samstg 's review for:

The Vegetarian by Han Kang
3.75
dark reflective tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No

This book was disturbing - which I say as a good thing as this was the intent. The book is set up almost as 3 short stories, each following a different member of Yeong-hye's family as she becomes vegetarian and descends into what we may consider madness. Throughout, we examine each of these character's relationships with Yeong-hye and why they want to gain control over her vegetarianism - her husband's indifference for his wife but enjoying the benefits of the social conformity, her brother in-laws obsession with her and lack of care for his impact on her, and her sisters fear for her sister's life while struggling with the expectations of her own life. 

It's a fascinating character study that I will need to continue to mull over. 

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