Korean literature is quite a new venture for me, this being only the third book I have read written by a Korean author. The subject matter covered in Korean literature is quite different from that which I normally consume. Nevertheless, I have so far found reading Korean literature to be incredibly enjoyable, and it has given me a much deeper insight into Korean culture and their way of communicating.
Summary:
"Kim Jiyoung Born 1982" by Cho Nam-Joo is an emotive and thought-provoking novel that delves into the experiences of Korean women in a patriarchal society.
Throughout the story, we follow the life of Kim Jiyoung as she navigates a world that is determined to set her at a disadvantage. As we grow with her from childhood, through adolescence to her present-day married life we witness the struggles women face on a daily basis as they strive for independence and equal opportunity.
This skilfully written novel presents hard-to-face statistics in a compelling and poignant manner that makes this novel all the more powerful and heartbreaking.
My Thoughts
While reading this book I experienced many different emotions from sorrow, pride, incredulity and rage... a lot of rage (but I am ginger and therefore prone :P)
I found the storyline and subsequent storytelling to
be impactful, and I could easily empathise with our protagonist. In terms of a novel I believe it achieves everything it sets out to do, in that, I feel enlightened (and angry) about the hardships Korean women have and still face.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to any of you wanting to gain better insight into Korean culture, however, I really struggled with reading the passages where misogyny and gender discrimination were presented so blatantly.
I have the privilege of being born in a time and a country where men and women are, for the most part, given pretty equal opportunity. To witness the protagonist repeatedly suffer the consequences of gender discrimination, often by those closest to her, was infuriating and heartbreaking.
Final Comments
On the back of this book is the phrase ' Kim Jiyoung is every woman' and, having now read the book, I am pleased about the double meaning of this phrase.
As it related to the storyline, I think this is a clever device to reinforce the fact that it is women - plural - that face this discrimination on a daily basis, and women from all walks of life. If you don't personally relate to this story, you almost certainly know someone who does, and that is what makes this story so powerful.
Despite the difficult subject matter, this book is incredibly well-written and is a relatively quick and easy read. I believe Cho Nam-Joo presents her point of view beautifully and would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in feminist issues or just looking for an eye-opening read.
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