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ninaprime 's review for:
The Vegetarian
by Han Kang
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disturbing and horrific read but thematically interesting in it's examination of Korean patriarchal culture and its constraints on women, human cruelty and desires, and our connection with the natural world. The lyrical translation was a highlight. The book was constructed in a clever way, almost three mini-novellas, but the terrible male characters narrating the first two sections turned me off and increased my empathy for poor In-hye whose perspective comes through in the third section. I really don't know what to make of it - it wasn't fun, but it was thought-provoking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Rape, Blood, Medical trauma
Moderate: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide attempt