Book Review: The Vegetarian by Han Kang

I recently read about Han Kang's The Vegetarian receiving a Nobel Prize award, and it reminded me of my own experience with the book. Though it's only 188 pages long, it took me a month to finish. Initially, I assumed it would be an easy read due to its brevity, but I was mistaken. Han Kang’s poetic language weighed heavily on my heart as I read. While beautifully written, the novel was also somewhat draining. As I delved deeper into the chapters, the story unfolded with increasing complexity—the words, the emotions, the meanings they sought to convey.

There were moments when certain scenes left me confused, and at times, I felt overwhelmed. Yet, the more I immersed myself in the narrative, the more it pulled me into its world.

The Vegetarian is about the protagonist’s profound commitment to veganism, a passion so intense that it melds her with nature itself. Some parts of the story are unsettling—gory and perverse—but readers who appreciate Kafka’s Metamorphosis may find a similar atmosphere here. I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

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From Island to Golden Sands

 It's a bittersweet feeling. Seven months ago, my daughters and I packed our bags and flew to the City of Gold to be with my husband. It was an exhausting yet exciting experience — a new country to explore and the start of another chapter in our lives.

Touchdown in Dubai. I never thought that a desert could be cold, but it was January, the peak of the winter season. I was quite surprised. I hadn’t noticed how grand the airport was; we were transported by a train to the main area. It was our first time traveling abroad, and we didn’t know much about this country. Everything felt foreign. Thankfully, an auntie from the same flight helped us get through immigration. And there, I saw beautiful faces from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and many other places. Some were still wearing their colorful traditional clothes. It made me wonder why Filipinos no longer wear the Barong and Saya on regular days.

After the long, roundabout process at immigration, we finally proceeded to the arrival area and saw my loving husband waiting for us, beaming with a smile. It was a happy moment.

Our first meal in Dubai was Jollibee! But not the usual snacks we eat in the Philippines — Jollibee here had a twist. They offered Shawarma and Biryani meals, which I really liked, by the way. Jollibee has always been my comfort food. After dinner, we walked a little with our luggage and met our flat mates. There were four of them. We exchanged quick hellos and finally got some sleep after the long journey.

 (photo credit: Aleksandar Pasaric)

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