A review by renegadegrocerycart
The Vegetarian, by Han Kang
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Challenging and darkly fascinating exploration of obsession, bodily purity, mental illness, and societal control. It’s very difficult to read, but worth it, I think.
Yeong-hye is reminiscent of Anna of The Wonder by Emma Donoghue in her obsession to purify her body in response to trauma; it’s interesting to read them side-by-side.
Yeong-hye is reminiscent of Anna of The Wonder by Emma Donoghue in her obsession to purify her body in response to trauma; it’s interesting to read them side-by-side.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Grief, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Rape
All of the aforementioned trigger warnings are integral to the story. If you are sensitive to any of them, consider taking a pass on this story.