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

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Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

163 reviews

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I've never been so enraged reading a book--even tearing up out of anger at points. The fact that Kim Jiyoung is written more like a prolonged descriptive essay of the titular character's life than a plot-driven novel, and the book's disturbingly calm, almost detached voice, are what make it so terrifying: the main conflict is one between Jiyoung and society, the latter of which she--and her fellow women everywhere--helplessly has no control over and thus there exists no easy solutions.

The myriad of sexist things--both "little" and bigger ones--present throughout the book further demonstrate how very deeply ingrained in society they are. The main character's experience in this book initially startled me for how true and relevant they also were in my own life, and I was honestly in despair the further I went through the book.

This is a book that everyone should read, but is particularly applicable for those from SEA and East Asian countries.

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astridrc's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I liked this book because it portays very well what it's like to live under a patriarchal, capitalist system. Even though it has some things that are particular to Korean culture, I think the experience is quite universal.
It raises the question of how much have we really advanced regarding equality between the sexes (for example, she ended up having pretty much the same life as her mum). It also got me thinking about that fact that if us women don't lose our minds more often is just by mere luck.
However, I felt like the beginning was a big deceiving... it starts as this novel with this big and interesting mystery as why is this happening to her but then it immediately shiftes. Kim Ji-Young becomes just another woman. She could be anyone, nothing makes her character feel like a real person that has her particular personality. It became almost like a report or essay and the end, although interesting, gave me no real answers which I thought we kind of needed (although I think I get why the author's choices). I would have enjoyed a more fleshed out character.

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clara_dalstein's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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veganecurrywurst'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? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Ein wirklich wichtiges und informatives Buch, das Einblick in die stark patriachale und extrem konservative Gesellschaft Koreas gibt. Kein Wunder, dass das Buch so "kontrovers" ist. Kim Jiyoung repräsentiert das Schicksal vieler Frauen in und außerhalb Koreas.

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_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A distressing, clinically detached look into the life of a college graduate, professional, middle class Korean stay at home mom and how patriarchal and misogynistic Korean gender norms eat away at her mental health starting from infancy to motherhood despite the few gender and societal changes throughout the years, and there's no end to it to other women bc cis men refuse to listen and learn. Very eye opening and sad and no matter how you identity or where you're from you can relate to the anguish felt by Jiyoung when she's bullied by her boy classmate and her pain is dismissed bc according to the teacher “the boy likes her that's why he's mean” to when she's a teenager and creepily followed home by another student. That part really made my stomach clench bc I've been through that myself and it's one of the most terrifying experiences. Honestly at points while you read this book you feel like screaming.

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