First audio book!

Really enjoyed this. Found the narrators voice very easy to listen to. A very interesting story.

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Interesting

Feel validated by some parts of the universal woman experience, and upset by the way some societies are set up to disadvantage/exclude half of the population.
Really would have preferred a women narrator for the subject matter, even more ideally a Korean woman narrating, as takes you out of the story to have a British male narrator (even though he's a great and clear narrator with a nice voice, it seems a really ill fit for this specific book)

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1 person found this helpful

Interesting and enjoyable

I wasn't sure what to expect when starting but the book was poignant and moving. As a feminist there were many times you were left angry at the treatment of women in the novel but in many ways grateful to see that some things have moved on since the setting of the book. This was a short and enjoyable listen and the narrator was clear with a good tone for this type of book.

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Hits the nail on the head

If you're considering getting this book, I'd say go for it. It has a message and it delivers it in 3 hours. The reader gives a really nice performance- he has great pace and tone, and I found it really complements the book. I honestly had no idea that sexism continues to be so rampant in South Korea and I'm so glad I listened to this book. Even if sexism isn't so blatant where I live, Cho Nam-Joo was able to put my frustrations into words, and it was such a relief.

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Why a male narrator?

This is a book about gender equality and it gives voice to a South Korean woman - why is it narrated by a man??!!!

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51 people found this helpful

I had to return this books

I really couldn't stand the voice on this one, also why a powerful feminist book is read by a dude? takes me out of the experience

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1 person found this helpful

All about Korean feminism

I somehow thought the book was about a personal drama, yet it turned out to have an agenda for highlighting the extent of women's oppression in the Korean society.

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Revealing

I am starting to take a greater interest in Korean culture recently due to my new daughter in law being Korean.

This is very informative, interesting, sad and moving. I think it says a lot about various cultural 'norms' not just Korean.

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4 people found this helpful

A story that may stay with you

This is a story told quite simply with no huge events or twists and turns. Just one woman's life experiences. However I found myself thinking about it long after I'd finished listening to it. Beautifully and insightfully written.

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1 person found this helpful

Powerful

Though Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a work of fiction, we get an accurate portrayal of what it would be like to grow up in and attempt to find one’s way in misogynistic country/world. Whilst the synopsis could lead one to think this is written as a feminist lecture or in a patronising style, this is not the case; opinions aren’t forced and Jiyoung’s life is interesting in itself.

The book progresses quickly through Jiyoung’s life with each chapter focusing on discrete life stages (childhood, adolescence, early adulthood and marriage). In each chapter, the main character observes unacceptable social behavior that has come to be accepted and comments, usually internally.

The book is reminiscent of Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London in that both offer commentary on social discrimination that is fictional but based on fact (though Orwell is rich-poor, this is male-female). By being placed into the position of the discriminated, ideas quickly take hold. Whereas Orwell typically offers observations and possible solutions to these problems, Cho Nam-Joo seems more set on simply increasing awareness of these social problems but does so with frequent supplementary statistics and facts – it works.

The writing style is initially cumbersome and off-putting (‘They did this and then they did this, in they did this’) but quickly improves after the first chapter to the point the style becomes engaging.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 isn’t just about discrimination; it’s a reminder to how fast South Korea has changed in recent times from an agricultural economy in the 1980s to a highly developed tech economy in recent times. It’s a series of snapshots in time. It’s worth a read.

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(Note on audible version: If you are familiar with Korean pronunciation, Jamie Parker’s mispronunciation may become annoying. There may only be so much you can take of the main character’s name being pronounced as the famous side dish.)

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