Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

215 reviews

borara's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Mental illness

frozenheartv's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

5 stars 
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 

🧠 My thoughts 

Being a woman shouldn’t be this painful and horrible. 

This book is a solid 5 stars for me. I didn’t understand why the book was very simple, the prose was very easy to understand and tried to be light but I cried my eyes out. 

👍 What I like 

• Down-to-earth story
• Beautiful and masterful storytelling
• Female POV is portrayed excellently

👎 What I don't like

• There’s nothing to dislike about this book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Minor: Mental illness

anh_read's review against another edition

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny

Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Minor: Bullying

hoyatine's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness

cami_chai's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

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

Minor: Medical trauma, Stalking, and Pedophilia

crybabybea's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

My first time reading literary fiction, and my first time reading a translated work. I picked this up after reading Flowers of Fire and learning that it was one of the first novels published in South Korea written by a woman, about a woman, critiquing patriarchal society. 

Following Kim Jiyoung's story was heartbreaking, and made even more emotional with the understanding that her fictional experience was common, if not milder, than what most women in South Korea experience. The misogyny she faces starts early and gets worse as she ages, and as a reader, all you can do is watch as it compounds upon her and drives her to madness. 

I liked how this was written, with an interesting narrator whose identity is only revealed at the end, and for my first piece of literary fiction, I'm really satisfied that I chose this, and it's sparked for me an interest in literary fiction and translated works.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Stalking, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

lizetteratura's review against another edition

emotional informative 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

4.5

someone add this book to both the korean literature canon and feminist literature canon

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Sexism

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion

reshusky's review against another edition

challenging informative sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Sexual harassment and Suicide attempt

This book is based on sexism in South Korea, based on factual reports.

eviltwin92's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Abortion and Miscarriage

jlye's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

The themes in this book are very relatable for me (an Asian woman and mother born in 1982), but I think Jiyoung’s experiences will resonate with most women. Jiyoung’s husband is also a compelling character who demonstrates that even ‘the good ones’ lack awareness and understanding of how much is sacrificed by women for motherhood.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness