The Vegetarian

Dreams. Han Kang’s novel, The Vegetarian, came to my attention after it won the 2016 Man Booker Prize. Having read the book, I now understand why this finely written novel won the prize. Protagonist Yeong-hye has been having dreams of violence and blood, and she attempts to cleanse herself by no longer eating meat. Her refusal to eat meat disrupts many of her relationships as her husband and other family members attempt to control her. Kang explores violence in this novel, from multiple perspectives, as well as the issues of power and control. The images that Kang offers are often disturbing and always powerful. This is an unusual and dark novel, very finely written, and packed with insights about the impact of dreams on reality. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Vegetarian from amazon.com.