The Vegetarian

by Han Kang; translated by Deborah Smith, Han Kang
The Vegetarian cover
Good Books rating 4.12
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 718
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2026-03-04
  • ISBN: 9781846275630
  • Publisher: Portobello Books
  • Published: 2015-01-01
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 4

Yeong-hye, a dutiful wife in South Korea, makes a radical decision to become a vegetarian, defying societal norms and sparking a series of disturbing events. Her passive rebellion escalates, leading to her hospitalization and the fascination of her sister's husband, a video artist. The novel delves into the complexities of human relationships and the lengths one might go to escape societal expectations. Through Yeong-hye's journey, the story explores the themes of shame, desire, and the struggle to understand others, all while set against the backdrop of modern-day South Korea.

Reviews
the starving artist · Devontre Varro Flaherty · 2025-03-18
unsettling 4.25

The book is intense, featuring body horror, sexual predation, and mental illness. It is a deeply disturbing yet compelling exploration of human nature and societal norms.

Devontre Varro Flaherty's review of 'The Vegetarian' by Han Kang highlights the book's intensity and disturbing themes. The reviewer notes the presence of body horror, sexual predation, and mental illness, which make the story deeply unsettling. Despite its disturbing nature, the novel is seen as a compelling exploration of human nature and societal norms. Devontre appreciates the way the story delves into the darkest aspects of the human psyche and the pressures of societal expectations. The novel is described as a powerful and unforgettable read, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

Quick quotes

    The book is intense. There is body horror. There is sexual predation. There is mental illness.

    It is a deeply disturbing yet compelling exploration of human nature and societal norms.

    The novel is a powerful and unforgettable read, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

Jacqui's Wine Blog · Jacqui · 2025-01-26
disturbing 4.50

The book is described as dark, visceral, and poetic, creating a deeply unsettling experience. The contrast between expressed and unexpressed desires adds layers of complexity.

Jacqui finds 'The Vegetarian' to be an unforgettable read that lingers long after the last page. The novel's dark and visceral themes are beautifully contrasted with poetic prose, making it a destabilizing yet captivating experience. They particularly appreciate how the book explores the tension between societal expectations and personal desires, creating a powerful narrative that is both disturbing and thought-provoking. The translation by Deborah Smith is praised for its ability to convey the raw emotion and intensity of the original text.

Quick quotes

    The Vegetarian is an unforgettable read – dark, visceral, poetic and destabilising.

    The contrast between desires that are expressed and those that are not.

    A deeply unsettling experience that lingers long after the last page.

Translating Women · 2018-04-23
compelling 4.25

The novel explores themes of patriarchy, violence, sexuality, and madness, with a focus on one woman's determination to live as she wishes. The narrative is disturbing yet deeply compelling, offering a unique perspective on societal norms and personal freedom.

The review from Translating Women delves into the disturbing yet deeply compelling narrative of 'The Vegetarian' by Han Kang. The novel is seen as an exploration of patriarchy, violence, sexuality, and madness, with a focus on the protagonist's determination to live as she wishes. The review highlights the raw and unfiltered emotions that drive the protagonist's actions, making the book a memorable and thought-provoking read. The narrative is praised for its ability to capture the complexities of human desires and the consequences of their denial, offering a unique perspective on societal norms and personal freedom.

Quick quotes

    Han Kang writes of patriarchy, violence, sexuality, madness, refusal to submit, and one woman's determination to live as she wishes, not as she is told she should.

    The narrative is disturbing yet deeply compelling, offering a unique perspective on societal norms and personal freedom.

    The novel is praised for its ability to capture the complexities of human desires and the consequences of their denial.

The New York Times · 2016-02-07
disturbing 3.50

The novel is described as disturbing and deeply compelling, with themes of sexual assault and societal pressure. The translation is praised for its ability to convey the raw and unsettling nature of the story.

The New York Times review describes 'The Vegetarian' as a disturbing yet deeply compelling read. The novel's exploration of sexual assault and societal pressure is particularly noted, creating a raw and unsettling narrative. The translation by Deborah Smith is praised for its ability to capture the intensity and emotional depth of the original text. The review highlights how the novel's themes are both shocking and thought-provoking, making it a powerful and memorable read.

Quick quotes

    An ascetic tome this is not: The novel is full of sex of dubious consent, all sorts of force-feeding and purging — essentially sexual assault.

    The published translation was a debut for Deborah Smith, and she has translated this novel beautifully.

    The novel's themes are both shocking and thought-provoking, making it a powerful and memorable read.

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