A review by thebookfestclub
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

Kim Jiyoung is the most common name for South Korean women born in the 1980s. Thus, she is supposed to represent every Korean woman as it highlights through this novel gender inequality in Korea. The book does teach us a lot about Korea including a lot of troubling statistics supported by references. However, the issues that Korean women facing are unfortunately universal. From the pay gap to sexual harassment from the lack of support for working parents to the unequal division of domestic work. Kim Jiyoung is all of us. 

Fair warning: the writing is engaging and you will probably read this one in one setting.  A must read, plain and simple. 

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