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wackly93's review against another edition
challenging
informative
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
kaitlyncookies's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a very important book and I would highly encourage people to read it as most popular feminist literature is usually focused on North American women. I deducted 1 star because I didn’t find the ending satisfying, but the rest of the book was excellent and eye opening.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking and Abortion
bill369's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I found out about this book through social media.
The character I like is Kim's mother. She had to give up her dreams for her family and supported her daughters unconditionally to achieve their dreams. And even though she was a stay at home mom, she tried to contribute financially by taking part-time jobs. This is another fact confirming how great she is and how hard she tried. Regarding the women in the story and the reality, I admire the strength of them all because they shouldn't have to experience all these horrible, degrading things while not even being able to complain since it's considered to be normal.
This book focuses on women in South Korea and the injustice between women and men influenced and in a way caused by Confucianism. It covers many large themes and dogmas such as the commonness of women leaving their work positions after giving birth, bullying being a compliment (better to have attention than to be ignored), preferring men over women in every part of life, and, most importantly, things always being the women's fault. Did you get harassed on the subway? How long was your skirt? Were you acting seductively? No one ever points out the simple fact that men shouldn't do such things even if the woman was acting seductively and wearing a short skirt. Also, the moment a housewife takes a break she's a so-called mamčchung – a housewife who justifies her arrogance with a child in the stoller and all she does is spend the husband's hard-earned money... There's one reaccuring thought, women losing trust and feeling hatred towards men. Because in such a society as a woman it's incredibly difficult to not feel negative emotions toward the other gender. The author captured all this marvellously and even included some data with resources on one of the last pages of the book. Great work!
Page 27, the family's hierarchy.
Bylo naprosto samozřejmé, že čerstvě uvařenou teplou rýži si nabírali v pořadí tatínek, mladší bratr, babička. Stejně tak bylo přirozené, že zatímco pravidelné kousky söjového tvarohu, povedené masové taštičky a placičky mizely v bratrových ústech, nejstarší sestra s Kim Čijong pojídaly rozpadlé zbytky. (...) Malou Čijong ve skutečnosti ani nenapadlo, že by se s jejím mladším bratrem nějak zvlášť zacházelo, nebo že by mu měla závidět. Bylo to tak odjakživa. (...) Matka je pořád chválila, že na brášku vůvec nežárlí (nejspíš díky velkému věkovému rozdílu) a pěkně se o něj starají. A protože Kim Čijong slyšela samou chválu, tak na něj opravdu žárlit nemohla.
Page 44, male supermacy.
Bylo to zkrátka tak nějak přirozené a normální, že muž je číslo jedna, že je na začátku, že má přednost. Chlapci stáli první ve frontě, jako první se přesouvali, první prezentovali, první předkládali úkoly ke kontrole. Děvčata se mezitím trochu nudila, trochu to považovala za štěstí, ale vůbec jim to nepřipadalo zvláštní, jen tiše čekala až na ně příjde řada.
Page 92, women can never win.
Když je žena neschopná, tak to nejde, protože je neschopná; když je schopná, tak to nejde, protože je schopná, a když je něco mezi tím, tak to nejde, protože je moc průměrná?
Page 135, something to keep in mind.
Podobně jako to, že někdo kvůli práci svěří dítě do cizích rukou, neznamená, že dítě nemiluje, tak to, že někdo nechá práce, aby mohl pečovat o dítě, neznamená, že by neměl dost pracovního zápalu.
The end of the book wasn't really special however the epilogue is well-written.
I am grateful I found out about this book and read it. I believe it's a great way to learn about this topic while also having fun.
The character I like is Kim's mother. She had to give up her dreams for her family and supported her daughters unconditionally to achieve their dreams. And even though she was a stay at home mom, she tried to contribute financially by taking part-time jobs. This is another fact confirming how great she is and how hard she tried. Regarding the women in the story and the reality, I admire the strength of them all because they shouldn't have to experience all these horrible, degrading things while not even being able to complain since it's considered to be normal.
This book focuses on women in South Korea and the injustice between women and men influenced and in a way caused by Confucianism. It covers many large themes and dogmas such as the commonness of women leaving their work positions after giving birth, bullying being a compliment (better to have attention than to be ignored), preferring men over women in every part of life, and, most importantly, things always being the women's fault. Did you get harassed on the subway? How long was your skirt? Were you acting seductively? No one ever points out the simple fact that men shouldn't do such things even if the woman was acting seductively and wearing a short skirt. Also, the moment a housewife takes a break she's a so-called mamčchung – a housewife who justifies her arrogance with a child in the stoller and all she does is spend the husband's hard-earned money... There's one reaccuring thought, women losing trust and feeling hatred towards men. Because in such a society as a woman it's incredibly difficult to not feel negative emotions toward the other gender. The author captured all this marvellously and even included some data with resources on one of the last pages of the book. Great work!
Page 27, the family's hierarchy.
Page 44, male supermacy.
Page 92, women can never win.
Page 135, something to keep in mind.
The end of the book wasn't really special however the epilogue is well-written.
I am grateful I found out about this book and read it. I believe it's a great way to learn about this topic while also having fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion and Alcohol
sorcha's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
angelagm's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Abortion and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infertility
blazing_orchids's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really liked this book. I learned a lot about what life has been like for women in Korea the past 40 years. The final chapter was really unexpected for me and absolutely bleak. I really felt for Jiyoung throught the whole book and was so sad I couldn't cry at all. Highly recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
signeskov's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book is universal yet uniquely Korean at the same time and tells a haunting story of what is at stake for women in Korean society then as well as today. Recently, I met a Korean girl and was astounded (yet, having read the book, not really) that Kim Jiyoung’s story had sparked the first real and outspoken wave of feminism in South Korea but simoultaneously also a large wave of anti-feminism from men and women alike. Interesting and chilling to think about - much like the book, it leaves you restless and thinking of where to go next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Abortion and Sexual harassment
moonbin's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Infertility, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Alcohol
codyemma's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion
andra_mihaela_s's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5 stars
I believe this is my first time reading a book from a Korean author, and I gladly say that now I want to read her whole backlist. I'm very much interested in her stories, as she's a journalist.
Cho-Nam-Joo gives us though her main character, Kim Jiyeong, the typical Korean woman born in the early 80's. She's raised to be a reserved, pleasing and complacent woman in a society that believes men/boys must have first bite/place/chance at anything due to them being a future head of a family, a pillar of the comunity.
This is a very touchy subject for women around the world..and those of us who experienced misogyny, sexism, the status of second best will get angry reading about Jiyeong's life.
The book begins with a scene taking place around the time of a very important haliday for Korean culture - the autumn equinox. We see how Jiyeong has different moments in which she's not herself, and how her husband -Jeong Daehyeon is frightened by them. Also in these scenes, we get a clear image how a wife should behave, how the respect to in-laws is above anything else and how one's should respond to tradition.
All these are very important because they give the tone for the whole book!
Coming back to the theme of this novel, the Korean woman and her status in society, I'm very much shocked how many questions raised in these pages also made me think about my country's value of women...I will not deviate because this is about a different experience(and lets face it, few places on Earth have this kind of inequality between sexes) and the data provided is on another level through how late and how superficial changes were implemented.
This book is a clear example why given rights matter only when they are applied and their use is encouraged by society! Here we experience, more than anything else, traditional values vs human appreciation and understanding!
Content warnings: abuse of power, sexism, misogyny, sexual harassment, victim blaming, inequality of chances
After the first part, we go back in time to meet Jiyeong through childhood, adolescence, maturity and marriage. This approach is the best decision the author could have made(in my opinion)! She managed to instil an intriguing premise and a tense atmosphere from the first pages, so that she's follow with an intricate web of lives and choices(or better said: lack of them).
I LOVE the representation of women here! From her mother's quiet yet sly fight to give her girls a better life while maintaining Korean tradition (O Misuk); the older sister (Kim Eunyeong) who is clearly a voice of revolution and feminism; the traditional grandma (Go Sunbun) who's limited view and lack of understanding the problems in society makes a horrible person to follow; to many other women, all different in their experience( school mates, university students, friends, work colleagues and superiors)
Although the best portrayed characters are O Misuk and Kim Jiyeong, I believe this book creates a veritable Korean society in which quite a number of issues are given answers by having multiple women go through life.
And as a real society, we have unfair judgement from others, he have objectification of people and life choices(even if they are imposed on you due to lack of options/opportunity), victim blaming and passive acceptance of sexual harrasment in different scenarios and many more.
Without giving any spoilers, the husband is a good man- as much as he can be living in such a society. He is hard-working and loves Jiyeong, but sometimes, he's lack of real understanding frustrated me like nothing else!>..<
Also, the last section, plays an impotant role in showing us how progress is made, and how flawed it still is using the doctor's life...I guess...it was necessary to ruin our hopes and instil a sense of dismay so that we leave this book convinced we need more change in our world.
When it comes to the flaws of this book: I think a little more character development could have added more to the story, especially in men..but, once again, this story is about women, so I understand it's not exactly what the author prioritized.Other than that, added info about certain events, or a more detailed account of important times in Jiyeong's life whould have being nice.(Like her meeting to someone very important in her life.)
I want to mention that the 2 negative opinions above did not affect my reading experience, and I only mentioned them for possible readers who cannot enjoy books revolving around only a theme and are in need of a more close-up view when it comes to situations happening to the MC. Those readers may not enjoy the novel as much as I did.
Overall, I'm glad I read from Cho Nam-Joo and I cannot wait to see how many Korean authors I will discover in the future!
I highly recommend this, first and foremost, as an informative read, and then as a sad but real study of the condition of women around the world.
Enjoy
I believe this is my first time reading a book from a Korean author, and I gladly say that now I want to read her whole backlist. I'm very much interested in her stories, as she's a journalist.
Cho-Nam-Joo gives us though her main character, Kim Jiyeong, the typical Korean woman born in the early 80's. She's raised to be a reserved, pleasing and complacent woman in a society that believes men/boys must have first bite/place/chance at anything due to them being a future head of a family, a pillar of the comunity.
This is a very touchy subject for women around the world..and those of us who experienced misogyny, sexism, the status of second best will get angry reading about Jiyeong's life.
The book begins with a scene taking place around the time of a very important haliday for Korean culture - the autumn equinox. We see how Jiyeong has different moments in which she's not herself, and how her husband -Jeong Daehyeon is frightened by them. Also in these scenes, we get a clear image how a wife should behave, how the respect to in-laws is above anything else and how one's should respond to tradition.
All these are very important because they give the tone for the whole book!
Coming back to the theme of this novel, the Korean woman and her status in society, I'm very much shocked how many questions raised in these pages also made me think about my country's value of women...I will not deviate because this is about a different experience(and lets face it, few places on Earth have this kind of inequality between sexes) and the data provided is on another level through how late and how superficial changes were implemented.
This book is a clear example why given rights matter only when they are applied and their use is encouraged by society! Here we experience, more than anything else, traditional values vs human appreciation and understanding!
Content warnings: abuse of power, sexism, misogyny, sexual harassment, victim blaming, inequality of chances
After the first part, we go back in time to meet Jiyeong through childhood, adolescence, maturity and marriage. This approach is the best decision the author could have made(in my opinion)! She managed to instil an intriguing premise and a tense atmosphere from the first pages, so that she's follow with an intricate web of lives and choices(or better said: lack of them).
I LOVE the representation of women here! From her mother's quiet yet sly fight to give her girls a better life while maintaining Korean tradition (O Misuk); the older sister (Kim Eunyeong) who is clearly a voice of revolution and feminism; the traditional grandma (Go Sunbun) who's limited view and lack of understanding the problems in society makes a horrible person to follow; to many other women, all different in their experience( school mates, university students, friends, work colleagues and superiors)
Although the best portrayed characters are O Misuk and Kim Jiyeong, I believe this book creates a veritable Korean society in which quite a number of issues are given answers by having multiple women go through life.
And as a real society, we have unfair judgement from others, he have objectification of people and life choices(even if they are imposed on you due to lack of options/opportunity), victim blaming and passive acceptance of sexual harrasment in different scenarios and many more.
Without giving any spoilers, the husband is a good man- as much as he can be living in such a society. He is hard-working and loves Jiyeong, but sometimes, he's lack of real understanding frustrated me like nothing else!>..<
Also, the last section, plays an impotant role in showing us how progress is made, and how flawed it still is using the doctor's life...I guess...it was necessary to ruin our hopes and instil a sense of dismay so that we leave this book convinced we need more change in our world.
When it comes to the flaws of this book: I think a little more character development could have added more to the story, especially in men..but, once again, this story is about women, so I understand it's not exactly what the author prioritized.Other than that, added info about certain events, or a more detailed account of important times in Jiyeong's life whould have being nice.(Like her meeting to someone very important in her life.)
I want to mention that the 2 negative opinions above did not affect my reading experience, and I only mentioned them for possible readers who cannot enjoy books revolving around only a theme and are in need of a more close-up view when it comes to situations happening to the MC. Those readers may not enjoy the novel as much as I did.
Overall, I'm glad I read from Cho Nam-Joo and I cannot wait to see how many Korean authors I will discover in the future!
I highly recommend this, first and foremost, as an informative read, and then as a sad but real study of the condition of women around the world.
Enjoy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Abortion, and Sexual harassment