In this brilliant and chilling book, Cho Nam-Joo depicts the struggles of South Korean women through the story of Kim Jiyoung. Jiyoung recently quit her job to care for a newborn daughter, as expected of all Korean women, and starts to show strange symptoms impersonating the voices of other women, as if they possess her. The narrator then recounts Jiyoung's life, from early childhood to her thirties, and portrays chillingly how men around her have policed her behavior and limited her choices. Jiyoung's story is a painful reflection of all Korean women; In an era when the country passes legislation against gender discrimination, is that enough to protect women against harassment and bigotry?

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a short and quick read that left me a bit depressed. As someone who also grew up in an Asian country, there are a lot of similarities between the Korean traditions mentioned in the book and Taiwanese practices. Like how the wife must live with and take care of the in-laws, how a woman is expected to give up her job after having a baby, and women should have a boy and must keep trying until they do. These are just a couple of painful examples from the book. I particularly like how the narration is very removed and somewhat dry; there's a purpose to it, and all will become clear in the end. But I also appreciate this writing style because I don't get too riled up on all the sexism and end up angry-punching my pillows or accidentally breaking my Kindle in half