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Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

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Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

By: Cho Nam-Joo, Jamie Chang
Narrated by: Jamie Parker
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About this listen

 THE SOUTH KOREAN SENSATION THAT HAS GOT THE WHOLE WORLD TALKING

‘A ground-breaking work of feminist fiction’ Stylist

Kim Jiyoung is a girl born to a mother whose in-laws wanted a boy. A female preyed upon by male teachers at school. A daughter whose father blames her when she is harassed late at night.

Kim Jiyoung is a model employee but gets overlooked for promotion. A wife who gives up her career and independence for a life of domesticity.

Kim Jiyoung has started acting strangely.

Kim Jiyoung is depressed.

Kim Jiyoung is mad.

Kim Jiyoung is her own woman.

Kim Jiyoung is every woman.

The life story of one young woman born at the end of the twentieth century raises questions about endemic misogyny and institutional oppression that are relevant to us all. Riveting, original and uncompromising, this is the most important book to have emerged from South Korea since Han Kang’s The Vegetarian.
©2019 Cho Nam-Joo (P)2019 Simon & Schuster UK Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Fiction World Literature Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant
This is a story told quite simply with no huge events or twists and turns. Just one woman's life experiences. However I found myself thinking about it long after I'd finished listening to it. Beautifully and insightfully written.

A story that may stay with you

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Don’t let the easy prose and pleasant unfolding of the story fool you. This is big themes and heavy hitting stuff presented all nice and simple, just like the main character herself.
I personally didn’t have an issue with a male narrator on the audio; yes it was an interesting choice but I liked that it was a male voice dominating her experiences, seemed fitting considering the topics and themes at play.
I listened again immediately after completing it and enjoyed it even more second time around.

Deceptively simple and hard hitting themes

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I really liked the way this book was so descriptive of the misogyny and sexism in the life of Korean women, and women of the world. I think every man should read this. As a woman, this book didn’t surprise me, but I enjoyed it

Unsurprising for women, a key read for men

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Though Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a work of fiction, we get an accurate portrayal of what it would be like to grow up in and attempt to find one’s way in misogynistic country/world. Whilst the synopsis could lead one to think this is written as a feminist lecture or in a patronising style, this is not the case; opinions aren’t forced and Jiyoung’s life is interesting in itself.

The book progresses quickly through Jiyoung’s life with each chapter focusing on discrete life stages (childhood, adolescence, early adulthood and marriage). In each chapter, the main character observes unacceptable social behavior that has come to be accepted and comments, usually internally.

The book is reminiscent of Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London in that both offer commentary on social discrimination that is fictional but based on fact (though Orwell is rich-poor, this is male-female). By being placed into the position of the discriminated, ideas quickly take hold. Whereas Orwell typically offers observations and possible solutions to these problems, Cho Nam-Joo seems more set on simply increasing awareness of these social problems but does so with frequent supplementary statistics and facts – it works.

The writing style is initially cumbersome and off-putting (‘They did this and then they did this, in they did this’) but quickly improves after the first chapter to the point the style becomes engaging.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 isn’t just about discrimination; it’s a reminder to how fast South Korea has changed in recent times from an agricultural economy in the 1980s to a highly developed tech economy in recent times. It’s a series of snapshots in time. It’s worth a read.

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(Note on audible version: If you are familiar with Korean pronunciation, Jamie Parker’s mispronunciation may become annoying. There may only be so much you can take of the main character’s name being pronounced as the famous side dish.)

Powerful

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I don't get the fuss over this book. Yes the culture in Korea is awful from Western point if view but it's an old culture and changes slowly. And it's not so much better in all Western countries either where motherhood anyway often shortens women's careers. Ok book but not worth the outrage and fuss

I don't get the fuss

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