The Vegetarian by Han Kang

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Han Kang‘s The Vegetarian focuses on Yeong-hye, who decides to become a vegetarian after a dream, although exactly why isn’t clear. Her story is told in three novellas, each from a different point of view, starting with her callous husband, then her obsessive brother-in-law, and finally her overworked, deeply troubled sister.

As the narrative progresses and Yeong-hye’s behavior becomes more puzzling, her reasoning doesn’t quite come into focus, but we gain a greater understanding of her motivation, even if she seems unable to articulate it herself. Each of the three narratives gradually deepens the disconnection, desperation, and sadness underlying the characters’ interactions.

I don’t want to reveal more about the meager plot, as I feel it would ruin the experience of reading it. But this is a remarkable book about the tensions between societal expectations and an individual’s sense of agency. It’s an unsettling dissection of the isolation and disconnection plaguing South Korean society, somewhat similar to the work of contemporary Japanese authors like Hiroko Oyamada and Sayaka Murata.