A review by niles_reads
The Vegetarian by Han Kang

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another great read at the start of the year!

The title portrays it as a book about a mentally ill woman who turned vegetarian, but it is so, so much more.

From discussing different ways someone can handle abuse to what it means to be a good mother, this book really makes you realize how different each person is and how differently we operate.

The blurb definitely doesn’t do it justice.

This book managed to disturb me with the dog scene; beware that there is animal abuse in it. 

A 5 star read! It is a hard book to recommend to someone, but a definite must read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Abandonment