A book everyone should read; Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a work of art that takes us through the very special life and adventure of Kim living in South Korea and exposes the difficulties she has to face living in a society run by men. The character might be any woman in society. It does not necessarily have to be about Kim Jiyoung, she is just the lens we use to understand and see this world some of us might experience similarly. But what makes this book a star is a fact that this whole story is through a therapist's eyes. The writer makes us believe that this story might change the therapist's perspective but it just ends up showing us that even though woman works hard to protect themselves they will always be oppressed if the rest of the public doesn’t change.

The writing is straightforward thus, accessible to all. This book has to be read by everyone. I not only show what Kim Jiyoung goes through but also what women have to experience daily. It is a powerful text. It seems informative rather than a fiction piece. Cho Nam-Joo even goes further with this experience as he actually uses real data in footnotes. This just not only shows how the story is real but it also makes the points stronger and hence possibly more influential to the readers and even the critics.

But this book is not only an informative novel but, also a heartwarming and entertaining story. Kim Jiyoung is building her life in a misogynistic society. We grow up with her, we go through all the stages of her life and hence all the different ways sexism can be portrayed. Kim Jiyoung is a powerful woman who is still affected by the sexism that she encountered. This is what changes her and what makes her go to a point when she can’t handle it and therefore she is not capable of keep on living this way.

This book has taught me a lot. Women in South Korea go through so much and they just have to cope with it and live with it. It is an educational feminist novel that is meant for both women and men to understand. The writer is capable of blending political and social views making an extremely convincing argument. It has captured many people, including me, and I can't wait for it to capture many more. It is most effective and Jiyoung is not a raging feminist and she does not voice her opinion, she is rather a passive and quiet individual who explodes.

It also shows us how sexism does not necessarily have to be violence or massive acts against women but the small things that build up against us behind the surface. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 follows a normal story, one that many might be able to relate with, without having have noticed that might have affected them throughout time.

Cho Nam-Joo does not have to voice her opinion too loudly, her point comes across way stronger than maybe another type of text might have done. You understand and emphasise with her as you grow up next to her. You understand her pain and you want to help her through the pages. it is impossible and you are heartbroken but, you have learnt that there is so much pain within her and many other women. Cho Nam-Joo has broken your heart and you have fallen in love with this book. This is the effect that will make you understand why this book must be read.

Therefore, you must read this book to understand its powerful words. It’s not a feminist novel because it is showing the problems women face but, because it’s making a difference showing us that the problem is what we face and how society is dealing with it. It’s a feminist novel because you learn and you understand. It’s a feminist novel because it’s true.

The Homeless Japanese ghost by Miri Yu

The repetitive life of our homeless narrator that captivates you with his words. You can see hidden Japan in the shadows, the real Tokyo. He is a social outcast that describes his own view of life. It is heartwarming but sad throughout the short novel. It is a discussion of love, life, and death beautifully assembled using different imagery and tone to describe his feelings or what he is experiencing.

The main character, Kazu is a struggling working-class member, he is a social outcast, he was born the same year as the emperor, and both the men’s sons were born on the same day. It shows the parallelism that the world can involve. The emperor’s son is born in a privileged life while Kazu’s son was born in a low-income family. Equally, it talks about the theme of death as his son’s life was cut short by an early death at the age of 21 for natural reasons. The emperor and his son will live a healthy and privilege life while Kazu would live his afterlife as a homeless man, the same as when he was alive. “I did not live with intent; I only lived”. This is a critique of life in Japan as the author is a Korean minority living in Japan.

The story is a continuous back and forward to his past life, from his son to his wife. We can clearly seen that his life was not extremely lucky. He was one of the men that helped construct the Japan we now know but he never got to live the glory. It is not completely clear if he is really a ghost or just the image of a homeless man that becomes invisible from the point of view of society. However, it shows how he really does become a ghost. He hears conversation of people leaving the station about normal and mundane things. He focuses a lot in clothes and what people are wearing, a symbol of money and privilege.

Time in this novel is not conformist. It keeps changing from present to past and to future one interrupting the other without further explanation. It keeps turning into a sad tone however, he is not hopeless or guilty of his living situation. He is calm as he listens to what other people discuss and what other people say.

This novel has become one of my favourite Japanese novels. It is filled with beautiful narrative and descriptions but my favourite part is the way it is written. The use of time is not confusing, it is exactly what it should be. It goes back and forward interrupting itself as to show how a real mind works. Life is not a straight line, just like the book, you do not turn a page and see another, you pass the page and there is a blank page, waiting to be written on.