Han Kang

Winner of the Man Booker International Prize 2016. A beautiful, unsettling novel in three acts, about rebellion and taboo, violence and eroticism, and the twisting metamorphosis of a soul

A Novel

The Vegetarian

Kang Han

Deciding to renounce eating meat in the wake of violent dreams, Yeong-hye, a woman from a culture of strict societal mores, is denounced as a subversive as she spirals into extreme rebelliousness that causes her to splinter from her true nature and risk her life.

hessensitive

How on earth could she be so self-centred? I stared at her lowered eyes, her expression of cool self-possession. The very idea that there should be this other side to her, one where she selfishly did as she pleased, was astonishing. Who would have thought she could be so unreasonable?

The passive personality of this woman in whom I could detect neither freshness nor charm, or anything especially refined, suited me down to the ground. There was no need to affect intellectual leanings in order to win her over, or to worry that she might be comparing me to the preening men who pose in fashion catalogues, an she didn't get worked up if I happened to be late for one of our meetings.

Lindy

She was no longer able to cope with all that her sister reminded her of. She'd been unable to forgive herself for soaring alone over a boundary she herself could never bring herself to cross, unable to forgive that magnificent irresponsibility that had enabled Yeong-hye to shuck off social constraints and leave her behind, still a prisoner. 

Mara D Alo Fonseca

The summer woods are dense and luxuriant beyond the windscreen of the ambulance. In the waning afternoon light, the rain on the leaves glitters intensely, kindling a green fire.

karina

“I have dreams too, you know. Dreams… and I could let myself dissolve into them, let them take me over… but surely the dream isn’t all there is? We have to wake up at some point, don’t we?”

fæ 

this was the body of a beautiful young woman, conventionally an object of desire, and yet it was a body from which all desire had been eliminated. but this was nothing so crass as carnal desire, not for her—rather, or so it seemed, what she had renounced was the very life that her body represented.

or perhaps it was simply that things were happening inside her, terrible things, which no one else could even guess at, and thus it was impossible for her to engage with everyday life at the same time. if so, she would naturally have no energy left, not just for curiosity or interest but indeed for any meaningful response to all the humdrum minutiae that went on on the surface

she'd been unable to forgive her for soaring alone over a boundary she herself could never bring herself to cross, unable to forgive that magnificent irresponsibility that had enabled yeong-hye to shuck off social constraints and leave her behind, still a prisoner. and before yeong-hye had broken those bars, she'd never even known they were there

time was a wave, almost cruel in its relentlessness.

nahis

The feeling that she had never really lived in this world caught her by surprise. It was a fact. She had never lived. Even as a child, as far back as she could remember, she had done nothing but endure. She had believed in her own inherent goodness, her humanity, and lived accordingly, never causing anyone harm. Her devotion to doing things the right way had been unflagging, all her successes had depended on it, and she would have gone on like that indefinitely. She didn’t understand why, but faced with those decaying buildings and straggling grasses, she was nothing but a child who had never lived.

Brittany

This was the body of a beautiful young woman, conventionally an object of desire, and yet it was a body from which all desire had been eliminated. But this was nothing so crass as carnal desire, not for her—rather, or so it seemed, what she had renounced was the very lite that her body represented.

Now, with the benefit of hindsight, In-hye could see that the role that she had adopted back then of the hard- working, self-sacrificing eldest daughter had been a sign not of maturity but of cowardice. It had been a survival tactic. 

oh to be a tree bathing in the sunlight, no?

In-hue couldn’t hold herself back any long. “You!” she yelled. "I’m acting like this because I'm afraid youre going to die!" 

Yeong-hye turned her head and stared blankly at In-hye, as though the latter were not her sister but a complete stranger. After a while, the question came. 

han kang has an incredible ability to describe violence -- from the societal down to the personal. in one particular description of an instance of retribution i had to put the book down to take a breath. to me, this book is not just about patriarchy but also about rebellion, from the social to the personal. following dreams of intense violence, she decides to become vegan. 

faced against society, people guffaw and take in-hye for a laughing stock. against the family, a disgrace, an invalid, even ending with her father assaulting her, forcing her to eat meat, proving her point precisely that violence begets violence. on the personal level, she struggles as well. her body, the last refuge, seems to refuse to do what she wants it to do. "idiot", she calls it.

on this, i think of asceticism, its sheer negativity as a paradoxical force. it recurs eternally, eventually collapsing on itself and rendering itself pointless. the beginning and end of asceticism is its end.

Ghee

han kang has an incredible ability to describe violence -- from the societal down to the personal. in one particular description of an instance of retribution i had to put the book down to take a breath. to me, this book is not just about patriarchy but also about rebellion, from the social to the personal. following dreams of intense violence, she decides to become vegan. 

faced against society, people guffaw and take in-hye for a laughing stock. against the family, a disgrace, an invalid, even ending with her father assaulting her, forcing her to eat meat, proving her point precisely that violence begets violence. on the personal level, she struggles as well. her body, the last refuge, seems to refuse to do what she wants it to do. "idiot", she calls it.

on this, i think of asceticism, its sheer negativity as a paradoxical force. it recurs eternally, eventually collapsing on itself and rendering itself pointless. the beginning and end of asceticism is its end.

Yeong-hye and her husband are ordinary people. He is an office worker with moderate ambitions and mild manners; she is an uninspired but dutiful wife. The acceptable flatline of their marriage is interrupted when Yeong-hye, seeking a more 'plant-like' existence, decides to become a vegetarian, prompted by grotesque recurring nightmares. In South Korea, where vegetarianism is almost unheard-of and societal mores are strictly obeyed, Yeong-hye's decision is a shocking act of subversion. Her passive rebellion manifests in ever more bizarre and frightening forms, leading her bland husband to self-justified acts of sexual sadism. His cruelties drive her towards attempted suicide and hospitalisation. She unknowingly captivates her sister's husband, a video artist. She becomes the focus of his increasingly erotic and unhinged artworks, while spiralling further and further into her fantasies of abandoning her fleshly prison and becoming - impossibly, ecstatically - a tree. Fraught, disturbing and beautiful, The Vegetarian is a novel about modern day South Korea, but also a novel about shame, desire and our faltering attempts to understand others, from one imprisoned body to another.

disturbing but like. often not in a good way. didn’t like my audiobook narrators maybe it reads better on page. I get what it was trying to do but.  ew. 

Jules 

Tanishq Khandelwal

Words cannot describe the visceral feelings of shame, disgust, surprise, and all the synonyms thereof, this book managed to create. Masterful prose as always - some of the most beautiful and somber i have read.

Alison Hinklom

It was alright. Lots of metaphor and finding parallels between dreams and reality, and the desire or fear that make it come to fruition. I haven't read a raw book like this in a while, and I enjoyed it.

Roseanne

the line between female empowerment and an eating disorder is thin in this one

Stas

Ayesha

Maybe it's just the title; but i swear i could smell the dirt, leaves, blood, and something raw in every page.

Magnolia 

Very well written but incoherent when it came to describe a lot of the transition from beginning to end. It wasn’t my favorite but I think it was more on personal taste

Abby

I had to Google explanations & reader interpretations to properly appreciate this book. I just didn't really connect to it as much as I would have liked/thought I would have. 

- But a good kind of weird, where it makes you think, and you notice things. 

- Once you start doing that, this is incredibly  rich. 

- Here are some themes I noticed and liked:

- Parallels between vegetarianism and sexual assault

- Relatedly, misogyny and the treatment of women, tied to nature and animals

- The perception of what is ordinary versus what is extraordinary 

Edna Aviles

Here’s what I’ve got:
- this is very weird.
- But a good kind of weird, where it makes you think, and you notice things. 
- Once you start doing that, this is incredibly  rich. 
- Here are some themes I noticed and liked:
- Parallels between vegetarianism and sexual assault
- Relatedly, misogyny and the treatment of women, tied to nature and animals
- The perception of what is ordinary versus what is extraordinary 
- Wife swap!!!

english translation leaves much to be desired. however, smith keeps the general essence of the story alive, transforming it into something new

hyun

I expected chaos—something loud, violent, maybe even grotesque. But what I got was quiet. Disturbingly quiet. I kept waiting for the moment it would get “crazy,” like people said, but the madness here creeps in softly. Yeong-hye stops eating meat, and from there, everything unravels—not with screams, but with silence. The horror isn’t in what she does, but in how people around her react. It’s not really about food. It’s about control, resistance, and disappearing in a world that never really saw you. (Blind read)

Elijah. 

i am not intellectual enough at this moment to understand this ㅠㅠ it was just mainly gruesome and uncomfortable but i guess that is the life of women….

✧༺♥༻✧

I have read "Human Acts" by Han Kang and maybe it has been quite a while now because this feels like her most visceral novel. It is almost as if in order to make the reader understand the violence done unto the main character, Yeong-hye, she has chosen to impact violence unto them herself. I found mysel physically recoiling during the sections where various people (key - men) were trying to forcefeed Yeong-hey, as wells during the second part where the objectification and de-humanisation of her body seems to reach a crescendo.

The horror of the actions of the different characters is further highlighted by Han Kang's prose which flows calmly and beautifully - in stark contrast with what it describes. The juxtaposition of beauty and violence - purposefully sought by the author - is made even more jarring so.

What an impactful little book that prompts many questions on misogyny, violence, bodily autonomy. I can understand why so many readers may have found it incomprehensible and repulsive. It is not a moralising tale but a novel meant to be read on thematic level and encourage discussion and exploration.

I have read "Human Acts" by Han Kang and maybe it has been quite a while now because this feels like her most visceral novel. It is almost as if in order to make the reader understand the violence done unto the main character, Yeong-hye, she has chosen to impact violence unto them herself. I found mysel physically recoiling during the sections where various people (key - men) were trying to forcefeed Yeong-hey, as wells during the second part where the objectification and de-humanisation of her body seems to reach a crescendo.

The horror of the actions of the different characters is further highlighted by Han Kang's prose which flows calmly and beautifully - in stark contrast with what it describes. The juxtaposition of beauty and violence - purposefully sought by the author - is made even more jarring so.

What an impactful little book that prompts many questions on misogyny, violence, bodily autonomy. I can understand why so many readers may have found it incomprehensible and repulsive. It is not a moralising tale but a novel meant to be read on thematic level and encourage discussion and exploration.

The Unruly Woman is nature and everyone else who doesn’t understand is control. Such interesting themes w/ choice and power— will spark lots of discussions

Rielle Miguel

I’m struggling to figure out how to begin this review but honestly, if I didn’t know anything about the author and you told me Han Kang was a misogynistic man I would’ve believed you after reading this book. 

excuses to give to the author or the characters she wrote, or how she wrote them. First of all, the main character Yeong-hye stops eating meat because of horrifying, recurring nightmares. This, I understand. This I can relate to. Everything else happening around her shouldn’t have been written in my opinion. The way Yeong-hye is blatantly sexualized and abused and raped by her husband, not to mention force fed meat by her own father because they’re some “meat loving family” was awful and I cannot sit and read this and at the same time find nuance in this. 

Chapter 1 is all about how Yeong-hye changes seemingly over night and how her husband can’t understand what’s going on, but he also doesn’t even make an attempt to help her, understand her or give her the opportunity to in honesty confide in him about what is clearly tormenting her. He sexualizes her. He complains about her. He rapes her. Multiple times. While having sexual thoughts about Yeong-hye’s sister. Instead he basically goes behind her back, gets her to her parents house for a dinner to corner her where her father quite literally holds her down by force and shoves meat down her throat. What the fuck. 

In chapter 2, Yeong-hye is divorced from her husband (thankfully) but that doesn’t stop her terrors. Because now she’s being sexualized and taken advantage of by her sister’s husband because he learns about her having a mongolian mark on her ass which somehow sparks some weird fetish and desire in him. An artist who films himself painting her naked, then films them having sex, then films one of his art friends basically fucking Yeong-hye. No one’s helping her!!!!! The only reason she doesn’t end up having sex with this J guy is because he says “no, fuck you. why would you make me have sex on camera for an art project” (not a direct quote). The chapter ends when Yeong-hye’s sister walks in on her and her husband. 

At no point in this book does anyone around her try to understand her, her illness or her plagued mind. They just use her, abuse her and lock her in a closed ward. 

All this aside, the sexualization throughout this book, the SA, the abuse, everything going on left a horribly sour taste in my mouth and it was absolutely awful. To read something like this written by a woman baffles me, and if this was my first Han Kang book i’d never pick up another one again. 

marie

I’m struggling to figure out how to begin this review but honestly, if I didn’t know anything about the author and you told me Han Kang was a misogynistic man I would’ve believed you after reading this book. 

I have no excuses to give to the author or the characters she wrote, or how she wrote them. First of all, the main character Yeong-hye stops eating meat because of horrifying, recurring nightmares. This, I understand. This I can relate to. Everything else happening around her shouldn’t have been written in my opinion. The way Yeong-hye is blatantly sexualized and abused and raped by her husband, not to mention force fed meat by her own father because they’re some “meat loving family” was awful and I cannot sit and read this and at the same time find nuance in this. 

Chapter 1 is all about how Yeong-hye changes seemingly over night and how her husband can’t understand what’s going on, but he also doesn’t even make an attempt to help her, understand her or give her the opportunity to in honesty confide in him about what is clearly tormenting her. He sexualizes her. He complains about her. He rapes her. Multiple times. While having sexual thoughts about Yeong-hye’s sister. Instead he basically goes behind her back, gets her to her parents house for a dinner to corner her where her father quite literally holds her down by force and shoves meat down her throat. What the fuck. 

In chapter 2, Yeong-hye is divorced from her husband (thankfully) but that doesn’t stop her terrors. Because now she’s being sexualized and taken advantage of by her sister’s husband because he learns about her having a mongolian mark on her ass which somehow sparks some weird fetish and desire in him. An artist who films himself painting her naked, then films them having sex, then films one of his art friends basically fucking Yeong-hye. No one’s helping her!!!!! The only reason she doesn’t end up having sex with this J guy is because he says “no, fuck you. why would you make me have sex on camera for an art project” (not a direct quote). The chapter ends when Yeong-hye’s sister walks in on her and her husband. 

At no point in this book does anyone around her try to understand her, her illness or her plagued mind. They just use her, abuse her and lock her in a closed ward. 

All this aside, the sexualization throughout this book, the SA, the abuse, everything going on left a horribly sour taste in my mouth and it was absolutely awful. To read something like this written by a woman baffles me, and if this was my first Han Kang book i’d never pick up another one again. 

Not my genre... but the depth of each character and the sheer emotion in the literature leaves us in profound misery. The author truly knows how to linger in our minds....

kondapalli Koyal

I think this book is actually a 4.5 and extremely horrifying and compelling. Sadly, I read it while in hospital after surgery with many complications, and wow that was a bad idea!!! Do not read this book in a 5 day fever state, maybe wait until you feel pretty good.

Max Riley

The 3 povs caught me by surprise, and none of them being Young Hee's felt very intentional and aligned with how she was treated as an object by all the other people in her life, especially the men.

It was a very uncomfortable and disturbing read, and these negative emotions that the book elicits were only exacerbated upon finishing the book because you come to realise that the topics focused on are reflective of many societal norms and cultures that are still active today.

Also curious to know if there was anything lost in translation.

Julia Ye

The 3 povs caught me by surprise, and none of them being Young Hee's felt very intentional and aligned with how she was treated as an object by all the other people in her life, especially the men.

It was a very uncomfortable and disturbing read, and these negative emotions that the book elicits were only exacerbated upon finishing the book because you come to realise that the topics focused on are reflective of many societal norms and cultures that are still active today.

Also curious to know if there was anything lost in translation.

Another amazing book by Han Kang, every read from her leaves me deeply reflecting what it meant for days. 

A great reflection of the brutal treatment of women, from physical, psychological and sexual abuse, and its effects.  Nonetheless, I am left wondering why we had 3 narrators, and yet did not hear anything from Yeong-hyes pov. Although I do kinda understand, and do not think it’s necessary, I’m just considering how the story would’ve changed if her perspective was included. 

Very disturbing, raw and mind-blowing (in the best way)

Denisse Garcia Ramírez 

Another amazing book by Han Kang, every read from her leaves me deeply reflecting what it meant for days. 

A great reflection of the brutal treatment of women, from physical, psychological and sexual abuse, and its effects.  Nonetheless, I am left wondering why we had 3 narrators, and yet did not hear anything from Yeong-hyes pov. Although I do kinda understand, and do not think it’s necessary, I’m just considering how the story would’ve changed if her perspective was included. 

Very disturbing, raw and mind-blowing (in the best way)

Cherine Fok

I find it difficult to write in words what I thought of this book. I picked it up with the belief I would enjoy it, and perhaps going into it with any expectations at all was my downfall. I did not enjoy this book.

I hated all of the characters, especially the male ones. Our main character, Yeong-hye, was nothing but an object to all of them. To her husband, someone to keep the house orderly. To her father, a punching bag. To her brother-in-law, an object of desire. I was, rightfully, uncomfortable reading about all of these men– intended I expect. 

Typically I am alright when it comes to uncomfortable topics, and this book does not shy away from approaching any of them. However I found certain aspects to be completely unnecessary. The focus on Yeong-hye's breasts was on that particularly stood out to me. The descriptions vivid, detailed, however in terms of the plot held no significance.

I also found the changes in perspective between the characters to be jarring, especially with the time passing between each of them. I found it difficult to follow along when the perspective changed to both the brother-in-law and In-hye's. I understand that the point was to be disconnected from the characters, but despite this I struggled starting each perspective because I had no idea which character I was following. It completely threw me off and I had difficulty in following along until I knew who it was I was supposed to be following.

Overall I think this was a very ambitious novel, and for me it did not hit all of the marks. Partly due to the translation I presume, I found the writing to be quite disconnected from the source material in a way I cannot put my finger on. I also did not enjoy the open ending. I am just not a fan of those.

On a more positive level, I found certain quotes to be very beautiful, which brought my enjoyment of the novel up slightly. I think because certain descriptions in the final chapter were reminiscent of a song I love.

iris may

I find it difficult to write in words what I thought of this book. I picked it up with the belief I would enjoy it, and perhaps going into it with any expectations at all was my downfall. I did not enjoy this book.

I hated all of the characters, especially the male ones. Our main character, Yeong-hye, was nothing but an object to all of them. To her husband, someone to keep the house orderly. To her father, a punching bag. To her brother-in-law, an object of desire. I was, rightfully, uncomfortable reading about all of these men– intended I expect. 

Typically I am alright when it comes to uncomfortable topics, and this book does not shy away from approaching any of them. However I found certain aspects to be completely unnecessary. The focus on Yeong-hye's breasts was on that particularly stood out to me. The descriptions vivid, detailed, however in terms of the plot held no significance.

I also found the changes in perspective between the characters to be jarring, especially with the time passing between each of them. I found it difficult to follow along when the perspective changed to both the brother-in-law and In-hye's. I understand that the point was to be disconnected from the characters, but despite this I struggled starting each perspective because I had no idea which character I was following. It completely threw me off and I had difficulty in following along until I knew who it was I was supposed to be following.

Overall I think this was a very ambitious novel, and for me it did not hit all of the marks. Partly due to the translation I presume, I found the writing to be quite disconnected from the source material in a way I cannot put my finger on. I also did not enjoy the open ending. I am just not a fan of those.

On a more positive level, I found certain quotes to be very beautiful, which brought my enjoyment of the novel up slightly. I think because certain descriptions in the final chapter were reminiscent of a song I love.

The Vegetarian A Novel

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