The vegetarian

One of my favorite short stories which I read in college was Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivner." But Bartleby's got nothing on Yeong-hye. Her decision to become a vegetarian sends her family into a tailspin, as Han explores how an effort to renounce violence and reject the world's demands provokes a more and more violent reaction from those around her. Aspects of the story are absurd, but are told in a straight, just-the-facts-ma'am style that heightens the sense of how stark (yet simple) Yeong-hye's actions are. She determines, for her own reasons, to live as she wants, and the novel illustrates how challenging it is to take such a stance.

Otroligt vacker bok, med målande beskrivningar. Realism och surrealism på samma gång. Kommer att läsa om framöver, känns som det finns mycket att finna i texten som kanske inte kommer fram direkt.

Yes, this plot is going places. But it finds very natural ways to take the reader along and experience this wild series of events in a believable way. Full review here.