rainworm reviewed The Vegetarian by Kang Han
terrifying in a good way
5 stars
(read the chinese translation)
this book is very hard to stomach. the language is simple, the themes are dark. all in all, it's terrifying but in a good way..
eBook, 185 pages
English language
Published Jan. 31, 2016 by Hogarth.
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. In a complete metamorphosis of both mind and body, her now dangerous endeavor will take Yeong-hye—impossibly, ecstatically, tragically—far from her once-known self altogether.
(read the chinese translation)
this book is very hard to stomach. the language is simple, the themes are dark. all in all, it's terrifying but in a good way..
as a asian, male, husband, brother-in-law, a salaryman, this book shook me thoroughly. gripping from start to end. not for the light-hearted or weak in the stomach like me. great writing style and insight into gender differences, cultural differences and mental health issues.
Impecable! Se me fue el libro como agua. Más que la historia, que no deja de ser interesante, la forma en la que está escrito el libro es una delicia.