March – The Vegetarian by Han Kang

A great debate ensued following this book - it was unusual and I thought it would be divisive. - I love how everyone saw it differently. What was the point to it, must be the first question? It wasn't about being vegetarian. But that was the catalyst for Yeong-hye to break out from under the thumb that was quashing her for far too long.

Essentially we thought the point of it was a comment on society, or, to be more blunt, the patriachy that has governed us for so long. It's that which affects women so negatively, in history, now and probably in the near future. Let's hope it stops there. Both Yeong-hye and In-hye's lives are negatively impacted by the men in their lives - asserting such cruel dominance over them. And jeez, what cruel bastards they were - husband and father both.

Was Yeong-hye sick - or was she just a normal, albeit sensitive, person, persecuted by a sick society?

If we see her as sick, her brother-in-law was an abuser. If she wasn't he was infatuated by her and she him?

Whatever our opinions, and there were a few, we all found the ending too depressing and insignificant. We would have loved a more striking finale, perhaps she was consumed by nature when she died, turned into a tree perhaps?

Either way, a fabulous book for stimulating a colourful discussion. We are now looking forward to The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka which we will discuss on 7th May.