Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - 82년생 김지영

This beautiful, painfully relatable book talks about the unaddressed, "insignificant" dismissed ways in which a woman is discriminated against her whole life. While pertaining to most Asian countries, the author specifically addresses this concern with respect to Korea, and the way things are dealt with and handled there. This fictional story, focusing on not-so-fictional problems is a must read. The poetic, unrestrained rage one feels while reading this is proof of how good the writing is, and makes you think about all the injustices we let slide away. Down to the smallest fact of not having received what your male sibling receives without having to ask, Working hard to achieve goals men have been able to reach easily, and then being reprimanded for it subtly. About how familial relationships and societal standards tie down someone with a lot of potential, taking away their right to chose. About marriage, and motherhood. Kim Jiyoung represents a Korean everywoman, and I'm sure, a small part of each one of us.

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ifweweresorrows's review against another edition

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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? No

5.0

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nabila99's review against another edition

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informative reflective 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? It's complicated

2.5

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leabhar_love's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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? No

5.0

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laurareads87's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 lives up to the author's intentions to write a work that sparks conversation about Korean women's experiences with sexism and misogyny at home, in school, and at work. The book felt simultaneously very familiar and very infuriating -- I cannot say that I was surprised by the protagonist's experiences as many of them are not dissimilar to my own, yet finishing it I find myself affected nonetheless. The author captures misogyny in all of its everydayness: its manifestations in relationships between partners, strangers, colleagues, the excuses men make to dismiss its existence, and its reproduction by even those who consider themselves progressive. The incorporation of a few footnoted statistics (about gender and employment, wage gaps, etc. in Korea) is highly effective and, I think, is valuable context, particularly for non-Korean readers.

Content Warnings

jazzlibrariansbookcase's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Interesting red, very different from what I normally go for. Extremely enlightening ideas about how women have been treated in other countries, how they are still seeking equality. It made me rage at points considering how everything happened to Kim through her childhood, how her brother got all the best food, how she was put down by the males in her life. Even as an adult, it was heart breaking to read of her struggles with sexism at work and her motherhood. Quite an interesting read

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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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deadeye's review against another edition

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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

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