Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

41 reviews

bananaknife's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was inspiring and maddening that this was the case not that long ago and still is the case now. Some things I had heard before, some I experienced to a degree, some I feared and still do fear. A great modern and alternative view on gender roles, portaging the rebellion of women through the ages and what that looked at felt like. And I found comfort in hearing things I felt and worried about felt by others in a different country, culture, and time. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

rieviolet's review

challenging dark 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

5.0

I loved this book. It was a hard-hitting and painful story and so many times, like Kim Jiyoung herself, I wanted to scream and hit something at the sheer injustice and unbearable awfulness of it all. 

I really appreciated how the author chose both to include the main character's personal experiences and also to mention facts and statistical data about the general conditions of women in South Korea. 

I also really liked the writing style, it was quite direct and matter-of-fact when it needed to be, but at the same time there were many beautiful passages with a more lyrical style that captured so well Jiyoung's feelings and that really moved me. 

A wonderful and powerful read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Mental illness

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Sexual assault, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Fatphobia, Death, and Vomit

saumya29's review against another edition

informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Stalking

alleya's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book has very little plot. It is a catalog of all the sexist injustices in this woman's life, and an illustration of her inability to break free of the sexist societal norms. None of the injustices or microaggressions listed would be a surprise to any woman. I was hoping for these themes to be told more subtly through plot, but maybe the stark simplicity was better suited to the author's aims. 

I had a mixed reaction to the book for about the first 3/4. I felt like the ideas were important, but that the book didn't tell me anything new as a woman. However, the last quarter of the book left more of an impression on me and I think I will find myself thinking about this book again in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Stalking

moonpsyche's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

The book captures the essence of feminism in its simplest form— all while narrating the sensitive phases of a woman’s life meaningfully. The writing provides readers an accessible range of social movements and ideologies. 

I liked how the flow of the storyline was written in a comfortable pace. The book covers the journey of womanhood. In the position of the second gender, you’re taken through situations of an overwhelming sense that leave you feeling helpless. 

It felt as though the end of the book was rushed but I have no other complaints. This book is a great eye opener and conversation starter for readers of all ages (given that they’re aware of the trigger warnings.) The theme allows people to look at the world not as it is, but how it could be.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cursing, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Minor: Alcohol, Miscarriage, and Infertility

lexyo0o's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

ayowtf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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

Cho Nam-Joo is a force to be reckoned with. The entire storm even. 

A large part of this book made me feel a flurry of emotions. So much, that I developed a migraine in between reading it. Her novel perfectly describes the socially conservative nature of South Korea, while also detailing the difficulties of being a first time mother. Similarly, the book perfectly describes the disconnect between genders (in relation to workplace violence, and pregnancy). 

The beginning was hard to follow in the beginning, as it read like a infographic. However, it picked up greatly. I wasn’t able to put it down (despite that migraine I mentioned). If you want a book that will stick with you, this is it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Violence, and Mental illness

Minor: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

amberinbookland's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

merle98's review

dark emotional informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

An important book about gender inequality, that is sadly still relevant everywhere in the world. Reading half like a memoir, half like a social sciences paper (as if the author had to back her writing up with statistics and facts from scientific articles in case people would not believe her descriptions of gender discrimination), this book points out how gender inequality continues to permeate modern society and is ingrained into the minds of even those who mean well. The main character was really passive most of the time which I guess in this case is a symptom of oppression but I felt like she could've shown a little more agency, but the mom had a great character arc.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Bullying, Child death, Gaslighting, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

horizonous's review against another edition

challenging informative sad medium-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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Abortion, Child abuse, and Suicide attempt

◦ Mental illness = Depression, PTSD