dumdish 's review for:

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

4.5

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Such a strange and visceral read. It’s interesting to read about the opinion of men as a woman’s mental health steadily deteriorates, immediately casting her aside and desiring her despite (or perhaps because of?) her apathy and instability. Her sister’s perspective was quite sad too. I need a while to digest this book and reflect on its themes. An amazingly written protest against the derision that women face at the mere hint of the ‘abnormal’. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail