Boundless Press | Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982: A Novel

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Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982: A Novel

Cho Nam-joo

Jamie Chang

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A New York Times Editors Choice Selection

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.

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Posts about this title from Boundless Press

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 25 2023

captivating books you can read in a single day 📚 | book recommendations

Check out Shelf Savvy here and sign-up for FREE: https://shelfsavvy.com/audiobook?utm\_kxconfid=tzaxnljnf&utm\_medium=tiktok&utm\_source=paid&utm\_campaign=shelfsavvy\_2023\_jananie This video was sponsored by Shelf Savvy.

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🤍 timestamps ↳ 0:00 opening thoughts ↳ 0:52 non-fiction recs ↳ 5:40 general/literary fiction ↳ 10:37 romances (with other aspects to them) ↳ 15:33 thrillers ↳ 18:30 speculative fiction / fantasy / horror ↳ 22:20 final thoughts

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faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

13 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Children of Diaspora\ \ Rae the Reviewer\ \ • Jun 8

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Kist Reads\ \ Kist\ \ • Apr 23

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Kist Reads\ \ Kist\ \ • Aug 8 2025

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Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • May 14 2025

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Hi there Disco Dancers!\ \ Thanks so much for supporting me, I really appreciate it.\ \ For ESEA/AAPI month, I’ve been mostly focusing on fantasy and sci fi, but some of my absolute favourite books by Asian authors are literary fiction novellas. Here are five short books I highly recommend.\ \ Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto\ \ \ \ This is a novella with two beautiful stories. The first focuses on a woman who meets and man and his transgender mother, and becomes part of their small but loving family. It’s a beautiful, emotional piece that has long stayed with me, especially as it’s hard to find books about trans parents.\ \ The second story is about family, grief and human connection, it’s just as beautiful.\ \ Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo\ \ \ \ This incredible novella charts the life of a young Korean woman as she navigates poverty, generational trauma, societal pressure and misogyny, and the psychological impact it has. It’s a window into Korean society that’s illuminating, infuriating and utterly engaging.\ \ Convenience Store Woman by Sayuka Murata\ \ \ \ This popular absurdist novella follows a woman in her 30s who adores her convenience store job, despite society telling her she should aspire to more, get married, be ‘normal’. When she does attempt to conform, things go very awry.\ \ This is funny, unsettling and very hard to describe, but it’s brilliant.\ \ 100 Queer Poems, edited by Mary Jean Chan and Andrew McMillan\ \ \ \ I’m not 100% sure poetry anthologies are for me because there were styles in this book that I really didn’t vibe with, but there were also a bunch of poems that made me feel very seen. Definitely for more varied poetry fans! The ESEA heritage month connection is more slight, editor Mary Jean Chan is a queer Hong Kong-Chinese poet. The selection of poets was super diverse, with many Asian contributors, including Chen Chen’s I Invite My Parents to a Dinner Party, my favourite poem in the collection.\ \ Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin\ \ \ \ This is more of a short novel, following three Vietnamese siblings from the 1970s onwards, as they flee Vietnam in a boat, become refugees a China, and end up in the UK. It’s a heartbreaking, educational and emotional story that shines a light on the experiences of Vietnamese Boat People. One of the best things I read last year\ \ That’s all folks!\ \ Disco\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login

East and South East Asian lit fic recommendations

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 19 2025

if you like this book, read this one! 🩷 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS 📚

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 16 2025

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book recs for this month's reading challenge to read books set outside of north america!!

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Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • Mar 11 2025

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Feb 9 2025

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Kist Reads\ \ Kist\ \ • Dec 27 2024

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 25 2023

captivating books you can read in a single day 📚 | book recommendations

💓 join as a channel member to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJn0v3OAEAX3-V4crjcHtRA/join

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

13 books