A review by diannastarr
The Vegetarian, by Han Kang
dark
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
4.25
The Vegetarian is short, but it certainly packs a punch. After a grotesque dream, dutiful wife Yeong-hye decides to spontaneously go vegan - which sets off a series of dominos that unravels not only herself, but those around her. While I would have loved to have read this in its original forn, it is a fantastic translation nonetheless and left me with this unnerving sense of dread that still lingers days after finishing this novel. It is told in three parts: from the perspective of her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister: In-hye. The lack of narrative voice from Yeong-hye is a phenomenal stylistic choice by Han Kang in that it illuminates the "protagonists" lack of agency in this narrative as a greater critique on violence and autonomy that devours us all in our everyday lives. It is a chilling take on "madness" and mental illness in that it didn't necessarily shock me to my core or make me quiver in fear, but it is one that simmers deep beneath the surface. Scenes trickle out into my consciousness every time I see a tree with branches that wind itself a certain way, or a floral mural with a pair of eyes that makes my stomach churn - and I applaud Han Kang's accomplishment in making me so viscerally uncomfortable even after turning the last page. Her imagery is incredible and this is a story that I will, without a doubt, recommend to everyone who is looking for a gut wrenching short story that will make them ponder their lives, their relationships with others, and their own concept of sanity. As much as I would have loved to have given this 5 stars, it is 4.25 as the second and third parts didn't stand as strong as the first narrative from Yeong-hye's husbands perspective. That first "chapter" is absolutely, without a doubt, 6/5 stars in my book.