Mili

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting from this book. It's certainly not what I finally got. Instead, The Vegetarian surprise me in ways I never imagined. The first and second parts of this story made me realise something I already knew, but it reaffirmed for me: how disgusting the pov of men can be. It almost made me stop reading even though I knew in my bones that it was intentional. The alienation, the abuse, those are the themes that live beneath the dreams and lives of these women. These are the themes I choose to highlight because I believe that beyond the graphic scenes there's a deep message that remove universal feelings in readers.

Some people may disagree with me, but I think this book is profoundly feminist. There's a clear contrast in the realistic view that Hang Kang gives us between the pov of these two normal men and the pov of the sister.

I need to say it, if it weren't for the last part, this book would be a two stars for me. It really disturbed me. But the sister's pov made me realise what this was really about, it confirmed my suggestions, it moved me, I felt seen.

All in all, I'm really grateful for reading this book, although I don't think I would recommend it unless you are extremely curious and want to confirm with your eyes this unbelievable and, in a certain way, realistic story about violence and human alienation.