Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

386 reviews

lydiasilvestri's review

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challenging emotional mysterious 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

2.5

I enjoyed the use of different perspectives and can appreciate the choice of not granting the reader access into the titular characters mind.

The exploration of family dynamics and patriarchal structures has potential, but is in itself not revolutionary. I am not impressed by the discussion of mental health, which seemed directionless at some points and caricaturistic at others.


A story filled with passive women and abusive men, that allures into a helpless melancholy on one page and leaves you disturbed on the next. Many content warnings. I cannot think of someone I would recommend this to.

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niarichards's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


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mbates222's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0


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m_a_j's review

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5


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46jjsg's review

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


The Vegetarian- 3.5/5 

I don't even know what to say about this one. the wife definitely has a mental illness, but with her husband and her family I'm not surprised she ended up this way? You kinda of have to infere what caused her to spiral, but if you have any idea what's it's like to be a woman in Korea I'm afraid it's not that difficult to imagine. I was absolutely shocked and disgusted when her husband (the narrator) described her as a comfort woman and him, and Japanese soldier.

Mongolian Mark 2/5 

oh this one was sicker than the previous one

Flaming Trees 4/5 

As an eldest daughter, I thought Inhye's perspective was enlightening. I don't know really what to feel except my chest feels stuffy? This entire work was unsettling, but the 3rd short resonated with me the most and I thought it was a fitting conclusion to wrap the entire message of the collection. 

When a person undergoes such a drastic transformation, there's simply nothing anyone else can do but sit back and let them get on with it.

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blueshirt's review

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dark sad 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

2.5

I thought this was a horror book, and it definitely is not. It's just a sad, mildly boring story about
a lady with schizophrenia who goes vegetarian, is taken advantage of by her brother-in-law, and then starves herself to death (or nearly so).
Not my cup of tea.

And I can only assume that the reviewer on the book jacket who compared this to Kafka doesn't understand that cultural norms vary between cultures. This wasn't Kafkaeqsue at all....

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pen_disc0's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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turidt's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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

3.5


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ayce929's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0


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tigertheory's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

Very interesting read that touches on a lot of contemporary and timeless issues. Probably even better if you’re more familiar with Korean culture than I am. Sucked me in and spit me out a different person in the end – different how I can’t say though.

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