but upon finishing it makes total sense.
It’s a frustrating read in that it’s all too familiar, but important and highly recommended.

Cho Nam-Joo's insights into society are nothing short of remarkable. A book that is surely a new feminist classic, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 has become a staple of my bookshelf and something that I recommend to all. It is truly required reading.

The book that started a feminist revolution in South Korea is an engrossing read from start to finish and takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions - a lot of them anger at the injustices of the male-dominated society that had prevailed in the country. Focused on the life of the titular character, Kim Jiyoung is an average Korean woman - not particularly rich or poor, one of three children, respectful of her parents. The story starts with her suffering a mental health episode following the birth of her first child, where she starts believing she's other people - from her own mother, to former colleagues and other women from her life.
The book then takes a look back at her life and shows the path it has followed to this day, offering pretty clear explanations as to what has possibly contributed to her current situation - a life of challenges brought about by her gender - a million micro-aggressions, a host of harassments, constantly being overlooked for her male counterparts, constantly being made to feel second best - from her home life, to her school life, to her work life, to her married life... It's relentless in its grinding down of her spirit.
It's a fascinating look at life bounded by cultural traditions, societal norms, gender discrimination and stark inequities, many of which are by no means unique to South Korea, either now or in the past. There were so many all-too-familiar themes for me, and I found little solace in learning they are even worse in another country. However I did find a lot of hope - both within the book (from the more progressive characters - the school teacher who stands up to the bullying, the work colleagues who challenge the status quo, Jiyoung's kick ass mother) and from the effect it has had since its publication, holding a mirror up to Korean society and the ensuing change that it has caused. A hugely important book.

Kim Jiyoung has recently given up work to raise her baby daughter but before long, she begins displaying strange symptoms, such as impersonating the voices of other women. As her psychosis deepens, Jiyoung’s entire life is spilled to her male psychiatrist and it’s a life of restriction, abuse and control. This incredibly evocative book is a harrowing illustration of the misogyny ingrained deep in Korean culture and the devastating effects it can have on the women who live within it. A woman on the brink of insanity speaks for them all in this heavily symbolic, heartbreaking read.

I don’t have all that much to say about this book. I find its impact more interesting than the book itself: this is one of the most successful Korean books of the last decade and reading it became a political statement. The book itself is an unflinching depiction of everyday sexism, many of the scenes will be familiar to most women, and very successful at that. It was just that for me I found the prose distinctly underwhelming. The author chose a matter-of-fact kind of language that, while effective, did not align with my personal taste.

My favourite part was the framing device which I thought was really clever and the final chapter really packed a punch in a way the rest of the book didn’t for me. The first and the last chapter sound like a fairly different book while the middle felt like an endless parade of sexism without much story around it. While this might very well be true to life (and rumours are, the book is at least in part biographical), I did not always enjoy my time with the book.

Ultimately, I think this was let down by its comparison to The Vegetarian which is a way more literary book as opposed to this more matter-of-fact novel and as such something that worked a lot better for my personal taste than this one did. As a companion piece it works well though because it illustrates the points The Vegetarian makes in a more straight-forward manner.

I loved that this book felt like fiction and nonfiction at the same time - it was a story but it was a deep insight into a woman’s life, almost biographical. A fantastic look into Korea life and women in Korea.

Truly an unmissable mix of fact and fiction. I couldn't put it down and learned so much about women's lives in Korea which are sadly too close to home.

An absolutely brilliant read that I couldn't put down. I can't recommend it enough. Such an important book detailing the pressures women face, in Korea in particular, but that is representative of gender imbalance worldwide.

An incredible book about what it is to be a woman in Korea today.
I absolutely loved how informative this book was, even when I felt completely heartbroken for Jiyoung.
An instant classic.

There's a reason that this is doing well in the award circuit, you have to look at this one as a story slightly separated from the UK in 2020 but it has a truly universal appeal with it's storytelling and frank female feelings.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I found this exploration of what life is like for women in South Korea really fascinating. The text includes a lot of factual information and data which almost makes you feel like you're reading non fiction. A short novel that makes a big impact.

Kim Jiyoung, born 1982 is the calmest howl of anger I have ever read. Telling the seemingly ordinary story of an ordinary woman living in Korea, the book dissects a world of misogyny and a country where women are considered second-class citizens. Billed as a Korean #MeToo, this book’s power comes from its frightening banality.

Such a lovely, slender volume. I very much enjoyed reading about the hardships of being a woman in Korea and it truly opened my eyes to her experiences