The VegetarianThe Vegetarian
Score Modern
What it's about
Yeong-hye, an ordinary housewife in Seoul, has a disturbing dream and announces she will no longer eat meat. Her husband, her family and her society can't accept such a small rebellion, and their attempts to force her back lead to violence. Told in three parts, by her husband, her brother-in-law and her sister, her story becomes stranger and more frightening.
Why it's worth reading
It won the International Booker Prize, the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century, and Han Kang won the Nobel Prize. It's short, unsettling and unforgettable.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It includes force-feeding, sexual violence and mental illness. It's dreamlike and disturbing.
By the numbers
- Readers0 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics83 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller44 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz4 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #212 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #957 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1768 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Thought-provoking, Moving
More by Han Kang
If you like this, read next
The Road
Acheron
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Blood Meridian
Tender Is the Flesh
Haunting AdelineExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Vegetarian worth reading?
Yes. It won the International Booker Prize, the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century, and Han Kang won the Nobel Prize. It ranks #1,768 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Vegetarian about?
Yeong-hye, an ordinary housewife in Seoul, has a disturbing dream and announces she will no longer eat meat. Her husband, her family and her society can't accept such a small rebellion, and their attempts to force her back lead to violence. Told in three parts, by her husband, her brother-in-law and her sister, her story becomes stranger and more frightening.
How long does it take to read The Vegetarian?
About 5 hours (201 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Vegetarian won?
International Booker Prize winner (2016).
What should I read after The Vegetarian?
If you liked it, try Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki, Hunger by Knut Hamsun or Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor.