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challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is not a feel good book. It’s not something you pick up and enjoy reading. However, it’s one that oddly draws you in until suddenly, you’re at the back cover, tense from reading through the perspectives of unfathomable antagonists.
The Vegetarian very uniquely explores patriarchal power systems and socialization in addition to the complexity and difficulty of finding release from said systems. This book will make you uncomfortable and see the unfortunate pieces of reality many endure, especially considering the cultural setting of the novel.
The Vegetarian very uniquely explores patriarchal power systems and socialization in addition to the complexity and difficulty of finding release from said systems. This book will make you uncomfortable and see the unfortunate pieces of reality many endure, especially considering the cultural setting of the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After I read the first two chapters, I was about to rate this 2 stars, but the last chapter definitely made me realise I’m marking the book based on how terrible I feel reading it but that’s exactly what the author wants you to feel.
This isn’t a feel good book about women choosing their own path, this is the unfiltered version we get of seeing what men really think about us & how they treat us, doesn’t matter if you’re related to them or not.
Reading this r*** scenes in this book were like jump scares, so hard hitting and so scary for the protagonist who throughout just wants to express her own choice. I saw a lot of people reviewing this book based on being vegan & how the idea of choice and not fitting into society is limiting them, but I’m not vegan, I can only rate this on being a woman & going the drastic measure for the need of choice.
The men in this novel treat the protagonist like a piece of meat, exactly what she’s trying to remove herself from, they see her as just her body & how much she can offer to the men for their hard work but all she wants is just a peaceful life until the death she wants with the lack of food.
Starving herself until the end she believes can remove her from the suffering she has to put up with on earth and through her dreams that even her sister starts to experience. It’s interesting how it was her sister that experienced it but no perspective from the mum, almost like the younger generation of women have the choice of freedom or confinement & they choice freedom. But their mum’s generation didn’t have that choice so stuck with the confinement to an abusive father.
All in all, a part of me is not happy I like this book with how brutal the women were put through, but I do believe it has its importance as a great feminist literary read, esp written by a woman with male character’s being expressed by a woman.
This isn’t a feel good book about women choosing their own path, this is the unfiltered version we get of seeing what men really think about us & how they treat us, doesn’t matter if you’re related to them or not.
Reading this r*** scenes in this book were like jump scares, so hard hitting and so scary for the protagonist who throughout just wants to express her own choice. I saw a lot of people reviewing this book based on being vegan & how the idea of choice and not fitting into society is limiting them, but I’m not vegan, I can only rate this on being a woman & going the drastic measure for the need of choice.
The men in this novel treat the protagonist like a piece of meat, exactly what she’s trying to remove herself from, they see her as just her body & how much she can offer to the men for their hard work but all she wants is just a peaceful life until the death she wants with the lack of food.
Starving herself until the end she believes can remove her from the suffering she has to put up with on earth and through her dreams that even her sister starts to experience. It’s interesting how it was her sister that experienced it but no perspective from the mum, almost like the younger generation of women have the choice of freedom or confinement & they choice freedom. But their mum’s generation didn’t have that choice so stuck with the confinement to an abusive father.
All in all, a part of me is not happy I like this book with how brutal the women were put through, but I do believe it has its importance as a great feminist literary read, esp written by a woman with male character’s being expressed by a woman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt
Minor: Abandonment
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Twisted but thrilling and impossible to put down. I’m still struggling to find the words to describe the book.
So - the book won the Booker International Prize 2016, and Han Kang won the Nobel Prize for Literature last year, so naturally I was curious! And then the descriptions of the book: A woman becomes vegetarian and it sets off a grotesque chain of events. …okayyy… weird but I decided to give it a shot.
And what a journey it was. The book is incredibly well-written (and probably very well translated?). I feel like it gave me some insight into Korean culture, but I do wish that I understood Korean culture a bit better before reading this. It’s not really about vegetarianism or meat-eating, but more about power, self-perception and societal constructs. I do have to admit that I was a little baffled by the ending, and based on a quick google search… I’m not the only one 😆 I guess it was intentionally left up to the reader’s interpretation, which is fitting but I found it a bit unsettling (oops).
But I’ll definitely be on the lookout for other books from Han Kang as the unique writing style and inimitable perspective are simply unparalleled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Rape
don't know what to feel about this one
the prose and the images created by the author are so beautiful
the things that happen are horrible and found myself very upset reading them, so withdrew from the story in order to protect my sanity/feelings
i can understand that people love it but it just makes me depressed that this is the norm for women in this world
the prose and the images created by the author are so beautiful
the things that happen are horrible and found myself very upset reading them, so withdrew from the story in order to protect my sanity/feelings
i can understand that people love it but it just makes me depressed that this is the norm for women in this world
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is an almost impossible book to rate and review. It’s the type of story that lingers and keeps you returning to its ideas continuously. I found it to be really complex and I needed to slow down and take my time to read critically and interpret each part. It is so weird, so unsettling, and a lot more violent than I initially thought it would be. It’s an exploration of body autonomy and choice, societal expectations, power dynamics, sexuality and obsession, freedom and restriction.
One single choice causes such extreme reactions in the men in Yeong-hye’s life. Having the perspective of Yeong-hye’s husband was violent in and of itself, outside of his later actions. I was really affected by him. I hated him and I hated being inside his head. The three different narrative perspectives of the book (Yeong-hye’s huband, brother-in-law, and sister) emphasized that we never got Yeong-hye’s perspective of her own story; we never got to enter into her mind at all apart from brief vignettes from her nightmares. It’s a story full of other people’s opinions on her choices that are coloured by their own biases, thoughts, beliefs, and life experiences. She has no voice.
I think for me it was ultimately about control and body autonomy; being able to make decisions about and for your body. I would love to be able to go back to my English lit courses in university and analyze this one with other people. It is massively open to interpretation and every reader will get something different from this book. What I know for certain is that it was deeply affecting and I understand if this is either hated or loved.
One single choice causes such extreme reactions in the men in Yeong-hye’s life. Having the perspective of Yeong-hye’s husband was violent in and of itself, outside of his later actions. I was really affected by him. I hated him and I hated being inside his head. The three different narrative perspectives of the book (Yeong-hye’s huband, brother-in-law, and sister) emphasized that we never got Yeong-hye’s perspective of her own story; we never got to enter into her mind at all apart from brief vignettes from her nightmares. It’s a story full of other people’s opinions on her choices that are coloured by their own biases, thoughts, beliefs, and life experiences. She has no voice.
I think for me it was ultimately about control and body autonomy; being able to make decisions about and for your body. I would love to be able to go back to my English lit courses in university and analyze this one with other people. It is massively open to interpretation and every reader will get something different from this book. What I know for certain is that it was deeply affecting and I understand if this is either hated or loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
This was a challenging book. I wish I had a more in-depth understanding of Korean culture because, as is the case with many translations, I can't help but wonder what context I will have inherently missed by virtue of being a non-native.
The book is split into three sections that felt like 3 smaller novellas that happened to converge on the same subject (the tonal shift and shift in narrator perspective between the each section was so pronounced that I wonder if in fact this was originally written as three separate works?) Yeong-Hye is the titular vegetarian, but feels more like a secondary character as each section follows one of three of her close-relations; her husband, Mr. Cheong, her unnamed brother-in-law, and her sister, In-Hye.
The pacing in the first section is slow, but I think there is enough curiosity built around the main-character's conversion to vegetarianism and her subsequent mental health spiral that the pace doesn't end up feeling torturous. More than the other two sections, the first section felt like there was some social commentary that I was missing. I know there is a lot of tension around gender relations in S. Korea now, as there had been in 2016 when the book was published, and it seems unlikely that Mr. Cheong's selfishness, solipsism, and general disregard for his wife's well-being would be unrelated to that broader context.
Sections two and three felt more "universal." Without spoiling too much, after a major traumatic incident, Yeong-Hye's brother-in-law develops an obsessive sexual interest in her. His selfishness is more subtle, less intentional, and more interesting.
The third section, which follows Yeong-Hye's older sister, In-Hye, was both the saddest and most relatable. The only person to show genuine concern for Yeong-Hye's, In-Hye struggles with her own more understated mental health problems. The writing in this section was more fluid and more challenging, flowing freely and rapidly between past and present. The language in this section was more poetic, and despite being incredibly depressing, was my favorite section to read.
I don't think this book is right for everyone, but I would selfishly recommend it as I am curious to hear as many perspectives on this story as I can. I would suggest that sensitive readers check the content warnings as some of the subject material was difficult.
The book is split into three sections that felt like 3 smaller novellas that happened to converge on the same subject (the tonal shift and shift in narrator perspective between the each section was so pronounced that I wonder if in fact this was originally written as three separate works?) Yeong-Hye is the titular vegetarian, but feels more like a secondary character as each section follows one of three of her close-relations; her husband, Mr. Cheong, her unnamed brother-in-law, and her sister, In-Hye.
The pacing in the first section is slow, but I think there is enough curiosity built around the main-character's conversion to vegetarianism and her subsequent mental health spiral that the pace doesn't end up feeling torturous. More than the other two sections, the first section felt like there was some social commentary that I was missing. I know there is a lot of tension around gender relations in S. Korea now, as there had been in 2016 when the book was published, and it seems unlikely that Mr. Cheong's selfishness, solipsism, and general disregard for his wife's well-being would be unrelated to that broader context.
Sections two and three felt more "universal." Without spoiling too much, after a major traumatic incident, Yeong-Hye's brother-in-law develops an obsessive sexual interest in her. His selfishness is more subtle, less intentional, and more interesting.
The third section, which follows Yeong-Hye's older sister, In-Hye, was both the saddest and most relatable. The only person to show genuine concern for Yeong-Hye's, In-Hye struggles with her own more understated mental health problems. The writing in this section was more fluid and more challenging, flowing freely and rapidly between past and present. The language in this section was more poetic, and despite being incredibly depressing, was my favorite section to read.
I don't think this book is right for everyone, but I would selfishly recommend it as I am curious to hear as many perspectives on this story as I can. I would suggest that sensitive readers check the content warnings as some of the subject material was difficult.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Blood
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
Very vivid and creative but also so so distributing!!
I couldn’t finish part 3 at first because outside of watching Yeong-hye waste away, I couldn’t figure what the point of it all was. Like the story stared to drag.
I was really into it at first even though Yeong-hye husband’s was absolutely terrible. I thought her strange behavior was gonna be because she was running a crime ring or something interesting and ironic since her husband viewed her as boring and average. But actually she’s devolving into psychotic fits.
These dreams and nightmares about meat eating and memories from her childhood completely make this character into a simultaneously erratic and stoic person.
Then we get into part two, and the brother in law also starts kinda normal before he lets his baser nature and obsession get the best of him. Like can you imagine marrying your wife but wanting her sister then actually going through with cheating even while you know that sister is ill? Absurd. And he was a terrible father, even before his obsession with the sister.
All the dads/husbands were pretty terrible, so maybe that’s social commentary about patriarchy. Idk.
So Yeong-hye’s part was about disconnecting from something central to her—her relationship with meat—and like pushing something away. But it being told her husbands POV takes away her autonomy that she doesn’t recover through the book.
While the brother in law’s section was about indulgence and like stepping into something. He was so persistent in his pursuit to create art, and slake his lust at the expense of everything else.
So the main characters of these parts are both at extremes but then the sister is a thread between all three parts. She’s just kinda there; caretaker, jilted wife, “the good sister” etc.
All of part 3 made me want to throw up so I had to skip to the last few passages. It felt like part 3 was a different book entirely from parts 1 and 2.
While I don’t understand the message or goal of the book, I’m left with a few things:
How tragic illness can be on a family when someone’s body can betray them so intimately and completely.
Angry at how In-hye could blame herself for every terrible thing that happened in the story-- husband‘s adultery, Yeong-hye sickness, her father’s abuse. It felt so unfair that the most gentle character has to deal with so much heartache and responsibility, also cannot see how valuable she is to her family.
Very odd book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
Das Buch hat mich beim Lesen verwirrt und verstört, aber gleichzeitig wollte ich trotzdem wissen wie es weiter geht.
Ich finde, dass dieses Buch versucht gesellschaftliche Themen zu behandeln und zu kritisieren.
Die Darstellung und Kritik vom Patriarchat und dem Sexismus finde ich wirklich gelungen, da es die extrem verstörende Seiten davon aufgezeigt hat.
Das Thema von toxischen und autoritären familiären Beziehungen finde ich im großen Teilen auch gut behandelt und kritisiert, aber die Auswirkungen auf die beiden Schwestern kamen zu kurz für mich.
Schließlich liegt meine größte Kritik in der Darstellung von psychischen Krankheiten. Meiner Meinung nach ist diese Darstellung sehr stigmatisiert und zeigt fast nur wie psychische Krankheiten die Nahestehenden der erkrankten Person betreffen, statt mehr darauf einzugehen, wie es den Erkrankten ergeht. Auch wurde der Erkrankten irgendwann unterschwellig die Menschlichkeit abgesprochen, was ich stark kritisiere.
Die wenigen Szenen, wo die Sicht einer psychisch Erkrankten behandelt wurde, kamen viel zu kurz, um den Rest auszugleichen.
Dein Schreibstil fand ich gut und sehr passend für diese Geschichte. Meine einzige Kritik ist hier, dass ich einen Abschnitt mittig im Buch zu lang gezogen fand.
Insgesamt ist es also ein gut geschriebenes Buch, welches mehrere Themen wirklich gut behandelt, aber das Thema von psychischen Krankheiten einfach sehr unpassend behandelt. Somit habe ich drei Sterne vergeben.
Ich finde, dass dieses Buch versucht gesellschaftliche Themen zu behandeln und zu kritisieren.
Die Darstellung und Kritik vom Patriarchat und dem Sexismus finde ich wirklich gelungen, da es die extrem verstörende Seiten davon aufgezeigt hat.
Das Thema von toxischen und autoritären familiären Beziehungen finde ich im großen Teilen auch gut behandelt und kritisiert, aber die Auswirkungen auf die beiden Schwestern kamen zu kurz für mich.
Schließlich liegt meine größte Kritik in der Darstellung von psychischen Krankheiten. Meiner Meinung nach ist diese Darstellung sehr stigmatisiert und zeigt fast nur wie psychische Krankheiten die Nahestehenden der erkrankten Person betreffen, statt mehr darauf einzugehen, wie es den Erkrankten ergeht. Auch wurde der Erkrankten irgendwann unterschwellig die Menschlichkeit abgesprochen, was ich stark kritisiere.
Die wenigen Szenen, wo die Sicht einer psychisch Erkrankten behandelt wurde, kamen viel zu kurz, um den Rest auszugleichen.
Dein Schreibstil fand ich gut und sehr passend für diese Geschichte. Meine einzige Kritik ist hier, dass ich einen Abschnitt mittig im Buch zu lang gezogen fand.
Insgesamt ist es also ein gut geschriebenes Buch, welches mehrere Themen wirklich gut behandelt, aber das Thema von psychischen Krankheiten einfach sehr unpassend behandelt. Somit habe ich drei Sterne vergeben.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Eating disorder, Vomit
Minor: Dementia, Death of parent