Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

249 reviews

sinaprst's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• 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, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

jojotimber's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

tilder's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

A feminist piece about two sisters and the darkness they share. A testament to patriarchal structures within families and the health system, Kang supplies ample commentary on the nuance of mental health treatment. I reccomend this book to someone who needs a jolt back to the present, beautiful prose and sharp horror this book checks all the boxes of modern magical realism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

kat_jack's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Sexual content

pixylprincess's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

I enjoyed this story but it made me feel really uncomfortable and sick. It was exhausting and tense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Eating disorder

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, and Suicide attempt

oprah_wimpy's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

I did not understand the hype of this book. It was all I could do to finish it. I did, but my goodness I did not enjoy it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

leilorenzo's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

This one packs a punch. Rather, multiple ones. There are MANY trigger warnings, check them out before starting it. 
It was interesting reading a piece from a South Korean author (I believe it is a first for me) and I enjoyed how the culture was portrayed throughout the book. 
We are shown the slow degeneration of the FMC from three perspectives: her husband's (and a bit of hers), her brother in law's and, finally, her sister's. It deals with themes such as family, nature and humanity, mental illness, being an outcast, and more.

It is very well executed, but I don't think I'll be reading it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

michaelion's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

2.5

um girl what was that? i guess i kinda get it bc i too once wrote a meaningless story like this before. i too wish to be a flower / tree.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, and Medical content

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

iamamockingbird's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It's visceral. Certain images stays with u. It's meant to make the reader feel uncomfortable, grossed out and Marvel at the ways in which a human brain can function to madk trauma.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

snarkycrafter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This is Lit Fic, and a very good one at that. But as with all Lit Fic, there are many layers that caused you to critically think and discover the true meaning of the novel. It’s a great book, but not for those who like to have everything spelled out. This book requires you to uncover the meaning of things, the purpose of certain literary choices. It’s not an enjoyable, fluffy read. You will be uncomfortable, you will be confused, you won’t know how you feel sometimes. That’s how I felt, and yet I could not deny that I saw myself in certain things. 

I think it’s a very interesting and compelling commentary on gender, norms and societal expectations (especially for women) in South Korean culture.

“Her calm acceptance of all these things made her seem to him something sacred. Whether human, animal, or plant she could not be called a person…” 

So dehumanizing of women. Only sacred as long as we remain submissive and pliant. 

Her brother in law wants to film her having sex with a man. And is talking about it like it’s a done deal, “if he were to choose a man to have sex with his sister in law it couldn’t be him[self]…” he assumes simply that she’ll be ok with it if he corners her into the situation.

“It’s your body. You can treat it however you please. The only area where you’re free to do just as you like, and even that doesn’t turn out just as you want it.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Medical trauma