Reviews tagging 'Death'

La vegetariana by Han Kang

37 reviews

camereseparate's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape

Moderate: Death, Blood, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

lemonadecat's review against another edition

5.0

Have you ever read a book that, when you finish, you just have to sit there and chew on it for a while? Like, the rest of your day is sort of a fog because it's so heavy on you? That's this book.

I was drawn to this book immediately because of the themes; I'll admit that I'm a sucker for books about deranged and somewhat violent women. However, what I got when reading this was miles different than what I was expecting. I still feel unsettled about the content a month later writing this review, but to my best knowledge, that's the intent. To make you question society, women's place in it, how mental health is treated, and to haunt you a bit. And it does that excellently and tastefully without sacrificing grit and nuance.

I will warn readers in advance that there is some potentially triggering content. The book has mentions and some brief depictions of rape, sexual assault, abuse, and eating disorders. A massive theme in this book is "the male gaze" and the subjugation of women who are seen as "other" or less than. There are sections that are written from the perspective of, without spoiling much, a male who is sexually violent in bursts. Typically, I struggle to get through rape/sexual assault scenes and mentions of it in literature. However, the writing in this book is masterfully done and does not lean sympathetically or gratuitously in any way when referencing such violence. In fact, it made me feel seen as a survivor, even if it was a deeply upsetting topic to push through.

Honestly, this book left me at a loss for words. I say that as a compliment. It is few and far between that a book leaves me this shaken. There is so much to unpack in such a short book that I feel like I could dedicate a day to mulling it over and still be left with a feeling of unease.

***** - Five stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

heybrownberry's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Death, and Rape

tinathedrifter's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This story took me for a wild ride. It’s Girl, Interrupted and The Bell Jar and all those stories of women gone mad, but in the setting of a grotesque family drama. The only part that disappoints me - Kang doesn’t give any life or any thoughts to Yeong-bye. Who is she, what is she thinking, and how does she feel as this story progresses? Why is she simply a doll?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death, and Mental illness

caitlindoesntread's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Mental illness, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Animal death, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

booksavecelle's review against another edition

dark emotional relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Physical abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Suicide attempt

thefearlessfrock's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• 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

This book is extraordinary but I still feel something's missing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

It's really heavy.

leonormsousa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

REPRESENTATION 

Korean cast, mental health 

QUOTE 

“The feeling that she had never really lived in this world caught her by surprise. It was a fact. She had never lived. Even as a child, as far back as she could remember, she had done nothing but endure. She had believed in her own inherent goodness, her humanity, and lived accordingly, never causing anyone harm. Her devotion to doing things the right way had been unflagging, all her successes had depended on it, and she would have gone on like that indefinitely. She didn't understand why, but faced with those decaying buildings and straggling grasses, she was nothing but a child who had never lived.” 

WHAT I ENJOYED 

• the violence and weirdness → it took me a little aback at first, but I’m here for it!
• the underlying message (and no, this is not a book about vegetarianism)
• the different POVs allow us to see the story from different perspectives but also contribute to the idea that the MC does not have a voice
• it’s a beautifully written book, even when it’s ugly
• the way it stuck on the back of my head and does not let me go
• I know it’s a book that I’m gonna enjoy even more the second time around

WHAT I DIDN'T ENJOY

• very, very minor but there were points, especially in the dreams sections, where it became a bit confusing for me

READ IF YOU ENJOY

• character-focused books
• a dark, bizarre and disturbing vibe
• unhinged women
• hidden meanings
• different views on life
• non-lovable and flawed characters
• underlying critics of sexist societies

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Misogyny, Blood, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Sexism

mrising1's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Yikes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Medical content, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Sexual violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Blood, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Vomit

avera's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Ich habe von dem Buch erwartet, dass die vegetarische Ernährung auf eine andere Art und Weise im Fokus ist: die bisher normale Frau entdeckt, dass sie einen Fehler gemacht hat, und wird Vegetarierin, weil sie kein Leid mehr verursachen wird. Stattdessen ernährte sich die Protagonistin vegetarisch, weil sie unter gewaltvollen Träumen litt. Schließlich entdeckt sie ihre verzweifelte Liebe zur Natur und möchte ein Baum werden, leidet also immer mehr unter psychischen Störungen. Das ist ein interessantes Konzept, wirft aber ein seltsames Licht auf die vegetarische/vegane Bewegung. Außerdem fand ich den zweiten Teil des Buches befremdlich, den dritten eher langweilig. Ich finde, dass dieser Aufbau Potenzial hatte, da er einen verschiedene Blickwinkel erleben lässt, das aber nicht gut genug ausgeschöpft wird.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Medical content, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Eating disorder, Rape, and Violence