The Vegetarian is a claustrophobic, nightmarish journey of a young woman's descent into madness. Well, maybe that's what's happening. At any rate, it can also be seen as a woman's rebellion against violations of several sorts (family abuse and domination, sexual violation, stifling conventionality), but it is not a rebellion that leads to liberation or freedom (unless you view death as freedom, which in a sense, it is). Han Kang's 2007 novella has just been translated and released in 2016 in English, and proceeded to win the Man Booker International prize. The writing is intense and dark, reminiscent of Kafka both in style and theme. It has been described as shocking and violent, which it is, but neither violence nor sex is gratuitous, as the psychological and cultural roots of the protagonist's mental and spiritual crisis are explored (or rather, suggested). In fact, motivation for her behaviour is never clear-cut. Neither is the result of her rebellion, although it clearly has effects that spill over to her husband, care-giver older sister, brother-in-law, and parents. It's a book not for the faint at heart, but nevertheless a moving piece of writing.
For a review of the book from the NY Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/books/review/the-vegetarian-by-han-kang.html
For a review of the book from the NY Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/books/review/the-vegetarian-by-han-kang.html
