Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 - Cho Nam-Joo

Author: Cho Nam-Joo

Translator: Jamie Chang

Genre: Literary Fiction, Feminism

Rating: 4.75 stars.

Reread – April 2022

I had loved this book when I first read it two years ago and I was hoping that my experience would be the same this time. Isn’t there always this fear that revisiting an old favourite will create disappointment due to the high expectations? I needn’t have worried at all. My second read of this book provided just the same level of satisfaction and frustration as the first time around.

This is the story of 33 year old Kim Jiyoung, a young homemaker and mother of a toddler, who just snaps one fine day in 2015. Her husband describes her as "basically a cheerful person, full of laughter, who made [him] laugh by doing impressions of celebrities." But now, she seems to be channelling the spirit of various women in her life, past and present, and using their personality to voice her deep-set frustrations. The story then goes right back to 1982, and takes us through Jiyoung’s childhood, adolescence, young adult years, corporate years and finally the years as a homemaker and mother. Each segment reveals the entrenched unfairness and gender disparity of the Korean society towards women.

No matter which country you are from, if you are a woman, you will feel at least a part of Jiyoung’s exasperation with the system. Most of her struggles are relatable. Whether as a student or a young employee, a mother or a daughter, her quiet, accepting approach towards the people and the problems in her life reveals the extent to which women have resigned themselves to their fate while countries and cultures grossly abuse the rights of 50% of their citizens.

Written in a very staid, almost documentary-like approach, the book might not appeal to some readers. But once you reach the final section of the book, you realise why the author has chosen this particular writing style. On both my reading experiences with this story, my rating was a consistent 4.5 and the ending elevated it to 4.75. It is a brilliant masterstroke that delivers a fitting finale to the narration in a very ironic way.

I don’t want to say much more about this. I just want you to read it. This will remain one of my favourite books, though it causes me such irritation and despondency. A must-read for everyone, not just for women.

I’ll end by quoting a line from the book, said by one of Jiyoung’s friends:

“Girls don't need special treatment - they just want the same responsibilities and opportunities.”

4.75 stars once again.

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First read - May 2020.

Kim Jiyoung born 1982 is set in urban Korea. Its protagonist, Jiyoung, is a woman who has lived a life subservient to men in spite of being an educated career woman, all because of the patriarchical society. This lifelong suppression of emotions leads to a psychiatric calamity, which flummoxes her family. Jiyoung captivated me greatly because I've quite a lot in common with her. I would rate the book a 4.75 out of 5. Definitely worth reading if you are seeking a book with strong women characters living life in a society that places men on a pedestal, whether they deserve it or not.