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marimarifer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
2.0
emrodav's review against another edition
3.0
A very, very strange book. I went in expecting a horror story about dreams and instead got a horror story about sexual violence, obsession, and misogyny.
I think the first part of the book, narrated by the main character's husband and focusing on her decision to become a vegan because of her dreams of violence and blood, is the strongest. The descriptions of the dreams are compelling and what I expected from the book.
But then parts two and three move away from what worked in part one. The dreams become less of a focus. Yeong-hye feels less and less important in her story, which I know is part of the point, but can make it hard to want to continue.
I think this book could've been pretty amazing, but it just didn't completely work.
I think the first part of the book, narrated by the main character's husband and focusing on her decision to become a vegan because of her dreams of violence and blood, is the strongest. The descriptions of the dreams are compelling and what I expected from the book.
But then parts two and three move away from what worked in part one. The dreams become less of a focus. Yeong-hye feels less and less important in her story, which I know is part of the point, but can make it hard to want to continue.
I think this book could've been pretty amazing, but it just didn't completely work.
bookworms_closet's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
3.0
lapetitany's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
katmindae's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
intense but very compelling
luminous's review against another edition
71% DNF. It's rare that I DNF so far in, but this being a fairly short novel made it easy to press on in hopes it might hook me.
Might DNF. 60%. Audiobook.
Not what I'm looking for at this moment, I suppose. There's not much characterization to hang onto. The woman of the title doesn't have a POV at all, which I'm sure is intentional, because it emphasizes that this tale is in part about how society treats women who don't follow the rules, even if they're completely arbitrary rules like "eat meat." Though that point got a little bit undercut when it turns out she develops anorexia while avoiding all animal products, but she gets treatment and her health improves.
One thing I really liked was that no one in the first part (there are three parts) ever treated her like a person. No one asked her why she was no longer eating meat. No one asked what foods she might like to eat instead. She was just a fembot who was not behaving as programmed. People tried to shove meat in her mouth, tried to sneak it to her as broth, berated and harangued her.
So I think why she may have gone along with the art stuff in the second part is because her bro in law actually saw her as a person (even though he's nearly as execrable as the rest of the family) and treated her like an individual. He didn't try to force her to eat meat or force her into anything at all.
I did learn what a "Mongolian mark" is once I googled it. Kind of a blueish birthmark that usually goes away in the first few years of life, common among Asian ethnicities.
Eh, maybe I'll power through it. It is a short book, after all, and there isn't that much left, and apparently I am finding it thought provoking.
Might DNF. 60%. Audiobook.
Not what I'm looking for at this moment, I suppose. There's not much characterization to hang onto. The woman of the title doesn't have a POV at all, which I'm sure is intentional, because it emphasizes that this tale is in part about how society treats women who don't follow the rules, even if they're completely arbitrary rules like "eat meat." Though that point got a little bit undercut when it turns out she develops anorexia while avoiding all animal products, but she gets treatment and her health improves.
One thing I really liked was that no one in the first part (there are three parts) ever treated her like a person. No one asked her why she was no longer eating meat. No one asked what foods she might like to eat instead. She was just a fembot who was not behaving as programmed. People tried to shove meat in her mouth, tried to sneak it to her as broth, berated and harangued her.
So I think why she may have gone along with the art stuff in the second part is because her bro in law actually saw her as a person (even though he's nearly as execrable as the rest of the family) and treated her like an individual. He didn't try to force her to eat meat or force her into anything at all.
I did learn what a "Mongolian mark" is once I googled it. Kind of a blueish birthmark that usually goes away in the first few years of life, common among Asian ethnicities.
Eh, maybe I'll power through it. It is a short book, after all, and there isn't that much left, and apparently I am finding it thought provoking.
dawndiscusses's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
The most endearing part was Han's exploration of the impossibility of a truly ethical life, the impact of which I think has softened to some of the other perceived flaws others have pointed out. I'm generally not a fan of art that requires extra research (e.g. author interviews, discussion threads etc) to get a grasp on, but in this case I'm glad I followed my curiosity. Having watched Han discuss the project and reading a lot of the wonderful clarity provided by people in this community, I am moved by her willingness to open herself up and confront a subject matter that has plagued her for so long. Not in attempt to find a solution, but in the desire to explore what it means to be human. For that alone and the earnestness with which both she and translator Deborah Smith carried this project out, I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Medical content, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Rape, Self harm, Gore, Mental illness, Body shaming, Medical trauma, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Minor: Domestic abuse
felis_ignota's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
immeinen's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
vyhurz's review against another edition
4.0
Full Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdd7NOQ5ciE
This was a strange one, but after taking some time to think about the story, I decided to give this four stars. The story's structure was completely new to me. It's told in three parts. Every part surrounds the character Yeong-hye, but we never get her point-of-view. Instead, we get her husband, her brother-in-law, and finally her sister. I'm not sure what's a spoiler, so I don't want to say too much else. I feel it's important to note that there are many disturbing images throughout this book, so it deserves all the trigger warnings. Sexual assault, eating disorders, mental illness, self harm, copious amounts of blood. The book is short, but it's powerful. There is beautiful writing in here, and I would definitely read this again.
This was a strange one, but after taking some time to think about the story, I decided to give this four stars. The story's structure was completely new to me. It's told in three parts. Every part surrounds the character Yeong-hye, but we never get her point-of-view. Instead, we get her husband, her brother-in-law, and finally her sister. I'm not sure what's a spoiler, so I don't want to say too much else. I feel it's important to note that there are many disturbing images throughout this book, so it deserves all the trigger warnings. Sexual assault, eating disorders, mental illness, self harm, copious amounts of blood. The book is short, but it's powerful. There is beautiful writing in here, and I would definitely read this again.