“The Vegetarian” by Han Kang is something completely mysterious. While being short and reduced of overworked and hackneyed prose that accompanies many novels nowadays, it is rather brief and punctual. This sharp edge cuts deeply, though, and I trust that any careful reader will inevitably notice how Kang communicates intense messaging and imagery through such transparent prose.
Admittedly, my introduction to Han Kang came through a measly headline reporting on the status of the 2024 Nobel Prize, of which Kang was the recipient. To many, the announcement came as a surprise since many authors who produce masterpieces are often not recognized for their work until the end of their careers. But Kang, at 53, has accumulated an impressive collection of awards and is celebrated in South Korea, with the drama surrounding her work being labeled the “Han Kang Syndrome.”
It is easy to understand why. Syndrome is an accurate label for her work, especially “The Vegetarian.” The book is divided into three sections, and each one is written as a sort of brutal and distinct confession, not necessarily on the part of Kang but on the part of society.
Yeong-hye, Kang’s hopeless protagonist, starts to have recurring nightmares, and no sooner did these nightmares begin than she committed to herself and her family that never again would she eat meat. She was now a vegetarian. This simple change wrecked the life of her entire family – and the events that follow are utterly bizarre. In my reading, Kang uses Yeong-hye to show how constricting society is and how minute decisions, especially as a woman, are criticized, monitored and ruthlessly judged. Her parents abandon her, and so does her husband. Everyone else seems to have a choice except Yeong-hye – who is cast aside, objectified, and seemingly tortured, especially in the second part of the novel, which is narrated by Yeong-hye’s brother-in-law, the husband of her older sister In-hye. The third part is highly ambiguous but is teeming with allegory and it is no wonder the description of the book lauds the story as being a “Kafkaesque tale of power.”
Overall, the novel was excellent. The only conceivable downside is that it is too short. Kang, to the satisfaction of many readers, does not rely on her language alone to be interesting. Along with unique and compelling prose, she combines an even more compelling story. This is why I wish the novel was longer. Coming in at under 200 pages, the ending felt too abrupt to maintain a grasp of even after many rereads and the allegory almost seems too obscure and patient for itself. These statements are not intended to discredit the book but rather to raise the hope that she produces a longer and more decipherable work, for it is undeniable she has the creative and imaginative ability to do so.
In any event, I highly recommend any readers of contemporary literature to read Kang. Be prepared, however, “The Vegetarian” is deeply disturbing in many ways, with descriptions of sexual and psychological torment at levels not found in the work of many authors. These details only add to the layers of the novel’s complexity, making it, at times, hardly understandable. Kang takes risks and translates the world honestly in a way that any artist should – uniquely and without reservation; it is for this reason alone we should read her and I believe that most open readers will find having read her work beneficial.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Lauren | Feb 20, 2025 at 8:22 am
I just finished The Vegetarian, and the timing couldn’t be better. With a fair bit of life experience, I really appreciated the sharp, image-laden writing style—it captures the characters’ lack of self-awareness and their limited understanding of others, which feels true to a time before people openly discussed such things.
I also enjoyed the freedom to read between the lines, interpreting the unfolding events in my own way. However, I agree that the pacing was intense; things escalated so quickly that I often had to pause and process what I had just read. Because of that, I didn’t get through it as fast as I would a novel of the same length, but it made for a deeply thought-provoking read.