Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982: A Novel

A New York Times Editors' Choice Selection, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 has become a global sensation and "a touchstone for a conversation around feminism and gender" (Sarah Shin, Guardian). Hailed by both critics and K-pop stars alike, it is one of the most notable novels of the year. The book follows the psychic deterioration of one woman, Kim Jiyoung, in the face of rampant misogyny.

In a tidy apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, the millennial "everywoman" Kim Jiyoung spends her days caring for her infant daughter. However, strange symptoms begin to appear as Jiyoung starts to impersonate the voices of other women, both dead and alive. Concerned, her husband sends her to a psychiatrist, and Jiyoung narrates her story to the doctor – from her birth to parents who expected a son, to elementary school teachers who policed girls' outfits, and finally to male coworkers who installed hidden cameras in women's restrooms.

Can the psychiatrist cure Jiyoung, or even discover what truly ails her? Described as "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.

The novel has become a global sensation, with the Guardian's Sarah Shin describing it as "a touchstone for a conversation around feminism and gender." It is one of the most notable works of the year, praised by both critics and K-pop stars. The story follows the psychic deterioration of Kim Jiyoung, a millennial "everywoman" living in a tidy apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, as she begins to impersonate the voices of other women.

Concerned, Jiyoung's husband sends her to a psychiatrist, and she narrates her story – from her birth to parents who expected a son, to the policing of girls' outfits by elementary school teachers, and the installation of hidden cameras in women's restrooms by her male coworkers. Can the psychiatrist cure Jiyoung, or even uncover the root of her ailment?

Described as "a social treatise as well as a work of art" by the New York Times' Alexandra Alter, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 marks the arrival of international literary powerhouse Cho Nam-Joo.

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