Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

512 reviews

kayleepopovich's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

A beautifully written read about the tragedy of being a woman. Being the object of men's desires, anger, derision, amazement, mystery, and all the classic but ever relevant aspects of being a woman Different from the Others are front and center in this story, but in a biting and mocking way at the expense of the men and society at large. The extreme degree to which Kang takes the notion that a woman is mentally ill for wanting bodily and psychological autonomy illustrates how simply perverse the things we as a society expect of women and the things we let men get away with. It was a compelling and emotionally difficult read, and all the more powerful. I actually think the pace could have slowed down a bit, and the book could have been 20 to 30 percent longer to really build the climax up. Would recommend to someone wanting a tense but rather quick read that packs a punch. Beautifully translated as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Dysphoria

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

lalu's review against another edition

dark mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Ich hab's nicht gerafft.
Ich kann mir richtig gut vorstellen, wie dieses Buch im Deutschunterricht* auseinander genommen und bis zum geht nicht mehr interpretiert wird. Sowas lag mir nie, dafür bin ich einfach eine zu oberflächliche Leserin.

Der Sexismus und die Objektifizierung der Frauen, welche von den männlichen Figuren ausging, hat mich tierisch aufgeregt, aber ich glaube das war auch der Sinn...? Aber ich bin wie gesagt nicht immer mitgekommen, und das lag nur zum Teil daran, dass ich das Hörbuch gehört habe.

Aber hey, ich habe eine weitere Nobelpreisträgerin abhaken können und habe einen Ausflug aus meiner Komfortzone raus gemacht.

* so ein krasses Buch in der Schule lesen? Das wird doch nie passieren! Naja, also ich durfte in der Schule Das Parfum (Mord & Massenorgie), Räuberhände (Sex mit der Mutter des besten Freundes), Die Leiden des jungen Werther (Suizid) und Homo Faber (Sex mit der eigenen Tochter) lesen. Da reihen sich (Spoiler für die content warnings)

Vergewaltigung, häusliche Gewalt, versuchter Suizid und eine Essstörung

doch wunderbar ein. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

husky's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

jenlengland's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Child abuse, Blood, and Abandonment

michaeljporcaro's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

breeliant's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

louiseka's review against another edition

challenging tense

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

celestialwillow's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

1.75

According to the publishing info, this was originally three "novelettes" now combined into this book.
1) Main characters husband - he's horrible
2) Main characters brother-in-law - he's also horrible
3) Main characters sister - she's just weak and has her own issues.
You don't get anything from the POV of the main character.  She's a vegan, not a vegetarian.
It's just awful. At least it's short.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Body shaming

Minor: Medical content

ienbdri's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

lavendelchen's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

Das Buch war so gar nicht, was ich erwartet hatte. Düster und verstörend, hat es mich trotzdem so sehr gepackt, dass ich es in einem Rutsch gelesen habe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis