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eline1701 's review for:
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
by Cho Nam-joo
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I learned a lot from this book and I so appreciate and admire what the author was doing. The prose (in the English translation) was very straightforward and seemed to serve the story, as we follow Kim Ji-Young's life after a short look at her grandmother's and mother', so I enjoyed it. It also felt perfect for an audiobook, which is how I listened to it, read by Kathleen Cho, who has a calm and pleasant way of reading.
Other stuff I want to say:
- I loved Ji-Young and was very much rooting for her.
- I didn't love the ending, but I do think it was an interesting choice.
- I loved the no-nonsense way in which it was all narrated, in the sense that when awful sexist things would happen you knew that the author wouldn't ever blame the female characters. I didn't realise that that was something I sometimes hold my breath for.
All in all, I'm glad I read it.
Other stuff I want to say:
- I loved Ji-Young and was very much rooting for her.
- I didn't love the ending, but I do think it was an interesting choice.
- I loved the no-nonsense way in which it was all narrated, in the sense that when awful sexist things would happen you knew that the author wouldn't ever blame the female characters. I didn't realise that that was something I sometimes hold my breath for.
All in all, I'm glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment