Book Talk: The Vegetarian 🌱 (aka "That escalated kind of quickly")

Hi everyone! Today, I'm sharing some of my thoughts about Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" 🤓 This was an uncomfortable read, but a great one - and quite a crazy ride! I hope you enjoy this video 🤗
If you've read the novel, please let me know what you think! Also, if you have recommendations for Korean books and/or films, drop them in the comments!

[@boom_handled]

"it's also irritating that you kind of want to know more, but since the person that we focus on doesn't try to understand her, you basically have no chance of understanding her either" Yes, it's so frustrating when someone's understanding is dependable on someone elses interests and choices.

[@danske2]

Sounds like a rough, although strangely realistic read granted the strange situation of the main character. It's strange how a book can be written extremely well, just to evoke a sense of incredible uncomfortableness in the reader. Thanks for sharing!

[@FeuerundFilme]

Thank you for this great in depth analysis. Sounds like an interesting book I would never read. So I liked hearing about it from you. What I want to ask you from just hearing the plot from you: do you think the book ist successful in portraying the subject of patriarchy, as well as delivering an emotional characterstory? I have to confess that I am not a big fan of story's where all men are nothing but monsters, especially because I think that strips reality down to clichés, which in return undergoes the importance of the message. Is it understandable what I am trying to say? Same goes for every character in my opinion, doesn't matter which sex. For me a story like this would need complex Characters, with light and dark sides, to show, how shockingly normal the dark sides really are. You already say at the end that the book felt quite realistic, so I guess I have my answer there. Still, I wanted to share my thoughts. Still sounds like a fascinating, uncompromising read. So thanks again for sharing. Also: thanks for staring into my soul in the thumbnail :D

[@storyworldling7444]

Thank you so much for sharing you thoughts! And good question 🤔 I think my answer is yes, I would say the novel succeeds in delivering on both parts, although the emotional side of it didn't hit me until quite late and the book isn't too emotional in general. I have to say, the portrayal of both men didn't strike me as too much of a cliché, although they were narrated with a focus on their relation to the main character. But I think I understand what you mean, and I would say they were still complex characters. Also, no problem with the staring 🤣