Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

The novel was a great success in Korea and introduced its author to the global literary scene, as it was translated into more than 18 languages, sold more than a million copies, was longlisted for the 2020 National Book Award for Translated Literature, and was chosen by Time magazine as one of the best books translated into English in 2020. In the novel, Kim Jiyoung lives in a small apartment in the suburbs of the Korean capital Seoul, quietly passing through her thirties. Her marriage is stable, and she has recently left her job to care for her newborn daughter, as is expected of Korean women. But behind this calm life, powerful waves surge inside our heroine: Kim’s condition quickly changes as she stays at home for longer periods, and she begins to take on the personalities of other women. As she sinks deeper into this state, her loving husband begins a journey with her to learn its causes and search for a way out, a journey that holds many surprises for him and for us.