The
Vegetarian by Han Kang is unlike any book I have ever read
before. The story starts out when the main character, Yeong-hye,
decides that she no longer wishes to consume meat, and, eventually, any animal
products. This decision is not welcomed by her husband, sister, father, mother,
or other extended family members. They constantly tease her, try to force her
to consume that which she does not want, and commit her to an asylum for the
mentally ill.
The
story itself is broken into three segments, representing a different
perspective. The first (and my favorite) is from Yeong-hye's perspective
and you have a firsthand account of the
abuse she endures from her family and strangers. You are also given a small
glimpse into her mental state. The second part is told from the perspective of
her sister's husband, who is attracted to her.
In this section, you8 see some sympathy, but Yeong-hye is abused and
used in a different fashion. In the final segment, her sister grapples with the
family's decision to place Yeong-hye in an asylum and the results.
Usually,
I am not a fan of translations, but the title, cover, and description caught my
eye. While not the best book I have ever read, it was a really, really good
book. I do disagree, however, with the books portrayal of
vegetarianism/veganism as a mental illness. But, I would still recommend this
book to the right person.
**I received a free copy of this book for review from Blogging for Books.**
