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...
If you are not a flatterer, you cannot be a party worker. Simple.
ReplyDeleteRE
Thank me for not confusing you with real poetry.
Delete:) That's a great wish.
ReplyDeleteIndeed and I'm determined to master the art. :)
Deletesimple but well said :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ankur.
DeleteI don't want to be a party worker. In fact, even if I try for it, I am sure I would fail spectacularly in that endeavor.
ReplyDeleteI know. And you also know :)
DeleteNext, are you going to apply for the post of Principal to form a party?
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