Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

i want to say in no way shape or form do i want to criticise what the author wrote. i think raising awareness to the misogynistic culture of south korea is necessary, and the way it was done truly made me feel immersed in what it is like to be a woman in south korea.

i do think this book is necessary, especially considering the 4B movement has reached the west (as in, the knowledge of its existence in south korean culture).

purely from a reader’s perspective is why my star rating is so “low”.

this book kinda reminds me of a woman is no man by etaf rum, in that it’s:

truthful, raw story adapted for “entertaining” purposes but could realistically be a real person’s life
repeats the same themes & message surround misogyny without any new takes, going on and on with the same content
incredibly disheartening to read as it feels like torture porn & gives you zero hope
becomes stagnant around the middle of the story
has an anticlimactic ending that slightly infuriates you (this “infuriating” comment more so applies to this book, whereas a woman is no man was solely anticlimactic)

also with a woman is no man, i feel scummy writing this review & giving negative feedback surrounding lives women very likely are actually living in the real world whilst i sit here prim and proper, not having to worry about if i will be discriminated against if i have kids (i won’t) or told to “suck it up” with workplace harassment.

i think i also went in with the wrong expectations - i expected the story to more heavily explain *why* jiyoung now channels women of her past. all i got was roughly ~30 pages of this which was probably the most disappointing aspect of the book for me. but i don’t really think i can hold this against the writer tbh - yet again my expectations for a book are out of wack 💀

like a woman is no man, i do think everyone should read this. i just don’t particularly “love” books about misogyny because u know…. i read to escape the real world…. i get enough sexism from existing thank u very much!

Content Warnings

mardana's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Somehow hitting close to home, even though the Korean women apparently have it much harder. I know many of the more or less subtle comments and expectations directed towards women from first hand experience.

This is a book, that should predominantly be read by men. But I doubt, that many a man will pick it up.

Content Warnings

headliner's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Gak perlu jadi seorang perempuan kalau kamu mau baca buku ini. Buku yang akan membuka pandangan kita tentang bagaimana perbedaan perlakuan kehidupan sosial terhadap kaum perempuan dan laki-laki. Buku ini sangat jelas menyampaikan bagaimana kehidupan Jiyoung dan perilaku masyarakat termasuk orang-orang terdekatnya dalam bersikap.

Narasi yang disampaikan sangat jelas sehingga tidak terasa bertele-tele. Banyak makna dan pelajaran yang dapat aku ambil. Juga pengetahuan baru kalau ternyata di Korea sana sempat diperbolehkan menggunakan marga/nama depan dari ibu. Selama ini aku pikir saklek mengikuti milik ayah.

Jujur selama membaca ini dibuat khawatir dengan sosok Kim Jiyoung dan membuatku bertanya, apa sebenarnya aku, sebagai sesama perempuan, adalah Kim Jiyoung? Selama membaca ini aku juga dibuat muak dan emosi dengan bagaimana sikap laki-laki juga keluarga Jiyoung. Terlebih kisah yang terjadi pada teman SMA Jiyoung dan rekan kerjanya setelah Ia resign. God...

Mari kita berharap semua anak perempuan di dunia ini bisa memiliki dan menggapai lebih banyak impian.

Content Warnings

anh_read's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A novel about being a woman in South Korea. However, it is universal story, as women from other countries and cultures suffer under similar situations.

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scifi_rat's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.75

Plot: 4.5★
Prose: 4.5★
Pace: 5★
Concept/Execution: 5★/5★
Characters: 4.75★
Worldbuilding: 4.75★
Ending: 5★

Content Warnings

navayiota's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's not often that a book strikes you. This book struck me, a perfectly worded criticism of society's attitude towards women. The author triggered emotions in me that were unpleasant and unwelcome, but that I have to analyse eventually, because the world will never let me forget them. I am appalled, yet again, by the actions of people who see others as toys to abuse and throw away once we are no longer of use. I got chills at the ending. This should be essential reading. I'll be visiting more of Cho Nam-Joo's bibliography in the future.

Content Warnings

lizzie_r's review against another edition

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emotional informative fast-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

bridgetkay's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-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? No

4.0

This is one of those books that somehow manages to simultaneously frustrate and empower. Jiyoung IS every woman, and I appreciated how the author used a character to embody the experience of women in South Korea (with handy footnoted data sources to boot). The book follows Jiyoung through her life stages and the various ways in which misogyny impacts women in these life stages.

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