A review by emilygoneferal
The Vegetarian by Han Kang

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

5.0

A truly haunting and thought-provoking read. It is a deeply unsettling story, with all of the characters feeling somewhat (or entirely) unlikeable at times. Throughout the entire book, you desire something you can't have - an understanding of the Yeong-hye's POV - and this desire puts you on a similar level as the horrifying characters who tell her story. Both those characters and you as the reader want to understand someone so desperately, with no hope of ever achieving it.

Equally, I found that In-hye becomes somewhat of a secondary main character, with every chapter in the book revolving around her in some way. It really drives home this idea that her and Yeong-hye are deeply connected, and very similar, despite seeming outwardly very different.
It makes the motif at the end of the book where In-hye questions whether it could have been her suffering from these mental health issues even more powerful.


This is a difficult book. Read with caution, and with care for yourself. Kang's prose absolutely makes it worth the read, and the imagery is something which could be dissected a million times over. It dissects the misogyny of daily life and objectification of women in such a casual way that it is hard to swallow. Han Kang, I bow to you.
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