Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

933 reviews

noshinbean's review against another edition

5.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt

jacklessjill_'s review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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As I write this review, I can’t help but think of poet June Jordan who once wrote how poetry can “build a revolution in which speaking and listening to somebody becomes the first and last purpose to every social encounter.” An exploration of the violence inherent to not knowing the other yet nevertheless seeking to control them, The Vegetarian had me wondering when in my life I have been Yeong-hye and when I have been those who failed her. Haunting and challenging. What a book to close out 2024.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault

lydiasilvestri's review against another edition

2.5

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

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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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Vomit

lolipopowiec's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional tense

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I am In-hye in the parallel universe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse

bytesyzed's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault

niarichards's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body horror, Self harm

withlivjones's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark reflective 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: No

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It felt unfinished and kind of underwhelming. I was expecting this book to be more weird than sad but it ended up being more sad than weird. There are some parts that are very well-written, some that are pretty graphic and disturbing, and some that don’t make much sense at all. Part of me wanted a chapter from the perspective of Yeong-Hye, just to know what was actually going through her mind. 

Maybe I just don’t have a high enough IQ to understand this book - I’m still curious to read more Han Kang in the future, though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit

mbates222's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence

gauntlet's review against another edition

4.0

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This book is disturbing. Well-written and compelling, but definitely highlights the depraved nature of men. Please mind the content warnings before reading!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death

keevahh's review against another edition

3.25

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis