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...
Parents do so much for us..!!
ReplyDeleteA lot of things could be much easier if education was the real concern.
DeleteYou should visit Kolkata to see the serpentine lines in front of the reputed schools at the beginning of each session! And the fees...rocketing upwards. Total commercialization of education.
ReplyDeleteAnd the teachers are paid worse than the sweepers in the railways, forces example.
DeletePathetic!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteSad. The most important basic need after food, shelter and health is education. But alas! don't know when will our politicians and society understand it's importance over and above religion.
ReplyDeleteThe guard at the gate was courteous enough to explain to me the importance of security in a school. But I failed to understand why a school that has ample space, numerous buses, and huge building cannot construct a small room for the parents and visitors.
DeleteReally? Why can't such prominent schools do something better for parents?
ReplyDeleteParents are not as important as their money, I guess
DeleteI have also entered this phase with Pihu's admission in a school this year. It is a good business these days :( just kindergarten and fees are in lacs!!
ReplyDeleteAll the best for Pihu. It's going to be an adventure.
DeleteSo, now the parents of the students are a threat to security? The parents pay exorbitant fees for their kids. And the school can't build a parents room!
ReplyDeleteNow-a-days, schools are reluctant to spend money on parents, teachers, or students. Then, where does all the money go?
In the eagerness to get seat in a good school, parents forget or ignore such miseries. We accept too many things without questioning, this is our problem.
DeleteTalk about an educational drive-by!
ReplyDeleteWe abide by concepts a little too literally :)
DeleteYes! That is the USP of our greatness, isn't it? hahahahaha
Delete:) :)
DeletePathetic, disgusting and the lowest low .... sigh, sigh , sigh .
ReplyDeleteCome to schools of Delhi and NCR to learn more about the pathetic condition of education.
DeleteTrue,teachers of many reputed schools are paid very badly.There should be a strict action against such kind of managements.
ReplyDeleteNo action against anybody with money. that's what our PM says :)
DeleteIt's sad and hugs to all the parents all over for securing their children's future with all that they can do.
ReplyDeletehttp://cutesmilealways.blogspot.in/