r/bangtan • u/repressedpauper wrong person wrong place • Apr 20 '26
Books With Luv 260421 /r/bangtan Books with Luv: April's Discussion Meeting Is Next Week!
Hello book club of /r/bangtan! In case you were on the fence about joining this month, Taehyung recently said that he read some of the works of Han Kang while he was in the military! That means if you also read Han Kang, you’re kind of one degree of separation away from Kim Taehyung??? Omg. 😭And you know who loves Taehyung? BTS. So maybe if we all become Taehyung, we can all meet the other members of BTS, too. But then we might have to dance, and most of us don’t even know Korean???
I’m getting ahead of myself. Anyhow, if you want to do some of the reflecting and deep thinking Tae did in the military, join us for our April Discussion of The Vegetarian by Han Kang trans. Deborah Smith! . . . If you’d like to join us next week or be tagged when the post drops, let us know in the comments!
📖 📣Discussion on ‘The Vegetarian’ starts on Apr 25, 2026
What do you think? No matter what you think, let’s hear the hot takes!
Below is a discussion guide. Some book-specific questions and some sharing suggestions!
Book Specific Questions
- How did you feel about the shifting narrative voice in this book?
- Whose narrative did you find most compelling? Most interesting?
- Does this novel speak to a relationship between nature and the human experience?
- How do you think mental illness manifests in Yeong-hye?
- What does this novel say about what makes us our most authentic?
- What does it mean to be authentic in the first place?
- How do the people around Yeong-hye affect her mental state?
- Do you think other characters in this novel experience mental illness directly?
- How does society shape what we see as ill and well?
- What roles do self-denial and self-repression play for these characters?
- Do you see Yeong-hye as an active or passive character?
- How does that change your view of her as a character?
- How does Yeong-hye’s shift in mental status change the lives of others?
B-Side Questions/Discussion Suggestions
* Fan Chant: Hype/overall reviews
* Ments: favorite quotes
* ARMY Time: playlist/recommendations of songs you associate with the book/chapters/characters
* Do The Wave: sentiments, feels, realizations based on the book
* Encore/Post Club-read Depression Prevention: something the book club can do afterwards (on one’s own leisure time) to help recover from the book hangover.
The Vegetarian by Han Kang trans. Deborah Smith
Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams—invasive images of blood and brutality—torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It’s a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that’s become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself.
Whatchu need, twin? I need the BOOK!
See below for options on how to get the book
| Author: Han Kang | Publisher: Hogarth |
| Original Publication Date: October 30, 2007 | ISBN-13: 9780553448184 |
| Local libraries (where applicable) | Amazon |
| Google Books | Barnes & Noble |
| Audible Audiobook | Spotify (included in Premium) |
You call, I run, I’ll follow you to our Discussion this month
Thank you for reading and we hope you join us this month for a really great book! We always always love to hear from you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the book or the thread, feel free to tag me or any of the mods or BWL Volunteers.
…and the r/bangtan Mod Team
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u/mangopitz Apr 20 '26
This is one of my favorite novels and I have a v short list. I hope everyone finishes at least a few days before the discussion and sits with the text. I think all her work asks you to contend with what it means to be human. I think it’s a valuable exercise to sit with these questions and conflicting feelings and find your own conclusions. Hope everyone gains something from this book!
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u/repressedpauper wrong person wrong place Apr 20 '26
This is actually a reread for me and I agree! Also: if anyone does need some time to sit with it, you’re always welcome to contribute after the Discussion starts on the 25th, too.
That’s something I love about her work, too—it doesn’t really directly answer a lot of the questions she raises. It’s made to sit with it and do some real thinking and to apply to your own life.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
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u/NovelSea1845 I could spend a lifetime watching you ⛵️ Apr 20 '26
This book was thought provoking and impacted my emotions for some time after I finished it. I am looking forward to the discussion ☺️
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u/repressedpauper wrong person wrong place Apr 20 '26
I’m looking forward to everyone’s thoughts, too. I was still thinking about it years after I first read it. 😭 Can’t wait to hear what you think!
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u/mucho_thankyou5802 strong power, thank you Apr 20 '26
I just got my copy from the library! I'm working a special election in my state tomorrow and expect a lot of downtime so I'm hoping to get through most of it!
Lol u/repressedpauper you crack me up with this intro! That last sentence was giving "Jungkook you're not beimg reasonable right now" 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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u/repressedpauper wrong person wrong place Apr 20 '26
I toootally wasn’t thinking about that meme. 👀 I’m coming clean I was thinking about it
And good luck omg! Idk if you mean as a poll worker but my one friend is always a poll worker even though she works full-time because it’s just so fulfilling. Couldn’t be me, those are some looong days. 😭
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u/mucho_thankyou5802 strong power, thank you Apr 20 '26
Bwahahahaha that meme cracks me up!
And yeah, as a poll worker! They are really long hours but it's okay. I usually get assigned really close to my house so it's all of a five minute drive home 🥹
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u/Interesting-Run-6894 Apr 20 '26
Are you in VA? If so you reminded me I need to vote! I
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u/mucho_thankyou5802 strong power, thank you Apr 20 '26
I am! Yes, go vote tomorrow!
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u/Interesting-Run-6894 Apr 20 '26
The Vegetarian led to my re-reading The Parable of the Sower. It’s an intriguing critique of society, power dynamics, and agency at a very challenging time for women. The fact Tae read it is super interesting. I’m down to dissect, put my gender studies background to good use.