Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

616 reviews

abfreda184's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I absolutely loved this book - the visceral description is terrifying and thrilling, and the themes are fascinating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

lydiamcleod's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Self harm, Sexism

theaveragegatz's review against another edition

2.0

dark reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

alsoapples's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition

3.5

dark slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Vomit

pinkiereads's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark tense

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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veeeryyyyyy strange... i only really liked the last third, from the sister's perspective. everything else i kinda struggled to get through, and it didn't feel like some of the violence - both real and imagined - was necessary. and i would have loved to know more about the dreams and the wife's perspective! i'm writing this months after reading it so i dont really remember oops

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting

aichaa's review against another edition

2.0

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit

sarahc0123's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Dysphoria

Moderate: Eating disorder

rachser's review against another edition

4.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really wish my version of the cover didn't mention sexuality. It meant I was expecting something that wasn't there. The only sex in this book is non-consensual and the only people we see desiring it are the men doing it.
That said, this book is very effective and was hard to read at times (because it was so well written). I'm not sure why certain plot points were included but overall its a good book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail

hannaheinhorn's review against another edition

1.5

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

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because many people with mental health are already silenced when telling their own stories, this book rubbed me the WRONG way. i disliked the author’s choice to describe various violent instances (specifically the multiple rapes) by gratuitously showing it through the brother-in-law’s perspective and the husband’s perspective. i’ve read far grimmer stories but this one grossed me out, especially because of the pedophilic overtones when describing yeong-hye’s emaciated body. i feel like the author did exactly what she was trying to critique, which is ridiculous.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Pedophilia, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail