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ambroserr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-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
2.0
Hm. Not for me. Like a Murakami novel from hell.
I was disappointed that (view spoiler) The fact that it was so much more about mental illness than I expected made the whole thing bleak in a way that I couldn't enjoy or find a way to access. I guess I was expecting there to be some literal Kafkaesque transformation, for the visions and dreams to come to greater life within the three characters we hear from, or to meet the force that caused these seemingly contagious and quite destructive changes. But none of those happen. It's sadder and more realistic than any of that.
I'm all for a novel that confronts violence against women, the violence of the meat industry and capitalism, and the violence society inflicts upon those who don't fit into the structure laid out for them. But this didn't offer me anything of value to help face those horrors, or any catharsis about navigating them. (I suspect that ineffable things or cultural intangibles may have been left behind in the translation. Obviously I can't know for sure.)
As a vegetarian, I was ready to be challenged/skewered/whatever. But a book about the bleak dreariness and absurdity of continuing on in this world?? No thanks. Sorry.
I was disappointed that (view spoiler) The fact that it was so much more about mental illness than I expected made the whole thing bleak in a way that I couldn't enjoy or find a way to access. I guess I was expecting there to be some literal Kafkaesque transformation, for the visions and dreams to come to greater life within the three characters we hear from, or to meet the force that caused these seemingly contagious and quite destructive changes. But none of those happen. It's sadder and more realistic than any of that.
I'm all for a novel that confronts violence against women, the violence of the meat industry and capitalism, and the violence society inflicts upon those who don't fit into the structure laid out for them. But this didn't offer me anything of value to help face those horrors, or any catharsis about navigating them. (I suspect that ineffable things or cultural intangibles may have been left behind in the translation. Obviously I can't know for sure.)
As a vegetarian, I was ready to be challenged/skewered/whatever. But a book about the bleak dreariness and absurdity of continuing on in this world?? No thanks. Sorry.
read_mo's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
honestly I think I might just be too dumb for this book
the entire book has a looming sense of doom that doesn’t have a great payout
honestly I think I might just be too dumb for this book
the entire book has a looming sense of doom that doesn’t have a great payout
breebree23's review against another edition
3.0
I was recommended this book on instagram and decided to rent it on Libby. It left me feeling confused at the end, wondering what the point of it all was. I guess something I picked up from it is that women always find a way to liberate themselves even in the most oppressive situations.
bridge_to_narnia's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Well written, but I don't think it was for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Rape
clairedeluna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookiebook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
crybaby_chloe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
catbrigand's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Netgalley!
This is a strange little story written in a very dreamy tone. The story's three narrators, all troubled, focus their parts more or less on Yeong-hye, who gives up first meat, then food altogether, in an effort to lead a more organic (literally) existence. At first I found it irritating that none of the narrators is Yeong-hye herself--we never know what she thinks; she has no agency. As it turns out, I just found her husband's narration irritating. This story, which has more then a hint of the unusual, delves deeply into the fantasies brought on by mental illness of several kinds. I enjoyed a lot of things about it. But I feel something lacking.
This is a strange little story written in a very dreamy tone. The story's three narrators, all troubled, focus their parts more or less on Yeong-hye, who gives up first meat, then food altogether, in an effort to lead a more organic (literally) existence. At first I found it irritating that none of the narrators is Yeong-hye herself--we never know what she thinks; she has no agency. As it turns out, I just found her husband's narration irritating. This story, which has more then a hint of the unusual, delves deeply into the fantasies brought on by mental illness of several kinds. I enjoyed a lot of things about it. But I feel something lacking.
amimafotak's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
Já jsem tušila, že se mi Vegetariánka bude líbit, i když jsem vlastně moc netušila, do čeho jdu. A navzdory své podivnosti se mi opravdu líbila. Stylem psaní, tématy, sociokulturní diskusí, kterou otevřela. Sice jsem Vegetariánku četla pomaleji, než bych chtěla, zato si myslím, že o to větší ve mně zanechala dojem. To dávkování čtení celému zážitku dost prospělo <3.
— čteni v rámci spolupráce s knihkupectvím Luxor
Já jsem tušila, že se mi Vegetariánka bude líbit, i když jsem vlastně moc netušila, do čeho jdu. A navzdory své podivnosti se mi opravdu líbila. Stylem psaní, tématy, sociokulturní diskusí, kterou otevřela. Sice jsem Vegetariánku četla pomaleji, než bych chtěla, zato si myslím, že o to větší ve mně zanechala dojem. To dávkování čtení celému zážitku dost prospělo <3.
— čteni v rámci spolupráce s knihkupectvím Luxor