Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Vegetarian

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

202 reviews

rowanelisa's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

Content Warnings

elsieols'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? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

okay, so this review is a little difficult to fully articulate. i will try, though.

first of all, the husband and the brother in law both deserve to be buried alive and then to spend eternity in hell perpetually being castrated by hot-but-not-hot-enough-to-cauterize branding irons. that being said, i found myself rating this book highly despite their perspectives. there are a couple reasons, i think, why.

first off, it i didn’t know han kang was a woman, i would have dnf-ed less than 30% onto the book just by how mr. cheong was speaking of yeong-hye. however, knowing she was a woman and in an intellectual field, i think i opened up my mind more to what commentary could come from these depictions.

i can only see this book as a depiction of the abuse and mental fragmentation women face under the thumbs of domineering men in a patriarchal society, specifically from the forced repression that one does when raised as a girl and woman in a society like this. women in this depiction are like the dog yeong-hye remembers her father killing—forced to run in circles and coughing up blood and organs, being dragged on the ground for nothing but amusement after doing something as simple as biting, a basic, defensive instinct. and men are the people surrounding the dog, killing it and eating its meat. yeong-hye’s vegetarianism is her trying to pull away from the system and create a gentler system. she clings to her breasts as things that sustain life, as soft parts of her. in the end, though, in her attempt at escape from this system, she is the mess of hard lines and sharp edges that she had grown to fear in herself. it’s terribly tragic and very violent, but i do think that kang depicts these moments and emotions well. even the perspective choice speaks to yeong-hye’s forced suppression. we only ever see her perspective in tiny glimpses in her husband’s pov, and 2/3 of her story is told by men.

another reason i rated this book highly is because of the questions it brings of the self and the fracturing of the mind, especially in the last part. even if we look at these NOT primarily through the lens of repressed women, the questions in this part about the self and the way abuse changes a person are fascinating. i especially find it fascinating to examine the parallels between

yeong-hye’s descent into instability and her sister’s.

i think this was done incredibly well.

all in all, i appreciate this book even if it made me angry and uncomfortable. i can certainly see why one may rate it low based on the horrific narrators and an inability to separate them from the author due to HOW terrible and inexcusable they are. however, this feminist commentary i kinda stuck to from the beginning made me come to really appreciate kang for how she depicted yeong-hye’s story.

Content Warnings

alexofsuburbia's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Voy a confesar que cuando lo terminé me sentí confundida, incluso en el transcurso de la segunda parte consideré abandonarlo pero me ganó la curiosidad y por eso decidí terminarlo. Por suerte encontré un análisis buenísimo y muy completo en youtube que me ayudó a procesar las ideas que no llegué a interpretar de manera completa. Sin ese análisis siento que me habría quedado con la idea equivocada sobre la novela.

Diría que como tal no me gustó porque esperaba algo completamente distinto y realmente creo que toda la segunda parte pudo ser omitida, en ratos pensaba que estaba leyendo a un autor masculino cualquiera y no a una autora ganadora de un nobel por haber realizado una crítica necesaria, pero ya después reconocí el talento de la autora porque al tener la narración de la hermana se nota completamente el cambio. Aunque honestamente sigo sin entender el punto del cuñado, habría sido una historia mucho mejor sin esa parte.

Lo que más me gustó fueron los sueños de la protagonista, creí y me habría gustado que hubiéramos leído más de ellos pero no fue el caso, eran lo único que me tenía enganchada a la historia porque la narración del esposo también me molestó mucho. En cuanto a la tercera parte me costó un poco porque no era algo con lo que esperaba identificarme.

En general creo que es una historia bastante dolorosa, sí refleja como se ve de manera externa el no encajar en ciertos estereotipos de la sociedad y como eso va perjudicando a un nivel exagerado cuando todo se podría evitar “fácil” pero por desgracia nunca va a ser así. En cuanto a lo que le toma a la autora para llegar o contar esto… no creo que haya sido muy eficiente porque pudo contar lo mismo de una forma bastante diferente. Yo nunca, nunca, nunca voy a estar de acuerdo en narrar/exponer/usar cierto tipo de abusos para que la moraleja sea “es que así es la vida y eso está mal” porque se puede llegar a esa misma conclusión evitando repetir esos mismos actos que tanto se quieren criticar.

Tal vez luego le vuelva a dar una oportunidad a la autora, pero aunque no lo haya querido admitir sí fue una decepción.

Content Warnings

sweetadeliene's review

Go to review page

dark medium-paced

3.5

The writing was gorgeous but the plot and themes are dark and difficult.

Content Warnings

alreinwarth's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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

1.5

Content Warnings

moonsunamour's review

Go to review page

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

Part 1: female rage and a lot of frustration at our society and males in particular.
Part 2: disgust and a feeling of doom and instability regarding humanity which seems drenched in malice and unconsciousness.
Part 3: utter desolation and empathy for sensitive and open minds who struggle through a twisted and seemingly inexplicable world as well as a sense of confusion, despair and being lost

Content Warnings

bookedbymadeline's review

Go to review page

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

3.0

Very dark, sad, frustrating book. Split into 3 parts and narrated by 3 different characters who speak about Yeong-Hye. I hated the male characters from the first two parts, they’re repulsive and incredibly misogynistic and selfish. However it was like a car crash, I didn’t want to look away and it held my attention the most compared to part 3. The third part had me confused where the story was going and then disappointed by the end. I felt really disconnected from the characters and wanted to know more about what “the dream” was and what was going on in Yeong-Hye’s own mind.

I did love that Kang, in a small way, has her other books connect. She mentions both Jeju island (which is a main setting in her latest novel) and the May Massacre which is a main plot point of Human Acts! Both of which came out later compared to this book but I kind of loved that nod to her future works (or for me the works I read first).

Overall while I do still enjoy Kang’s prose, it feels as if I got more questions than answers and had that “what was the point of this? What the fuck did I even read” moment upon closing the book. I wanted more and guess I just “didn’t get it.” Maybe it sticks with me but maybe it’s forgettable? Only time will tell but for now I just feel like it was an average read. Also minor thing but this should really be called The Vegan!

Content Warnings

intensidadluminosa's review

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

Content Warnings

ekp6419's review

Go to review page

dark reflective 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? No

4.5

A story about the very ordinary, very unexceptional nature of women whose lives are dictated by the very suffer-inducing, very sexual nature of patriarchy.

Highly recommend for someone looking to understand the mental struggles women experience when subjected to the animalistic desires of simple men.

Content Warnings

lethargicbat's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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

3.5

I find it so disappointing how many people seemingly dismiss this book as just ‘weird’ or something unworthy of analysis when I find having a book be more outlandish in it's character's actions makes the themes illuminate even more because of the heightened reality they exist in. Of course having exposure and actual knowledge or experience in South Korean culture will effect the meaning of how you may view some things. That's how literature works. But I feel as if the easy dismissal of this entire book by many English-as-first-language people is that because you're coming from a different life experience and place than the writer, you place this as unworthy of analysis. It's a refusal to actually engage with literature that comes from a different country/originally written in a different language which is xenophobic and racist. You don't have to enjoy the novel, I certainly have my complaints, but I think so many people refusing to give it the same respect and consideration as English written literature is telling!

I will give a quick warning for if anyone used the audiobook. I started to while knitting and had the book copy later and realized how many of the sentences were altered and, in a few cases, the narrator said the wrong name. I continued with the written form, where there's an inconsistent quality of translation, but wanted to warn some people just in case!

Every part of this story involves stripping Yeong-hye of her control and right of self determination, which accelerates her mental decline. Her husband, whom always looked down upon her and considered her unremarkable and thus an object to complete his safe, conventional life he chose for himself, begins the narrative. Mr. Cheong is ashamed and angry at her whenever she dares to go against what he decided best—he doesn't even believe she has discomfort and pain in wearing a bra and that's why she goes without one because he views her body as an object that exists only for his own needs. To be challenged with her actually being a person with feelings or any agency is something he can't bear, and it reflects in his refusal to accept she's a vegetarian. He admits he doesn't care of the reason, nor her mental suffering as she gets visibly weaker from malnourishment, because the relationship was never about love but instead in him having something to control. He ends up raping her because of this lack of care or any respect with a chilling nonchalance and self righteousness, believing he is in the right in forcing his power over her.

Cheong eventually calls her family to tell on her no longer eating meat, faking his concern despite that not even being necessary given how quick Yeong-hye's parents and siblings are in also violating her boundaries, albeit in different ways. Rather than being actually concern on how she's reached a stage of anorexia due to her mental health, they view her decision as acting out and no longer being compliant as she should be or that ‘she doesn't know any better’ to make a decision for herself. Her father, who was always physically abusive, tries to force meat into her mouth and then hits her when she refuses. The mother sobs how can she be doing this, how can she disrespect her parents and husband like this, because to act on her own free will is a disrespect when you're expected to live just for their purpose and fulfillment rather than your own. With Cheong, we see the effect of a man refusing to give up a sense of entitled control—where the focus of his and her family intervening is because she refuses to give in to his unfair demand, which allows the true underlying cause to be ignored and dismissed. They don't care about her dream, her delusions, nor her festering self hatred and guilt. It's easier to focus on the easy solution to what the problem is and, in attempting to force her to comply specifically to her husband and father's demands (although all of them all guilty of forcing their will upon her), that leads to her mental health getting worse to where she feels desperate and trapped enough to attempt to take her own life.

Later, after the failed suicide attempt because of this family ambush and then her mother still trying to trick her into consuming the blood of a goat, Yeong-hye does eventually gain a little weight and is more healthy because she's actually living alone and on a diet plan that lets her get proper nutrition while being a vegetarian—thus showing that this treatment and behavior from the people that were supposed to love and care for her was even more unacceptable than how horrifying and disgusting it first presents. If she had gotten the support she needed and deserved earlier or if her brother-in-law didn't intervene, her life may had still turned out fine.

I saw many people didn't enjoy the second chapter that focused on the brother-in-law but I really liked that it showed how he too manipulated and took advantage of Yeong-hye in a way that's different than the prior repulsion-based actions from her husband. He has an unhealthy fixation on her, specifically in seeing her as the ideal sexual object and the key to unlocking his artistic merit he had previously lost. He may say her husband was a horrible man and she deserved better, yet his feelings are led on by the belief that he is the better—that by Mr. Cheong being out of the way, he can now get what he wanted.

I wonder if Cheong raping her and how he was openly disgusted by her effected her view of her brother-in-law's actions or if she just willingly went along with it because what control has she had before to say no? Or if it stemmed from a place of emptiness, too hollow to disagree to whatever is being asked of her, which can be a side effect from her depression and self depreciation, as well as be a trauma response after having her control taken from her regardless of the fight she put up and its easier to just go along so it'll be over faster. Regardless, he asked her to model naked and be painted, and filmed her in ‘loving,’ (voyeuristic) swooping camera shots. He didn't force anything, instead he led her to believe it was her choice. He manipulated the control he had of her when really it was all about satisfying his urge and needs without much care to the woman he now deems as a sex object that must exist to serve his life a purpose and provide a fulfillment within his own unhappy life.

I think one of the more obvious examples for the way they both are entitled in a similar way, even if their mindset behind it differs, shows in that she earlier referred to her body a weapon—other than her breasts which are too soft to harm and that she's heartbroken they're shrinking, viewing it as a reflection of her own cruelty. Her husband views it as a disgrace because she no longer looks feminine enough for him. And the brother-in-law still views it as something to sexualize, eventually corrupting her view of her body even more to fit his needs; which starts obsession on becoming a tree as her mental health continues to decline because what harm can a tree cause? These two men may have different reasoning behind their actions but it still circles back to trying to sculpt her body and life into something that serves their desires before her own needs.

The third chapter, centered on her sister In-hye, definitely was the most fascinating! She actually loves her and understands more than the men in their lives but love isn't enough at this point. I love the glimpses we see of In-hye's own mental health struggles, how she frames her suicidal thoughts (and attempt of an attempt!) as well as her continued guilt on what happened. She carries the burden of care still, and always will. She takes on the blame for what happened and what could had avoided this outcome because if she doesn't, who will? I also love the hypocrisy and sense of self awareness of encouraging Yeong-hye to be strong and get better while reflecting on what did being persistent in those give her beyond a life she's unsatisfied in? What level of choice did *she* have in her life's path? How free is she truly, how free has she always been? We had Yeong-hye trapped at an institution but trying to die to be fully free and In-hye, technically physically free but trapped within her own life. They serve as a mirror of each other and of how they responded to the unfair expectations and limitations that was placed upon them. In-hye did as she was supposed to, she had a husband and child, she worked and cooked and cleaned. She didn't complain despite her husband not fulfilling her emotional needs, she did let herself dream of a life different. Yeong-hye ‘failed’ in society's eye, she rebelled in the sense of daring to be her own person rather than just the well-behaved wife or have any children. Yet both sisters end up riding in the ambulance and suicidal at the end of the book.

Their dynamic as well as Yeong-hye vegetarianism and the metaphor it stands for and watching it slowly kill her was definitely the highlight of the book. I would had been happy with more insight of Yeong-hye's actions and choice but I thought the glimpses we got were enough to shade it in and give reason! Overall, it was ultimately such an interesting note to end on and has left me, more than a week later, still thinking about it :)

Content Warnings

More...