Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Kim Čijong — ročník 82

BIG oof. Reading this only a couple days after the 2024 election results was certainly a choice lol.

I find myself, upon finishing the book, recalling so many moments during my korean-american upbringing listening to my mom process how she wished she weren’t Korean, how she forbade me to marry a Korean man, how she never wanted to return to Korea… Some of those sentiments have changed for her since then, though not all, and as a 26yo married woman, fast approaching the time to begin a family, I found this book a really harrowing and brutal memoir of Korean society and patriarchal society at large. Yes, Korea is unique to its own culture and atmosphere—but sadly, even as an American, I could relate to far more than I wanted to be able to.

I can only imagine how many little nuggets of gold were lost in the translation of this book from Korean to English. Still, Nam-joo’s unflinching portrait of misogyny and motherhood is both chilling and humbling. It brings to light questions of progress, how to bring about progress, even who can truly drive progress. And the end is unapologetically realistic. But even then, the thread of hope—of feminine unity—that persists throughout her narrative gives hope. It’s all the women along the way that hold us up, bring us to the light. It’s the women who are afraid, yet still speak, the women who are small, but make themselves big that inspire us. We can be that for each other, and one day, the fight won’t be so hard.

I highly recommend this read to women and men of any background, though unfortunately, the men who need to read it most will probably not bother.

Content Warnings

gracer's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I see why this book became a big deal in Korea. Although the writing style is fairly clinical, that allowed the point to be made: being a woman is hard, and both men and women continue to make it hard. This is obviously a book about the kinds of every-day sexism that women face in South Korea, but it was highly relatable for me and I imagine most women. Therese culture is different, in some ways, I would say, very different, but overall the way that sexism is entrenched in cultural expectations is the same.

I’m glad I read this book and I definitely recommend it, but I am on a depressing book streak and I am really looking forward to reading something fun next.

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shaleen64's review against another edition

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challenging informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A brilliant example of feminist fiction, but one that is based on well referenced facts.

It covers a range of sexism related issues, without brushing over any of them, in very few pages.

Unfortunately, it’s a book all women will in some way relate to and one all men should read to consider the impact of their actions or lack thereof.

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sdloomer's review against another edition

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informative sad fast-paced

Strong character development? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This book made me angry and it should make you too, regardless of how you identify and what your pronouns are. Inequality and sexism in every which way you can think of still persists, and even flourishes, in countries we think of as "advanced" (America, anyone?) and we must be ferociously vigilant in stamping out these injustices.

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bubblebot's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

good book. especially recommended for people who are only delving in to the feminist movement. it can be eye-opening in that situation of the daily discrimination ingrained into our society.

personally, this book is a reminder of the persecution. a wound that still bleeds. it didn't teach me anything new, because i live with this everyday. perhaps i would be happier if i was ignorant to this whole issue sometimes haha......

the ending was a punch to the gut though. the cycle keeps on repeating.

Content Warnings

ericispublius's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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linde_ahobbit's review against another edition

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dark informative sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book is enraging to read. I was quite mad at the world when i finished it, but I felt seen as well. I think every woman can relate to something in this book. It was engaging, informative and the ending was a gut punch.

A great feminist read about gender inequality in South-Korea.

Content Warnings

katesant's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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