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...
"Replacing with five" is perhaps the most amusing...
ReplyDeleteYes, Alok is a gifted cartoonist.
DeleteHa! Ha! Ha! This art should survive forever. Satires are a necessity for all kinds of times.
ReplyDeleteHope Modi ji learns to laugh. At himself too.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteSome good ones there - but I too like the 'replace five'! YAM xx
😊
DeleteSad days ahead!
ReplyDeleteThat's the deeper truth.
DeleteNice one :)
ReplyDeleteDo check Satish Acharya's cartoon. My favorite.
Sure I'll check. Humour is good for wellbeing.
DeleteNice post..
ReplyDeleteThank you.
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