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clicc_clacc_jac's review
challenging
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
3.25
I wasn’t able to put it down, the book moves fast and is packed with unsettling and dark imagery. Is it an enjoyable read? No….is it hard to put down? Yes.
Read triggers
Read triggers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, Suicide, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse
timbertea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
ambrecookie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Certains passages sont vraiment durs à lire. C'est d'abord révoltant, puis désespérant, et perturbant tout du long. Ça vous prend aux trippes et décrit des images si choquantes avec tant de précision que ça vous trottera dans la tête même des semaines après les avoir lues. Il faut commencer à s'habituer à l'inconfort et à la confusion assez rapidement. On est en quête de réponses et d'explications jusqu'à la dernière page. Les cauchemars sont terribles et on s'aperçoit rapidement que la réalité l'est tout autant. Le livre est divisé en trois parties avec un-e narrateur-ice différent-e pour chacune. Les deux premiers sont détestables. La dernière m'a paru être la dernière pièce du puzzle et le personnage le plus attachant. Ce livre va me hanter un certain temps.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Rape
irismaybooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
2.0
I find it difficult to write in words what I thought of this book. I picked it up with the belief I would enjoy it, and perhaps going into it with any expectations at all was my downfall. I did not enjoy this book.
I hated all of the characters, especially the male ones. Our main character, Yeong-hye, was nothing but an object to all of them. To her husband, someone to keep the house orderly. To her father, a punching bag. To her brother-in-law, an object of desire. I was, rightfully, uncomfortable reading about all of these men– intended I expect.
Typically I am alright when it comes to uncomfortable topics, and this book does not shy away from approaching any of them. However I found certain aspects to be completely unnecessary. The focus on Yeong-hye's breasts was on that particularly stood out to me. The descriptions vivid, detailed, however in terms of the plot held no significance.
I also found the changes in perspective between the characters to be jarring, especially with the time passing between each of them. I found it difficult to follow along when the perspective changed to both the brother-in-law and In-hye's. I understand that the point was to be disconnected from the characters, but despite this I struggled starting each perspective because I had no idea which character I was following. It completely threw me off and I had difficulty in following along until I knew who it was I was supposed to be following.
Overall I think this was a very ambitious novel, and for me it did not hit all of the marks. Partly due to the translation I presume, I found the writing to be quite disconnected from the source material in a way I cannot put my finger on. I also did not enjoy the open ending. I am just not a fan of those.
On a more positive level, I found certain quotes to be very beautiful, which brought my enjoyment of the novel up slightly. I think because certain descriptions in the final chapter were reminiscent of a song I love.
I hated all of the characters, especially the male ones. Our main character, Yeong-hye, was nothing but an object to all of them. To her husband, someone to keep the house orderly. To her father, a punching bag. To her brother-in-law, an object of desire. I was, rightfully, uncomfortable reading about all of these men– intended I expect.
Typically I am alright when it comes to uncomfortable topics, and this book does not shy away from approaching any of them. However I found certain aspects to be completely unnecessary. The focus on Yeong-hye's breasts was on that particularly stood out to me. The descriptions vivid, detailed, however in terms of the plot held no significance.
I also found the changes in perspective between the characters to be jarring, especially with the time passing between each of them. I found it difficult to follow along when the perspective changed to both the brother-in-law and In-hye's. I understand that the point was to be disconnected from the characters, but despite this I struggled starting each perspective because I had no idea which character I was following. It completely threw me off and I had difficulty in following along until I knew who it was I was supposed to be following.
Overall I think this was a very ambitious novel, and for me it did not hit all of the marks. Partly due to the translation I presume, I found the writing to be quite disconnected from the source material in a way I cannot put my finger on. I also did not enjoy the open ending. I am just not a fan of those.
On a more positive level, I found certain quotes to be very beautiful, which brought my enjoyment of the novel up slightly. I think because certain descriptions in the final chapter were reminiscent of a song I love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Rape
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Child abuse, Blood, and Vomit
ellmagi's review against another edition
dark
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
3.0
very uncomfortable story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
scoop1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
foootsalad's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
niles_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Another great read at the start of the year!
The title portrays it as a book about a mentally ill woman who turned vegetarian, but it is so, so much more.
From discussing different ways someone can handle abuse to what it means to be a good mother, this book really makes you realize how different each person is and how differently we operate.
The blurb definitely doesn’t do it justice.
This book managed to disturb me with the dog scene; beware that there is animal abuse in it.
A 5 star read! It is a hard book to recommend to someone, but a definite must read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Abandonment
wrestler052153's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Just not really a fan
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child abuse
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
CW: marital rape, parental abuse, force feeding, animal abuse, animal death, consumption of domesticated animals, attempted suicide, sexual content, forced institutionalisation, coercion, anorexia, suicidal ideation
🌟 Contemporary fiction
🌟 Translated from Korem
🌈 Set in Korea
🌈 Mental health representation
This was... I don't even know the best word to describe it. It was more than uncomfortable.
The Vegetarian follows Yeong-hye's spiral into an acute mental health crisis through three perspectives. Her husband, her brother in law, and her sister.
This was complicated, equal parts horrifying and fascinating, seeing it play out from these perspectives, yet feeling like you get to know who she is from these perspectives.
It touches on so many different aspects of life, from autonomy and agency, to mental health, complicated family dynamics, misogyny, and perception from those who only see the world in black and white,
This review would be an essay itself if I had to touch on all these points so I'm going to attempt to be brief.
From child abuse to marital abuse, it's easy to see why Yeong-hye's spiral began, although it is hinted to that there has always been the predisposition to mental health issues within the family, but red flags were ignored. We get to see this through her sister's perspective as she herself seemingly begins to spiral, and she constantly asks herself "what if" as she reflects on all these red flags seen throughout their childhood.
Yeong-hye has never really had that sense of agency and autonomy afforded to anyone else in the novel. She's always to do what is expected and if not, received beatings as a child (and subsequent as an adult), she experienced marital rape, and nobody would respect her finally reclaiming part of herself by choosing to adopt a vegan diet, the only thing she can really take control over. The family reaction to the veganism was so extreme, and it's clear that it wasn't the veganism they held issue with, but the inability to coerce and control. Particularly from the male members of her family and social circle.
The symbolism of the trees, from both a literary perspective, and cultural perspective, reinforces these themes of agency, as trees often symbolise strength, rebirth, and resilience. So in her moments of clarity where she expresses she wishes to become a tree, it read to me that she wished for that strength, that resilience, and the desire to be reborn as her true self with autonomy.
One of the most beautiful things about this novel, is that nothing is ever explicitly stated motive-wise. And from others reviews and reading experiences, everyone seems to have taken something different away from the book. Whether surface level, or on a deeper scale, everyone's interpretation is so different and that in itself is fascinating.
I think you should read this if you're looking for something really outwith the norms of contemporary fiction. I'd definitely take heed of the trigger warnings as it's very disturbing throughout.
My only wish is that I could read Korean to have experienced it without the potential skews that can happen in translation.
🌟 Contemporary fiction
🌟 Translated from Korem
🌈 Set in Korea
🌈 Mental health representation
This was... I don't even know the best word to describe it. It was more than uncomfortable.
The Vegetarian follows Yeong-hye's spiral into an acute mental health crisis through three perspectives. Her husband, her brother in law, and her sister.
This was complicated, equal parts horrifying and fascinating, seeing it play out from these perspectives, yet feeling like you get to know who she is from these perspectives.
It touches on so many different aspects of life, from autonomy and agency, to mental health, complicated family dynamics, misogyny, and perception from those who only see the world in black and white,
This review would be an essay itself if I had to touch on all these points so I'm going to attempt to be brief.
From child abuse to marital abuse, it's easy to see why Yeong-hye's spiral began, although it is hinted to that there has always been the predisposition to mental health issues within the family, but red flags were ignored. We get to see this through her sister's perspective as she herself seemingly begins to spiral, and she constantly asks herself "what if" as she reflects on all these red flags seen throughout their childhood.
Yeong-hye has never really had that sense of agency and autonomy afforded to anyone else in the novel. She's always to do what is expected and if not, received beatings as a child (and subsequent as an adult), she experienced marital rape, and nobody would respect her finally reclaiming part of herself by choosing to adopt a vegan diet, the only thing she can really take control over. The family reaction to the veganism was so extreme, and it's clear that it wasn't the veganism they held issue with, but the inability to coerce and control. Particularly from the male members of her family and social circle.
The symbolism of the trees, from both a literary perspective, and cultural perspective, reinforces these themes of agency, as trees often symbolise strength, rebirth, and resilience. So in her moments of clarity where she expresses she wishes to become a tree, it read to me that she wished for that strength, that resilience, and the desire to be reborn as her true self with autonomy.
One of the most beautiful things about this novel, is that nothing is ever explicitly stated motive-wise. And from others reviews and reading experiences, everyone seems to have taken something different away from the book. Whether surface level, or on a deeper scale, everyone's interpretation is so different and that in itself is fascinating.
I think you should read this if you're looking for something really outwith the norms of contemporary fiction. I'd definitely take heed of the trigger warnings as it's very disturbing throughout.
My only wish is that I could read Korean to have experienced it without the potential skews that can happen in translation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Suicide attempt