Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - The Vegetarian

Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

621 reviews

aseel_reads's review against another edition

1.0

slow-paced

Loveable characters: No

i straight up dont understand the point of this book? what exactly are we meant to take from this story? that people can do bad things?? that eating meat is bad?? (i am vegetarian so that doesnt bother me) i just dont understand what the point of this book was and was just not a fan of it all

Content Warnings

ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Well this was a weird little book! I wouldn’t say I enjoyed reading it, per se, but it was a fascinating look at misogyny, collectivism, and mental health stigma in South Korea. The Korean context is important, because the book doesn’t make as much sense if read through an American lens. While we definitely have our own struggles with mental health stigma and misogyny here, they tend to be more below the surface.

Thematically, The Vegetarian pairs well with Kim Ji Young Born 1982, as both books follow a young Korean woman’s breakdown and the patriarchal structures that prevent them from getting help. But while Kim Ji Young was an incredibly empathetic read, where you felt her struggles and grief, this one had a much more arm’s length feel. I think that was intentional, as we never meet our main character, Yeong-hye, through her own eyes, rather through her husband’s, brother-in-law’s, and sister’s.

As other reviewers have noted, only her sister seems to view her as an actual human worthy of compassion. The sections from the men’s point of view focus on her as an object or possession; they only see her in terms of her usefulness to their purposes. That lack of empathy until the final third of the book makes it a tough read, and I’m not sure I’d recommend it in terms of reading for pleasure, but I do think the themes explored are important ones, and it’s good that this book was written.

Content Warnings

joh's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

oof. took me a long long time to get through. i think if i were a lit crit person who knew how to interpret well written literary novels like this, i would’ve had a better time. i can imagine writing some really good essays about this book in another life. read the trigger warnings, be prepared for stomach churning.

i think there’s a lot to be found in this book, and it’s especially interesting to me that han kang chose to write this book from the perspective of others in Yeong-hye’s life without really showing us any of Yeong-hye’s internal monologue. women as objects; fighting for control when control is impossible; etc etc etc

Content Warnings

ktpickles's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark 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

this book made me throw up, but i liked it. i was uncomfortable the entire time i was reading, which i guess is a trait associated with horror books (but those are not my typical read, so i’m not sure if this is how i’m supposed to feel). i think i should’ve read the content warnings first, and it’s definitely a book that made a lump in my throat, but it’s a good read. don’t think i’ll pick it up again though.

Content Warnings

catherinepaddon's review against another edition

1.75

Content Warnings

mrising1's review against another edition

2.0

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

Yikes.

Content Warnings

lucygoosey522's review against another edition

2.25

dark reflective 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: Yes

cool concept, not a great execution imo. i really had to drag myself to the end. if ur into really drawn out and obscure writing u would probably like it tho

Content Warnings

aelunny's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Um wow. I was definitely misled by a book reviewer to this book and it took me completely by surprise.

Very, very well written and this was an excellent translation. It's truly one of those novels thats also a work of art. That being said, the content of this book is most accurately described as disturbing. I have so so so many thoughts and I feel like I need to write an essay about this book, but the number one theme that I keep coming back to to is the objectification of women. Our protagonist (Yeong-hye) is viewed by a different person in each of the three parts and is reduced to a role in each of them. I also think a lot of people are saying her actions in the book are to enact agency on her life, but I think that by viewing it this way we are also objectifying her as a character in a book. The fact we never see the story told from Yeong-hye's perspective and our narrators never have a real conversation trying to understand what is going on in her head, makes me believe we cannot presume what her motivations are.

Please read all content warnings, as a lot of the depictions are really graphic.

Content Warnings