Discussion: The Vegetarian > Likes and Comments

If anyone would like to lead the December discussion for The Vegetarian by Han Kang, please let me know. You can respond here or dm me directly. Thank you!

Hi there,
I would be happy to help facilitate this discussion. This is a slim novel and there are three main parts:

1) The Vegetarian (From Yeong Hye's husband's perspective)
2) Mongolian Mark (From Yeong Hye's BIL's perspective)
3) Flaming Trees (From Yeong Hye's sister's perspective)

I will pose discussion questions for Part 1 starting on December 1st.
Then additional questions as the weeks progress for Parts 2 and 3.

If anyone has any preliminary thoughts, has already read this or other works by Han Kang, would love to hear your perspectives.

Mira wrote: "Hi there,
I would be happy to help facilitate this discussion. This is a slim novel and there are three main parts:

1) The Vegetarian (From Yeong Hye's husband's perspective)
2) Mongolian Mark (Fr..."

Great, Mira!

I never realized that this is the author of so many other books I want to read. I also assumed this was a male author. Human Acts, Greek Lessons and especially We Do Not Part are all books I have on my tbr and intend to read at some point. I also didn’t know that: Han is the first Asian woman and Korean to be a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, receiving the award in 2024 in recognition of her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life".

Highly impressive!

ColumbusReads wrote: "I never realized that this is the author of so many other books I want to read. I also assumed this was a male author. Human Acts, Greek Lessons and especially We Do Not Part are all books I have o..."

Has anyone read any of her books?

I’ve read The Vegetarian before! I’m not sure how I felt about it, and sometimes with translated books maybe their original language it was printed in would be better? Sometimes not everything gets translated fully, but I thought it was an interesting novel exploring important themes.

nya wrote: "I’ve read The Vegetarian before! I’m not sure how I felt about it, and sometimes with translated books maybe their original language it was printed in would be better? Sometimes not everything gets..."

That’s so true about the translation of books. It can really make or break a book depending on whether it’s done right or not. I’m not well-versed on the various translators out there and their work. However, I’m assuming Deborah Smith is one of the best with this book garnering all the awards it has gotten.

There was some controversy with Smith's translation, with some saying it strayed too far from the original text, but Han has stood by the translation. I don't read a word of Korean so I'm not in a position to compare the two texts.

This books was also originally published as 3 separate novellas in South Korea, if I recall correctly.

When I read this, it was the first book by Han I had read and I kind of went into it blind. I think it's also a lot of other people's first book by her. Having read other books by Han since, I kind of wonder if this isn't the best place for English readers to start with her work, but I am eager to reread it.

Hi All,

I agree with CJ. This was my first Han Kang novel. While this novel was both deeply moving and powerful in the themes explored, I would likely need a long break before embarking on more reads by the author. I also think Deborah Smith did a phenomenal job with prose that is both sharp and direct.

Below are some questions to provoke discussion. I would be interested to hear your thoughts, insights, and of course, questions of your own.
-----------------------------

Part 1 Questions:

1) How does Mr. Cheong’s narration shape our understanding of Yeong-hye? What do we learn about her (and what do we not learn) because the story is told through his perspective?

2) Why does Yeong-hye’s refusal to eat meat provoke such intense hostility from her husband and family?

3) Part 1 is saturated with violations of Yeong-hye’s bodily autonomy. What is the novel saying about ownership of the body? Why does her simple 'no' provoke such an extreme response?

4) What do you think Yeong-Hye's dream represents?

------
Overall Theme Questions for Part 1 / Novel:

1) What does the novel suggest about the cost of being different in a conformist society?

2) In what ways does society define “madness” as a failure to comply?

3) What is the novel saying about the violence embedded in ordinary life?

Mira wrote: "Hi All,

I agree with CJ. This was my first Han Kang novel. While this novel was both deeply moving and powerful in the themes explored, I would likely need a long break before embarking on more re..."

Really great questions, Mira. I finished that first section about a week ago. I’m gonna have to give this some thought.

This is my second Han Kang novel. I do not have a problem with translation as much as I struggle with the cultural context. I find Mr. Cheong repulsive and self-absorbed. His perspective on our subject, the vegetarian, tells us little about her and way too much about the husband. Is this normal in Korean culture? I see his attitude as perhaps setting the stage for what happens in the rest of the book, though spoiler here, I already finished the book and posted my review. I admit to having some strong feelings about the book. It was not what I was expecting. It is perhaps better than what I was expecting.

Enjoy!

I agree. I also rated it 4 stars. To give my own persepective, I believe that Kang may have decided to describe Yeong-Hye from others' perspectives to show her without agency. Others continually try to bend her to their will throughout the novel and we wonder: "How does Yeong-Hye feel about it?"

Through her self-harm and eventually retreating into herself, I can understand how she wants others to respect her free-will.

With her family's hositility towards her in Part 1, I don't believe it's only because of her vegetarianism. She loses an excessive amount of weight, looks unhealthy, and listless. She doesn't conform to social niceties or "wifely obligations" which Cheong rudely expects. These manifestations of her psyche are linked to vegetarianism, but her purely avoiding meat didn't trigger the intense hostilities.

Had she just been vegetarian, but remained healthy, chirpy, robust as a wife, and a conforming society-woman, it would have been seen as a quirk, but eventually fine. Yeong-Hye's unusual and sudden transformation into an extremist 'vegetarian' probably left her family/husband stumped.

This is NO excuse for them not respecting her choices, but I think that there is more to her diagnosis than pure vegetarianism. She should have been treated with compassion and understanding as opposed to assault/insults/forcefeeding. Things may have ended up better that way.

The entire scene at the restaurant was wild. The contempt Cheong’s co-workers have for Yeong-Hye because of her choice to forego meat is beyond the pale. Cheong is embarrassed at his wife’s behavior for not only the meat issue but her going braless. That’s a big bone of contention as well. He’s very concerned with his image and how he’s viewed or perceived by his co-workers and less about his wife.

Did anyone else's copy of the book have a blurb on the cover informing us that the book was erotic? I am curious what others found in the novel that was related to sexuality, as my cover claims to be the topic. Granted the book is not about vegitarianissim, per se, but about an eating disorder associated with the client attempting to assert power over their behavior where they might otherwise not be able to exercise personal power or have bodily autonomy.

I posted my review (and my concerns) about this book here on Goodreads.

What bothers me is the self-harm, abuse, both verbal and mental, then physical, from her dad because she refused to eat meat in this culture.

Is this deemed acceptable or appropriate to go to her parents when he has an issue with his wife?

To show the strong force from her father to push food, meat, rather, that she strongly refused due to a horrid dream. In her childhood, a dog bit her, and in this culture, it is customary to eat the dog that bites you.

Then, in part two, the sexual orientation given by her sister's husband is repulsive, but I wanted to continue.

Mira wrote: "I agree. I also rated it 4 stars. To offer my own perspective, I believe that Kang may have chosen to describe Yeong-Hye from others' perspectives to portray her as lacking agency. Others continually tr..."

MIRA, AGREED that she should have choices as an individual and be respected as a person. Yes, there are some underlying issues with the family's reaction, the husband's responses, and demeanor, as well as whether they are still living in a post-culture where the woman is viewed as property, not respected for her own ideas or choices, but rather more respected for following only her husband's wishes. I wonder if she could've cooked him meat and not touch it herself, but she did say she could bear the smell in him through his sweat.

Michael wrote: "Did anyone else's copy of the book have a blurb on the cover informing us that the book was erotic? I am curious what others found in the novel that was related to sexuality, as my cover claims to ..."

NO, I CHECKED the EBOOK FOR A warning about self-harm, ABUSE, ETC. THIS ISN'T AN EASY READ FOR ME BECAUSE OF IT AND KILLING THE DOG THE WAY IT WAS STATED, AS I HAD A VISUAL OF THAT SCENE. AT LEAST IN THE MERMAID WE READ A WHILE BACK, IT WARNED READERS ABOUT THE SELF-MUTILATION.

In part one, there's a section where someone tells her that a balanced diet is based on a balanced mind. What did that look like?

FURTHER, she shares her insight that murder is a considerably violent act, like loathing, which is intense or extreme hatred, great disgust, that she's suppressed to gain affection. She admits the mask or pretending is coming off (STOP SHIELDING), far from true intent. It's vivid from experiences that she's coming to terms with it, knowing it's always been there. (P. 91, EBOOK). What do you believe is that darkness, murder, and taking the mask off?

Unless, I totally missed it in this first section. I’m assuming this story takes place in Seoul, Korea or its environs though it’s not implicitly said. Does that bother you when you have to guess where a story is set and/or the time period? Sometimes I look for clues like if a particular item or building or something is mentioned in a particular place. Or for the time period, if the author mentions something like the New Deal was enacted then I would know the time period was around ‘33 or thereabouts. I hate guessing sometimes.

ColumbusReads wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "I never realized that this is the author of so many other books I want to read. I also assumed this was a male author. Human Acts, Greek Lessons and especially We Do Not Part ..."

I read Human Acts. It appeared on a vote list a few months back so I read it. Like this one it is interesting read from 1st person multi-angle perspectives of introspection. Definitely a good read.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Unless, I totally missed it in this first section. I’m assuming this story takes place in Seoul, Korea or its environs though it’s not implicitly said. Does that bother you when you have to guess w..."

Yes depending on the book I too do not like to guess. There are some clues as the time frame, however if you drudge through it contextually you may get some ideas of the time period.

Michael wrote: "This is my second Han Kang novel. I do not have a problem with translation as much as I struggle with the cultural context. I find Mr. Cheong repulsive and self-absorbed. His perspective on our sub..."

Agree!