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A review by bookcook
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I don't want to rate this book. I am just glad it's fucking over.
UPDATE:
I have now had a bit to think about why this book affected me the way it did and I can explain why I didn't like it. First, I want to say that this book is well written. It's translated so I can understand that there are bound to be some differences and some choices made that alter how I received this story vs how it's written in the author's native language. But even with this barrier I understand I'm consuming something that was made be a skilled person.
That being said the reasons for me not liking this book are largely plot related. I did not like that we were witnessing this woman's abuse from all angles from her father, her husband, and her brother in law. This woman has been violated in every way her whole life and the first 2 parts of the book go into this in unforgiving detail. We also almost never see what is happening from Yeong-hye's perspective making her feel like less of a character and more of a plot device. The way this book is marketed and described by other reviewers places Yeong-hye's decision to stop eating meat as the inciting incident for all that happens, which is giving her a misleading amount of autonomy. The lack of perspective from Yeong-hye must be a deliberate choice but as another reviewer pointed out, since when is eliminating the perspective of the mentally ill a ground breaking decision?
The book does bring in her sister, In-hye, as a refreshing perspective towards the end. In-hye does understand what is happening with her sister and sees the abuse inflicted on her for what it is but it's almost too little too late after reading about Yeong-hye's multiple assaults for the first 2/3 of the book. I felt for both of these women who had been let down by so many people but then the book ends before anything is finished leaving you with a dry, terrible taste in your mouth.
I'm not sure this obsession with giving the most miserable books awards but this book was a great reminder why I don't often leave my sci fi/fantasy hole. At least when bad things happen there you get to read about a dragon or an alien doing something cool.
UPDATE:
I have now had a bit to think about why this book affected me the way it did and I can explain why I didn't like it. First, I want to say that this book is well written. It's translated so I can understand that there are bound to be some differences and some choices made that alter how I received this story vs how it's written in the author's native language. But even with this barrier I understand I'm consuming something that was made be a skilled person.
That being said the reasons for me not liking this book are largely plot related. I did not like that we were witnessing this woman's abuse from all angles from her father, her husband, and her brother in law. This woman has been violated in every way her whole life and the first 2 parts of the book go into this in unforgiving detail. We also almost never see what is happening from Yeong-hye's perspective making her feel like less of a character and more of a plot device. The way this book is marketed and described by other reviewers places Yeong-hye's decision to stop eating meat as the inciting incident for all that happens, which is giving her a misleading amount of autonomy. The lack of perspective from Yeong-hye must be a deliberate choice but as another reviewer pointed out, since when is eliminating the perspective of the mentally ill a ground breaking decision?
The book does bring in her sister, In-hye, as a refreshing perspective towards the end. In-hye does understand what is happening with her sister and sees the abuse inflicted on her for what it is but it's almost too little too late after reading about Yeong-hye's multiple assaults for the first 2/3 of the book. I felt for both of these women who had been let down by so many people but then the book ends before anything is finished leaving you with a dry, terrible taste in your mouth.
I'm not sure this obsession with giving the most miserable books awards but this book was a great reminder why I don't often leave my sci fi/fantasy hole. At least when bad things happen there you get to read about a dragon or an alien doing something cool.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault