Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

299 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

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

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

shushkeepitdown's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

2.0

Society fails another woman with mental illness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

ebp's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Dysphoria

skk111321's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

alyssatuininga's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am not sure that I have the words to review this book yet. I can absolutely see why it was awarded The Novel Prize and The Booker Prize. It was heartbreaking, rage-inducing, disgusting, visceral, raw and painfully real. This is not a simple book about a woman who decides to become a vegetarian. This is a book about society,  bodily autonomy, patriarchy, family structure and responsibilities, abuse, mental illness. The list could go on and on. The writing is gorgeous and the characters are so real it is almost painful. I will have more to say at some point but for now I know that this book will be on my mind for a VERY long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

itssosarah's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis