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A review by rl_reads
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Definitely not a beach read. Heavy on the metaphors/symbolism and violence done to the main character to illustrate the former.
In my non-academic opinion, it was giving The Yellow Wallpaper but a modern take. Overall I felt like as a leisure reader I probably missed a lot of the deeper nuance but the overall(?) theme of “female hysteria” and how misogyny and patriarchy play an insidious role in who is deemed “insane” and why was clear enough for a leisure reader like myself. I wouldn’t classify this 100% as horror but I do find it quite unsettling that we never actually get to hear from Yeong-hye and learn her perspective. We only ever see her through the eyes of others which is basically how society ensures that women behave… you are only as good/worthy as the people around you deem you to be.
In my non-academic opinion, it was giving The Yellow Wallpaper but a modern take. Overall I felt like as a leisure reader I probably missed a lot of the deeper nuance but the overall(?) theme of “female hysteria” and how misogyny and patriarchy play an insidious role in who is deemed “insane” and why was clear enough for a leisure reader like myself. I wouldn’t classify this 100% as horror but I do find it quite unsettling that we never actually get to hear from Yeong-hye and learn her perspective. We only ever see her through the eyes of others which is basically how society ensures that women behave… you are only as good/worthy as the people around you deem you to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis