Reviews with content warning for Suicide - La vegetariana

An interesting exploration into femininity in an unfamiliar cultural setting; however failed to live up to its accolades and obvious potential in my opinion.

Content Warnings

issy888's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Content Warnings

thatwhichmeowsalsohisses's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

this book was very well written and i couldn’t put it down. as an american, it was very interesting to read it and see the cultural differences with the US and korea. it had very interesting characters and relationships and made me think about my own life in return.

Content Warnings

axlndra's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book isn’t plainly good, it sucks you in instead.
The psych ward and the patients there are presented in a very realistic way.
Heartbreaking, shocking, deeply touching.

Content Warnings

tanyavora's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

tinyjude's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Definitely a book you needed time to digest...

It certainly deals with very heavy topics (eating disorders, suicide, violence, rape, abusive relationships, self-harm, etc) although I don't think she was trying to romanticize them, but rather, critique them and expose them to the public that is still judging and ostricizing anyone who suffers from any condition and doesn't follow the norms. In the edition that I read, at the beginning and at the end there were a few explanations and extracts from interviews with the author and translator that gave a more insight look on the story. I don't think this is a story that you can fully understand and value with a first reading, but rather you need to re-read it after time has passed and think a lot about what she tried to say with the metaphors.

Several parts made me uncomfortable

such as the numerous non-consensual scenes between the male characters (her husband and her brother-in-law) and the protagonist or the poor J., who I wonder how he must have felt after leaving that apartment. I especially enjoyed the writing, simple but full of ideas and metaphors of society in general and violence, and how the author decided to use the voices of Yeonghye's husband, brother-in-law and sister instead of her own. I think it was really powerful and made her character even more interesting as well as it showed us the contrast between how she was repulsed by violence and her husband and brother-in-law had many violent/disgusting thoughts.

I cannot say I loved it, because there are many things wrong with this book in the themes that she decided to present, they are heavy and left me numb or with the feeling that I needed to take a break/throw up, but I absolutely enjoyed it after so many disappointing readings and I want to read more of Han Kang. Maybe it's because I seek sometimes for this type of writing that leaves me uncomfortable and itchy, so I am able to digest these type of things and not be scared by the gruesome descriptions of her nightmares and hard depictions of human condition. I don't know, but eitherway, I genuinely enjoyed this reading.

In addition, I was fascinated with her sister's point of view. I thought that maybe she would turn her back on Yeonghye after her husband raped Yeonghye, but I was greatly surprised to see how she was the only family member that remained by her side and even slightly understood her and shared some feelings. It felt powerful and even beautiful after the horrendous narrative of Yeonghye's husband and brother-in-law. I understood her character and wanted to protect both of them so much by the end of the novel. I also felt extremely sad and angry knowing how their father abused them, especially Yeonghye, so I cannot say I don't understand why they both feel like they do in the novel. It must have been extremely hard to live like this and they are both really strong characters.

The only reason why I don't give this book a 5 it's because the sexual and physical violence was too much at some point, but that was exactly the point of the book, so I am still debating... either way, it's not an easy read...

Content Warnings

More...