A Korean novel by Han Kang from 2007.
This novel has been on my reading wish list for a while, and finally I managed to read it. I don't often read translated books (just like I prefer subtitles to dubbing in films), and therefore read mainly in English and German, and sometimes in French. As my Korean knowledge is inexistent, there was no other way to read The Vegetarian by Han Kang than in a translation, and it was worth it. The novel was originally published in 2007, and translated to English in 2015. It then went on to win the International Booker Prize in 2016, among many other awards.
The Vegetarian is a novel about a woman, Yeong-hye, and her surprising decision to become a vegetarian, or actually rather a vegan. It is not, however, a manifesto on becoming vegetarian or even promoting that idea; it is rather using the concept of eating meat as a metaphor. The novel deals with concepts of family, perception in society and accepted norms, as well as art and madness. While telling the story of Yeong-hye, the novelist Han Kang manages to make her readers feel wonder, compassion, bewilderment and fascination all at once.
The novel is divided into three parts: “The Vegetarian,” “Mongolian Mark,” and “Flaming Trees,” which are all told from different perspectives. The protagonist is never the person whose thoughts and motivations are shared with the reader, which creates interesting tensions. The storytelling and structure overall is a masterpiece, and certainly contributes to the success of the novel.
Set in South Korea, the novel is also interesting culturally. Knowing Korean cinema better than its literature myself, I found it fascinating to read more about this country and some of its customs. While of course not everything is representative of the general society, it is still giving certain glimpses through the mind of Han Kang and her characters.
An unusual and compelling novel, which is highly recommended.
(Images: Goodreads)