Review: The Vegetarian by Han Kang

About the book:   
The Vegetarian by Han Kang (translated by Deborah Smith)
Published by: Hogarth Feburary 2nd 2016 (english version)
Genre: Adult fiction, Literary Fiction
Pages:  188 pages
 


'' 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 nothing but endure. ''
 
Synopsis: 
Before the nightmare, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary life. But when splintering, blood-soaked images start haunting her thoughts, Yeong-hye decides to purge her mind and renounce eating meat. In a country where societal mores are strictly obeyed, Yeong-hye's decision to embrace a more “plant-like” existence is a shocking act of subversion. And as her passive rebellion manifests in ever more extreme and frightening forms, scandal, abuse, and estrangement begin to send Yeong-hye spiraling deep into the spaces of her fantasy (from Goodreads)

My thoughts: 
I can't rate this book. I finished it yesterday and I still can't wrap my head aroound this book. I don't know how to rate it because I know that while I read it, it wasn't like when I read a YA book, that makes me feel all the feels. With The Vegetarian was more on the quiet side. It wasn't until I finished reading that I realized how much of an impact this book had on me. The writing was very beautiful, quiet and dream-like. The book is very direct straight to the point, and yet not at the same time. I remember, close to the end when we have the point of view of Yeong-hye's sister I was saying to myself '' but can't she just go straight to the action'' because she's doing something in the present, and keeps having flashbacks so it goes back in forth. Now I understand you see, but while I was reading, it was more frustrating. So no, I don't know how to read this book. Also, the book is divided in 3 POVs : Yeong-hye's husband, Yeong-hye's brother-in-law (her sister's husband) and finally her sister. In the first part, we see her husband dealing with her deciding to be a vegetarian. I found this part difficult because of the difference of culture. I am not Korean and I live in Canada, my best friend is herself a vegetarian and so for me, being a vegetarian is a life choice that is ''normal'' it's not something that I could be against. But in Korean culture, I guess it's totally different, I saw a review on Youtube and the girl who knows a lot more about Asian culture than I do said that for Asian people, sharing food is a way to say ''I love you, I care about you''. After seeing this review, I understand more the perspective of the husband and Yeong-hye's familly with her refusing to eat meat at a familly diner for example. I liked the last perspective, Yeong-hye's sister. I think it was my favourite part. Yeong-hye's brother-in-law's perspective was the one I liked the least. His obsession with Yeong-hye just weirded me out. I don't know, I feel like he just took advantage of the situation. You will understang it if you read it. I already feel like I told to much so I'm going to leave it here. I hope it was not too over the place. 

My rating: No rating yet 
Who should read that book: You definetely have to be mature to read this book. It's not for kids because it deals with very dark topics.
 
About the author:
Han Kang studied Korean literature at Yonsei University. She began her writing career when one of her poems was feautred in the winter issue of the quarterly Literature and Society. She made her literary debut with her short story '' The Scarlet Anchor''. Her novel The Vegetarian won the Man Booker international Prize in 2016.