The Vegetarian by Han Kang

The Vegetarian is a dark psychological novel about Yeong-hye, a woman who decides to stop eating meat after experiencing disturbing dreams. Her quiet rebellion against societal expectations spirals into a profound psychological and existential crisis. As her family reacts with hostility, her transformation becomes more extreme, leading to self-harm and hospitalization. The novel, divided into three perspectives—her husband’s, her brother-in-law’s, and her sister’s—examines issues of autonomy, mental illness, gender roles, and the oppressive nature of conformity in society.