Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

262 reviews

mahoyap's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• 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? N/A

3.75

The first two parts of the book are so eerie disturbing and disgusting. It was hard to keep reading for a long time because of how disorientated characters are. I like the third part the most where it was more like a literary fiction on feminism. The writing though, even I read the translation, the writing was so lyrically and beautiful. It gave out the eerie disturbing, opened ending vibes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Eating disorder, and Mental illness

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

yerulp's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Eating disorder, Medical content, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Body shaming, Infidelity, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

doomluz's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, Mental illness, Self harm, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, and Infidelity

janika96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Blood

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content

littlefroggy's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Self harm

Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

tlasata's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Body horror, Body shaming, Mental illness, Blood, and Suicide attempt

laraamaee's review against another edition

4.5

Wow…I read it mostly in one sitting…I’m blown away… This was a shocking read, from the animal abuse to the sexual violence, to the mental illness… As a vegan…this was certainly interesting. How do we live with the guilt of harming/eating animals? with being human and all that that entails? with the violence inflicted upon us—especially from men abusing their power under the patriarchy? Lots to think about………..

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Content Warnings

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

iloveboogie's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

4.25

intense, graphic look into the struggles and breaking point of women forced into submission 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Body horror, Death, Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Gore, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Self harm, Suicide, Mental illness, and Rape

itsjoenna's review against another edition

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

4.0

Reading the first two chapters was terrifying, I felt overwhelmed and confused the whole time. Then, I read the last chapter and... I felt scared, sad and tense. It was hard to keep reading. The ending is okay, I think it's a perfect fit for this book to end that way.

I honestly not sure if I love it or not, but 4 stars is the right score for me. Oddly enough, I can see myself re-reading this book over and over again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Suicide attempt

maddamreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

In three parts, the most compelling was the first and maybe the last, with the middle only serving to propel the story. It feels like statements and themes were on the beginning of exploration before abandoned to serve what happens next. I think a lot of the effect was missed by the translation into English.

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.  

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Content Warnings

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.