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The Vegetarian: A Novel Kindle Edition

3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 11,301 ratings

FROM HAN KANG, WINNER OF THE 2024 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE
 
“[Han Kang’s] intense poetic prose . . . exposes the fragility of human life.”—The Nobel Committee for Literature, in the citation for the Nobel Prize
 
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE
ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES’S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
 
“Ferocious.”—The New York Times Book Review (Ten Best Books of the Year)
“Both terrifying and terrific.”—Lauren Groff
“Provocative [and] shocking.”—The Washington Post

Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams—invasive images of blood and brutality—torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It’s a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that’s become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself. 
 
Celebrated by critics around the world,
The Vegetarian is a darkly allegorical, Kafka-esque tale of power, obsession, and one woman’s struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her.

A Best Book of the Year:
BuzzFeed, Entertainment Weekly, Wall Street Journal, Time, Elle, The Economist, HuffPost, Slate, Bustle, The St. Louis Dispatch, Electric Literature, Publishers Weekly
Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

Han Kang, Winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature

Lauren Groff says, “Both terrifying and terrific.”

Winner of the International Booker Prize

Porochista Khakpour says, “A visionary.”

Covers of The Vegetarian, Human Acts, We Do Not Part, The White Book, and Greek Lessons

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Surreal . . . [A] mesmerizing mix of sex and violence .”—Alexandra Alter, The New York Times

“[Han Kang] has been rightfully celebrated as a visionary in South Korea . . . Han’s glorious treatments of agency, personal choice, submission and subversion find form in the parable. . . . Ultimately, though, how could we not go back to Kafka? More than
The Metamorphosis, Kafka’s journals and ‘A Hunger Artist’ haunt this text.”—Porochista Khakpour, The New York Times Book Review

“Indebted to Kafka, this story of a South Korean woman’s radical transformation, which begins after she forsakes meat, will have you reading with your hand over your mouth in shock.”
O: The Oprah Magazine

The Vegetarian has an eerie universality that gets under your skin and stays put irrespective of nation or gender.”—Laura Miller, Slate

“Slim and spiky and extremely disturbing . . . I find myself thinking about it weeks after I finished.”—Jennifer Weiner, PopSugar

“It takes a gifted storyteller to get you feeling ill at ease in your own body. Yet Han Kang often set me squirming with her first novel in English, at once claustrophobic and transcendent.”
Chicago Tribune

"Compelling . . . [A] seamless union of the visceral and the surreal.”
Los Angeles Review of Books

“A complex, terrifying look at how seemingly simple decisions can affect multiple lives . . . In a world where women’s bodies are constantly under scrutiny, the protagonist’s desire to disappear inside of herself feels scarily familiar.”
Vanity Fair

“Elegant . . . a stripped-down, thoughtful narrative . . . about human psychology and physiology.”
HuffPost

“This elegant-yet-twisted horror story is all about power and its relationship with identity. It's chilling in the best ways, so buckle in and turn down the lights.”
Elle

“This haunting, original tale explores the eros, isolation and outer limits of a gripping metamorphosis that happens in plain sight. . . . Han Kang has written a remarkable novel with universal themes about isolation, obsession, duty and desire.”
Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Complex and strange . . . Han’s prose moves swiftly, riveted on the scene unfolding in a way that makes this story compulsively readable. . . . [
The Vegetarian] demands you to ask important questions, and its vivid images will be hard to shake. This is a book that will stay with you.”St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Dark dreams, simmering tensions, chilling violence . . . This South Korean novel is a feast. . . . It is sensual, provocative and violent, ripe with potent images, startling colors and disturbing questions. . . . Sentence by sentence,
The Vegetarian is an extraordinary experience.”The Guardian

About the Author

Han Kang was born in 1970 in South Korea. She is the author of The Vegetarian, winner of the International Booker Prize, as well as Human ActsThe White BookGreek Lessons, and We Do Not Part. In 2024, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00X2F7NRI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hogarth; Reprint edition (February 2, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 2, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6562 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 185 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 11,301 ratings

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
11,301 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They praise the writing style as poetic and lyrical, with a graceful translation. The book is described as creative and unique, with an aesthetic that is reminiscent of Murakami's style. However, opinions differ on the story quality, pacing, and character development. Some find the story impressive and interesting, while others consider it haunting and trite.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

191 customers mention "Readability"151 positive40 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They say it's an interesting read that appeals to readers who are not drawn to the subject matter. The book is described as powerful and provocative, though some find it disturbing.

"...Han serves up a heady stew of social satire and feminist horror in a post-modernist jjigae of family values...." Read more

"...I found it to be a very compelling and interesting read. I agree with other readers that it is difficult to pin down the author's point...." Read more

"...destroyed by the mere action of not eating meat I enjoyed reading this sort of story after randomly coming across the short and simple plot..." Read more

"I loved everything about this book. Wow. I’m glad I picked it and stuck with it. Really makes you see the world a bit differently after reading." Read more

165 customers mention "Writing quality"133 positive32 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find the writing poetic and lyrical, creating vivid pictures and relatable emotions. The writing is described as a graceful translation that works as an existential poem.

"...I really enjoyed this book and thought the writing was pitch-perfect for the story. The author has a very vivid imagination...." Read more

"...This links well with Korean culture and Korean connection with the forest, trees and mountains and with some ancestral animist believes that still..." Read more

"...I identified with her a lot and I felt that this was the most empathetic and most interesting part of the book — Womanhood, motherhood, wifehood,..." Read more

"...The connection the nature added a lyrical quality, and I loved how it ended, suggesting that this reality is but a dream, with so much more awaiting..." Read more

52 customers mention "Thought provoking"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and unique. They describe it as creative, vivid, and thoughtful. The author has a vivid imagination and touches on many different subjects. While some found the book nice, others felt it got stuck in its own meanderings. Overall, the book offers a poignant message to society, especially for older people.

"...It’s tastefully done and easily digestable, and yet more vegetarian fare is on the menu in ‘Human Acts’, her 2014 novel about South Korea’s..." Read more

"...The author has a very vivid imagination. I gave this four stars because I do have questions about what this novel was really about...." Read more

"...The book has layer upon layer of meaning, and touches many different subjects that are organically intertwined, and that the reader will discover as..." Read more

"...creation, it can be scary and beautiful at the same time, providing alternate insights on how our minds control our life, whether is living an..." Read more

28 customers mention "Aesthetic quality"23 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the book's aesthetic quality. They find it adept at showcasing both great beauty and stunning brutality, art, and disappointment. The poetic, highly imaginative style is reminiscent of Murakami yet unique on its own. The premise is bold and the writing is beautiful.

"With a lovely style, this story takes you into a deep confusing drama...." Read more

"...is not an easy book to read, sad, tragic and depressing but also artistic, erotic, lyric an poetic...." Read more

"Evocative writing, interesting insights on artistic expression, deep feelings for her characters...." Read more

"...our mind has no limits when comes to creation, it can be scary and beautiful at the same time, providing alternate insights on how our minds control..." Read more

199 customers mention "Story quality"102 positive97 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story. Some find it interesting and well-crafted, with a tight narrative that shifts perspectives around the protagonist. Others describe it as haunting and trite, with disturbing acts and characters that don't carry the narrative for them.

"...a heady stew of social satire and feminist horror in a post-modernist jjigae of family values...." Read more

"...The Vegetarian is not an easy book to read, sad, tragic and depressing but also artistic, erotic, lyric an poetic...." Read more

"...The story is narrated by her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister...." Read more

"...As I finished the last page I was dissatisfied with the ending. I felt cheated out of a resolution that I felt the book had been promising...." Read more

131 customers mention "Pacing"55 positive76 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it disturbing and interesting to read about mental illness, while others describe it as unrelenting in its sadness and brutality.

"...In the book, the former is equalled to violence, suffering, lack of peace, and being stuck, while the latter is equalled to peace, fluidity,..." Read more

"I liked how the book was divided into 3 parts - each focusing on a different character’s perspective...." Read more

"...Firstly, it is very hard to have any sympathy or empathy for the vegetarian as she is given no inner life in this book aside from short..." Read more

"This book shows our mind has no limits when comes to creation, it can be scary and beautiful at the same time, providing alternate insights on how..." Read more

44 customers mention "Character development"22 positive22 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book. Some find the characters fascinating and empathic, with a tight narrative that shifts points of view around the protagonist. Others dislike the characters, especially Yeong-hye, for their inscrutability and descent into solipsism.

"The Vegetarian is a tree-part novella, each narrated by a different character...." Read more

"This is a work of lucid genius. The main character, Yeong-hye, is a non-person, an empty set; more than vegetative, she is as silent but persistent..." Read more

"...writing, interesting insights on artistic expression, deep feelings for her characters...." Read more

"...There are disturbing acts in this book, you may like me, dislike the characters, in particular Yeong-hye's selfish, uncaring husband and her brother-..." Read more

28 customers mention "Dark tone"12 positive16 negative

Customers have different views on the book's tone. Some find it a brilliant and dark masterpiece with incredible scenes and a deep look into the human soul. Others find it very dark, disturbing, and not an enjoyable read. The images are stark and the two sisters are darkly drawn.

"...tense, visual, creative, poetic, and interesting - however rather black - story about the dark matters of life...." Read more

"...Dark, disturbing, provocative, bloody, violent, intense, and sometimes even beautiful, "The Vegetarian" was a fast and excellent read --..." Read more

"...Very dark, very disturbing. Not an enjoyable read." Read more

"This is a dark novel; I was drawn into the world of 2 sisters and the men in their lives; how they all are trapped in social conventions, strict..." Read more

Blood Dreams
5 out of 5 stars
Blood Dreams
The Vegetarian is told from three points of view: Yeong-hye's husband, her lover, and her sister. The book spans a number of years, showing Yeong-hye's first declaration of vegetarianism to an eventual, but inevitable, ending. This story isn't for the light of heart. There is some sexuality and violence sprinkled throughout the book- but everything that happens is for a reason. Every line, or action taken by a narrator, is used to explain Yeong-hye's eventual spiral into her obsession. This is literature at its finest. Once I started I couldn't stop.The first section of the book, doesn't mention the protagonist's name almost until the end of the segment, alluding to the fact that each character involved in her life doesn't view her as her own person. To her husband she is a willing servant, complaint in everything until she won't cook or serve meat. To her lover she is something to be desired and lusted for, but never fully realized. To her sister, she's guilt personified, as Yeong-hye's actions have had, in one way or another, always impacted her own well being.I don't want to spoil anything, but this story is so layered with thoughts on patriarchal society, individual rights, and familial bonds that it takes more than one look to get to the bottom of it. I loved this book, but I can also see how someone who is not into literary works may be turned off by it. There is a lot of vague dream dialogue, and art is used to describe some of the character's inner turmoil. The work is short at 160 pages so I was able to read it in one sitting at night. It left me feeling void and angry. It left me wondering why. Isn't that what all good books do?I received a copy of this title from Blogging for Books for an honest review. ​Although published in Korea in 2007, this book is now available in the US in paperback and hardback. It has received numerous awards including the Man Booker International Prize.You can see more of my reviews at AmandaDanadotcom
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2024
    “Before my wife turned vegetarian, I'd always thought of her as completely unremarkable in every way. To be frank, the first time I met her I wasn't even attracted to her. Middling height; bobbed hair neither long nor short; jaundiced, sickly-looking skin; prominent cheekbones; her timid, sallow aspect told me all I needed to know.”

    “I told myself that even though the woman I was living with was a little odd, nothing particularly bad would come of it. I thought I could get by perfectly well just thinking of her as a stranger, or no, as a sister, or even a maid, someone who puts food on the table and keeps the house in good order. But it was no easy thing for a man in the prime of his life, to have his physical needs go unsatisfied.”

    “My father-in-law shouted at Yeong-hye. "Don't you understand what your father's telling you? If he tells you to eat, you eat!" I expected an answer from my wife along the lines of "I'm sorry, Father, but I just can't eat it," but all she said was "I do not eat meat", clearly enunciated, and seemingly not in the least bit apologetic.”

    “His is flat palm cleaved the empty space and my wife cupped her cheek in her hand. I'd known of his incredibly violent temperament for some time, but it was the first time I witnessed him strike someone. My father-in-law mashed the pork to a pulp on my wife's lips as she struggled in agony. He flew into a passion again, striking her in the face once more. In the instant that the force of the slap knocked my wife's mouth open he managed to jam the pork in.”

    ************
    Cast of Characters:
    Yeong-hye, the vegetarian
    Mr. Cheong, husband of the vegetarian
    Yeong-ho, brother of the vegetarian
    Wife of Yeong-ho, unnamed
    In-hye, sister of the vegetarian
    Husband of In-hye, unnamed
    Father of the vegetarian, unnamed
    Mother of the vegetarian, unnamed

    ************
    Han Kang, 2024 Nobel Literature Prize Laureate, presents the deceptively simple story of a Korean family’s reaction when their daughter changes and no longer conforms to what is expected. Awakening from a disturbing dream, she gives up meat and empties the freezer of bones, blood and flesh; of pig, cow, fish and fowl. She transforms from the submissive provider of domestic comfort that her husband has come to rely on. Refusing to have sex on the grounds he smells like meat, she grows gaunt, stays up late watching serial dramas, stops wearing make-up and discards shoes and bags made of leather.

    Worse than her diet and fashion surprises, such as not wearing uncomfortable brassieres to his office functions, is her insistence on absolute candor in social circumstances. Alarmed by his wife Yeong-hye’s abrupt changes, Cheong entreats his sister-in-law In-hye and mother-in-law to intervene. They hold a family dinner where Cheong’s father-in-law is enraged and beats her. She is taken to a hospital after an attempted suicide and personality crisis. Cheong becomes attracted to In-hye, a practical homemaker and breadwinner, even though they are inconveniently related, and abandons Yeong-hye.

    The husband of In-hye, an avante-garde video artist, has fantasies about a birthmark on Yeong-hye’s buttocks and casts her in a erotic film. She is a cipher, seemingly aloof to everything around her but willing to act out her suddenly unconventional life. When fantasy collides with reality more unpleasant situations occur, with one of the main characters committed to a mental health facility. The story begins as viewed through the eyes of Yeong-hye’s husband Cheong, interspersed with her nightmares, continues in the narration of her unnamed brother-in-law and concludes with In-hye’s account of the aftermath.

    ‘The Vegetarian’ explores the tensions between stubborn traditions and changing norms in present day Seoul. Han Yeong-hye and the other women are viewed through male perspectives, often critical and complicated by the decline of sexual desire into grotesque parody. Han serves up a heady stew of social satire and feminist horror in a post-modernist jjigae of family values. This is the first book I have read in a very long time that has fictional sex in it. It’s tastefully done and easily digestable, and yet more vegetarian fare is on the menu in ‘Human Acts’, her 2014 novel about South Korea’s Tiananmen Square of 1980.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019
    In skimming through the reviews for this book, there seems to be a lot of ambivalence among readers. A fair number just plain dislike this book. I found it to be a very compelling and interesting read. I agree with other readers that it is difficult to pin down the author's point. Perhaps it was her goal to leave the story open to multiple layers of interpretation. That does not bother me. I also think that this is the type of book that you can read several times at different points in your life and gain a new perspective each time. Some describe this book as an allegory. I have also read that it is based on the Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo. The very short version is that Apollo pursues Daphne but she has no romantic interest in him. As he is about to catch her, Daphne asks for her father to intervene and he turns her into a tree. The book does have a lot of nature symbolism and the tree plays a prominent role toward the end. I think it is a bit of a stretch.

    The Vegetarian is told from three different perspectives, none of which is from the main character Yeong-hye. Yeong-hye has a vivid and disturbing dream that causes her to become a vegetarian. The story is narrated by her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister. Through them, we learn a bit about Yeong-hye but really never get to know her. Her husband marries her because she is bland in every way and he assumes she will not cause any problems in his life. Her brother-in-law lusts after her and she compliantly agrees to be his artistic muse. Her sister feels responsible for her and wonders if she did enough to protect her baby sister. In the first section, narrated by the husband, we read about her family's strongly negative reaction to her vegetarianism. They guilt her and try to force her to eat meat. Her father is physically abusive to her, as he has been all of their lives. Yeong-hye tries to kill herself during this family "intervention" and is hospitalized. Her husband leaves her and she slowly starves herself as a way to overcome her nightmares. She is institutionalized again and is near death. The novel ends rather abruptly with an uncertain outcome.

    I really enjoyed this book and thought the writing was pitch-perfect for the story. The author has a very vivid imagination. I gave this four stars because I do have questions about what this novel was really about. To me, the major themes were family violence, mental illness and how people react to that, and abuses of power and patriarchy. The most striking aspect of this novel is the lengths that Yeong-hye will go to in order to claim herself and her power over her own body.
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024
    With a lovely style, this story takes you into a deep confusing drama. It merges memories with the present, and dreams with reality, letting you expect something until the very end. Confusingly to me, it didn't come.. The end left me thinking that I didn't understand the story.. Maybe I didn't, maybe it wasn't meant to be understood. Still it was cautivating
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Katy Shaybani
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s all about freedom
    Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2024
    This book was hard to read but it was one of the best I read recently. Highly recommended
  • Dion
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo produto
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 24, 2024
    Ótimo produto
  • DeMel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful read
    Reviewed in France on December 5, 2024
    Spellbinding and powerful writing, story and translation and an interesting glimpse at South Korean society. Loved it!
  • Shekhar kashyap
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in India on November 17, 2024
    A great book! Dark and engaging. A must read.
  • ANONYMOUS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in Germany on November 13, 2024
    Midway.. interesting writing style!
    Book is in good condition

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