Book Review Title: The Vegetarian Author: Han Kang Translator: Deborah Smith [from Korean] Publisher: Granta, London, 2018 Pages: 183 Insanity can provide infinite opportunities to a novelist. The protagonist of Nobel laureate Han Kang’s Booker-winner novel, The Vegetarian , thinks of herself as a tree. One can argue with ample logic and conviction that trees are far better than humans. “Trees are like brothers and sisters,” Yeong-hye, the protagonist, says. She identifies herself with the trees and turns vegetarian one day. Worse, she gives up all food eventually. Of course, she ends up in a mental hospital. The Vegetarian tells Yeong-hye’s tragic story on the surface. Below that surface, it raises too many questions that leave us pondering deeply. What does it mean to be human? Must humanity always entail violence? Is madness a form of truth, a more profound truth than sanity’s wisdom? In the disturbing world of this novel, trees represent peace, stillness, and nonviol...
Wooohhhh!!!! Nice pic... Where is the pic taken?
ReplyDeleteA village in Kerala.
DeleteHope this remains...Btw, is the one behind the banana leaves a Cocoa?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's cocoa.
DeleteBeautiful! Awesome capture!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bushra... Glad you liked it.
DeleteLanes become insignificant when we try to reach heaven. Nice take.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a narrow path leading to a stream...
DeleteBeautiful and truly luxuriant, reminds me of my village.
ReplyDeleteSo much beauty in the countryside, isn't it? Nice to know you liked this.
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteGreen and peaceful.
Indeed... thanks.
DeleteThere must be some danger somewhere ...
ReplyDeleteRE
No danger, Raghuram. The path is used just once a day or so when the owner goes to pump water from the river to which the path goes.
DeleteI wonder, why would you even come back.
ReplyDeleteCertain compulsions, Sid.
DeleteWonderful shot of nature.
ReplyDeleteYes, Rajesh. Thanks.
Deletenice capture. Where is this?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely private property in a village in Kerala.
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ReplyDelete