The Vegetarian is a novel detailing one woman, Yeong-hye, and her choice to become a vegetarian after a horrible dream. This choice is regarded as the beginning of her descent to madness and gives birth to trouble in the family. The book demonstrates the desire that many have to control women’s decisions, lives, and bodies and the tendency for them to be cast aside when not conforming. As she is slowly shunned and shamed for her choice, Yeong-hye sinks deeper into madness and scandal until there is not much to be saved any longer.
I really didn’t enjoy this book, but I think that was the point. The narrators were intentionally painted as disgusting and shallow, and while it made the book harder to read it also made the effect more impactful. It really sparked some interesting thoughts when I was reading it, and I thought it was a beautifully constructed novel. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Kafka-esque books or who wants to read a novel that really makes them think.