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A review by lemonadecat
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
5.0
Have you ever read a book that, when you finish, you just have to sit there and chew on it for a while? Like, the rest of your day is sort of a fog because it's so heavy on you? That's this book.
I was drawn to this book immediately because of the themes; I'll admit that I'm a sucker for books about deranged and somewhat violent women. However, what I got when reading this was miles different than what I was expecting. I still feel unsettled about the content a month later writing this review, but to my best knowledge, that's the intent. To make you question society, women's place in it, how mental health is treated, and to haunt you a bit. And it does that excellently and tastefully without sacrificing grit and nuance.
I will warn readers in advance that there is some potentially triggering content. The book has mentions and some brief depictions of rape, sexual assault, abuse, and eating disorders. A massive theme in this book is "the male gaze" and the subjugation of women who are seen as "other" or less than. There are sections that are written from the perspective of, without spoiling much, a male who is sexually violent in bursts. Typically, I struggle to get through rape/sexual assault scenes and mentions of it in literature. However, the writing in this book is masterfully done and does not lean sympathetically or gratuitously in any way when referencing such violence. In fact, it made me feel seen as a survivor, even if it was a deeply upsetting topic to push through.
Honestly, this book left me at a loss for words. I say that as a compliment. It is few and far between that a book leaves me this shaken. There is so much to unpack in such a short book that I feel like I could dedicate a day to mulling it over and still be left with a feeling of unease.
***** - Five stars
I was drawn to this book immediately because of the themes; I'll admit that I'm a sucker for books about deranged and somewhat violent women. However, what I got when reading this was miles different than what I was expecting. I still feel unsettled about the content a month later writing this review, but to my best knowledge, that's the intent. To make you question society, women's place in it, how mental health is treated, and to haunt you a bit. And it does that excellently and tastefully without sacrificing grit and nuance.
I will warn readers in advance that there is some potentially triggering content. The book has mentions and some brief depictions of rape, sexual assault, abuse, and eating disorders. A massive theme in this book is "the male gaze" and the subjugation of women who are seen as "other" or less than. There are sections that are written from the perspective of, without spoiling much, a male who is sexually violent in bursts. Typically, I struggle to get through rape/sexual assault scenes and mentions of it in literature. However, the writing in this book is masterfully done and does not lean sympathetically or gratuitously in any way when referencing such violence. In fact, it made me feel seen as a survivor, even if it was a deeply upsetting topic to push through.
Honestly, this book left me at a loss for words. I say that as a compliment. It is few and far between that a book leaves me this shaken. There is so much to unpack in such a short book that I feel like I could dedicate a day to mulling it over and still be left with a feeling of unease.
***** - Five stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Sexual content