Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982: A Novel

Cho Nam-joo

Apr 2020 · Liveright Publishing

About this ebook

Longlisted • National Book Award (Translated Literature)
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year and Editors' Choice Selection
Best Books of 2020 ? NPR, TIME, Chicago Public Library
Vulture • Best Books of the Year (So Far)

A global sensation, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 “has become...a touchstone for a conversation around feminism and gender” (Sarah Shin, Guardian). One of the most notable novels of the year, hailed by both critics and K-pop stars alike, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 follows one woman’s psychic deterioration in the face of rampant misogyny. In a tidy apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, millennial “everywoman” Kim Jiyoung spends her days caring for her infant daughter. But strange symptoms appear: Jiyoung begins to impersonate the voices of other women, dead and alive. As she plunges deeper into this psychosis, her concerned husband sends her to a psychiatrist. Jiyoung narrates her story to this doctor—from her birth to parents who expected a son to elementary school teachers who policed girls’ outfits to male coworkers who installed hidden cameras in women’s restrooms. But can her psychiatrist cure her, or even discover what truly ails her? “A social treatise as well as a work of art” (Alexandra Alter, New York Times), Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 heralds the arrival of international powerhouse Cho Nam-Joo.

Ratings and reviews

I don't have anything particularly groundbreaking to say. Even as a single mother of a 4 month old, straight out of an abusive relationship, what could I possibly say about the patriarchy that hasn't already been said before?; I don't have much to say but that the author's words rang painfully true. Especially for Korean society but also for women everywhere

It really was a good read. An eye-opener to the many battles women have to go through in a world where the patriarchal mindset is prevalent. I highly recommend it, especially to my male friends.

Ok

About the author

Cho Nam-joo was a television scriptwriter for nine years. She is the author of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, longlisted for the National Book Award for Translation, and most recently, Saha.

Jamie Chang is an award-winning translator who teaches at the Literature Translation Institute of Korea.