gireads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Rape, and Vomit
grimreader_agatha's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Moderate: Vomit and Blood
Minor: Medical trauma
timedothwasteme'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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Domestic abuse
lilyadams2's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Blood, Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Vomit, and Physical abuse
kgreene17'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
3.25
<I ended up completing the book, I did find it engaging and it really has a way of pulling you into it and into the minds of these different characters, however it remains deeply unsettling for the entirety of the book. Perhaps as a person who has struggled with certain mental health issues described in this book, it just affected me really uncomfortably, and I don’t believe this will ever be on a re-read list for me.>
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Vomit, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
laraamaee's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Animal death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, and Eating disorder
iseefireke's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
The second part I feel had the best imagery. The artist was focused on his work and I liked how it intertwined with the story.
The third part was...strange.
Spoiler
when she was hospitalizedI had a personal connection with the main character as I'm vegetarian as well. However, there was a lot more going on with the main character. Definitely an eating disorder and probably psychosis. It's not really made clear.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Chronic illness, Bullying, Grief, Misogyny, and Self harm
Moderate: Medical content, Vomit, Dementia, Rape, Blood, and Domestic abuse
ofavalley's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
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.lakeofwords's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit