A review by larakaa
Die Vegetarierin by Han Kang

challenging tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was really weird. And I don't mean the kind of weird that I like. Honestly, I'm not sure how to rate this, so I won't, at least for now. 

The first thing I don't like about the book is that we get three points of views/narrators which are the husband, the brother in law and the sister of the titular vegetarian, but not herself. So everyone is talking about her but we never really get her point of view, her thoughts and feelings. I realise, that's probably the point. None of the three understand her actions and don't really try to. While the two men are disgustingly egoistic and sexist, the sister was a bit more bearable but not really empathic as well. 

My second issue with the book is the link between vegetarianism and mental health. As if the former would somehow cause the latter or be a symptom of it. At least in the mind of the three narrators.

Maybe it's because I don't enjoy reading books with unlikeable protagonists often or maybe it's this sort of "criticism" that I don't like but this book isn't for me. 
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