The Vegetarian

So having read two Korean translations I'm entirely capable of passing judgement on a nation's literary output. Apparently Korea is obsessed with guilt in a country where men are assholes.

Yeong-hye is described by her husband in the opening lines as “completely unremarkable in every way” then goes on to eschew meat of all kind. Naturally this leads to her cutting her wrists when her father tries to force meat into her mouth. She later sleeps with her sister's husband after he paints flowers over them both. He tries to leap off the balcony to his death when they are discovered while she decides that she is a tree.

Koreans are crazy.

UPDATE
OK so here's a less glib review of The Vegetarian as it continues to enjoy continued critical acclaim. Perhaps it's more evidence of the quality of the read that it leaves it open to such diverse interpretation - that it's afforded the level of seriousness of many of the review I've seen.

I felt her refusal to eat meat was actually a feminist reaction to the patriarchal Korean culture that still seems mired in the sexist idea that a women's place is in the kitchen. Korea food is centered around “banchan” or multiple side plates that accompany the main course. It's heavy on effort and value judgements are made on the quality and quantity of these dishes. She is railing against the constraints food has placed on her and the expectations that come with it.

Then on to the sexualization of women in section two. Believe it or not, Korea outstrips both Japan and the US for porn consumption. As a culture it still uses sex to sell (think pre Mad Men era advertising in the US for cars, cigarettes etc) There is an obsession with appearance: Korean men wear more makeup then men in any other country. Epicanthic fold surgery is the most common surgery performed by university girls in Korea and nearly 50% of highschool aged girls have had cosmetic surgery done and many will go on to sculpt noses and narrow chins to create a uniform “ideal” face. So maybe I'm just Psych 101'ing the whole thing but the painting is about the objectification of women that has been internalized culturally.

I'm a little lost on the third part. I'm not as clear on the mental health state of the nation. It could be the intense pressure to succeed. The stress of university exams, getting into a chaebol which control 50% of the Korean economy, the martyr worker complex and a fixation on keeping up with appearances. But maybe I'm reaching.