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...
Wow..That is so intense and I really have no words..It teaches so many things in this 3 simple sentence..hats off to you Sir.. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Harsha. You give me some kind of a reassurance.
DeleteTouche!
ReplyDeleteTouch, let me say!
DeleteYou better ask the teacher to send that student to me, i promise he will spend rest of his lyf in bending position.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha
DeleteFunny and sad.
ReplyDeleteTeaching has become a ridiculous profession, Sid.
DeleteIts the devoted nature of a human which makes him/her a teacher. Now a days ask students want to become an engineer , doctor, CA and what not but teacher. And unfortunately these fellows blame teachers !
ReplyDeleteThe system is responsible for it to a large extent. Students are given too much liberty and too many rights without making them aware of their responsibilities and duties. Teachers do more work nowadays than students!
DeleteSo precise and intense ! the actual scenario :-(
ReplyDeleteYes, it is actual! But i must not forget that there are many, many wonderful students too as a consolation for the teacher.
DeleteOh that was a lump in d throat tale....excellent writing there
ReplyDeleteSociety makes th tales, Ritesh.
DeleteWhat to say about today's students! And now I am sounding like a very very old lady :D
ReplyDelete