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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
sarahsbooklife's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Classism
moonbin's review against another edition
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
clementinedays_'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Mental illness, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, and Vomit
deadeye's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism and Alcohol
v_neptune's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
21eljuanpaaa's review against another edition
informative
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Goodreads describes this book as "The runaway bestseller that helped launch Korea's new feminist movement, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 follows one woman's psychic deterioration in the face of rigid misogyny." I cannot think of a better description. This book is short, but it packs a punch. It had me angry from beginning to end. There are heavy themes of misogyny throughout the whole book as our main character, Jiyoung, simply cannot catch a break. The narrative of her life, while brief, illustrates perfectly how living under an oppressive patriarchy in Korean culture has messed with this woman's mental health and development. Though this book is specifically about a typical woman from modern day South Korea, I think there are things that happen within it that most women from various cultures can relate to, which horrifies me. I don't feel like I'm super qualified to review a book this important. I'm just a girl who likes books, but I really liked this book and what it had to say about feminism, motherhood, and being an average woman in general. The only thing I think I would change would be that I would've liked it to be longer and to have gone deeper into the psychological aspect of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infertility, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Excrement, and Abortion
rieviolet's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Stalking, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Fatphobia, and Vomit
lain_darko's review against another edition
informative
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Medical content, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Death