thesecretalice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Blood, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
maddamreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Part 1 The Vegetarian
Definitely a strong but strange opener, the choice to have the story be told primarily through the husbands thoughts is provoking. It touches on themes of duty and expectation for women while also having the reader question “what defines madness.”
Spoiler
You start to empathize with Yeong-hye's desire. How much is it madness and how much is it reaction to her family and husband not respecting her wishes.Part 2 The Mongolian Mark
I hated this chapter so much I skimmed a bit. Talking about lust, need, and the romanticization of living and mental illness. I found the character to be deeply unsatisfactory and one-dimensional, even though it felt like the point was to make the audience empathize with him.
Spoiler
There could have been an exploration of the meaning of sex, the meaning of art, and the meaning of living fully. But all I got was a horny guy having sex with his sister in law “for the sake of art.”Part 3 Flaming Trees
A thorough, honest look at mental illness, how it affects one’s duties to others, and grief for someone still alive. It was very introspective, but it could have been way shorter with the flashbacks. The overall tone is melancholy and helpless-which is perfect. It did not make me turn pages the way the first chapter did.
Graphic: Blood, Eating disorder, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Blood, and Sexual violence
May be hard to read if previously suffered from depression and/or an eating disorder.aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
- 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
2.25
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Sexual content, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Eating disorder
shangchunsong's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Mental illness, Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
ashlynregan's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Cursing, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Child abuse, Classism, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
loustat__'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Self harm, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Blood, Physical abuse, Rape, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abandonment
maddeesryan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
pipchiappa's review
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Animal cruelty, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal death, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexism
drinkthefloor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Violence, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
coincidentally_k's review
- 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
1.75
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Gore, Rape, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse and Vomit