Already a bestseller and adapted for film in the author’s home country, The Vegetarian is the U.S. debut of South Korean writer Han Kang. It tells the story of Yeong-hye in three parts, narrated by her husband, brother-in-law, and sister, respectively. An otherwise ordinary woman, Yeong-hye is prompted by a nightmare to become a vegetarian. Her commitment to an increasingly restrictive diet grows, while the rest of her life, and the lives of those around her, unravel. About much more than a change in eating habits, this short book packs a lot into its few pages. With a warning that some may find the content unsettling, I would suggest this poetically written, absorbing novel for readers of literary and psychological fiction who don’t mind a book that gets under your skin.
