The Swedish Academy of Literature awarded South Korean writer Han Kang the Nobel Prize less than two weeks ago. It caught my attention that the journalist, novelist, poet, and essayist did not want to celebrate such a laurel and that some critics requested that the honor be withdrawn. Well, the reason for the non-celebration, in my opinion, is laudable, is a complaint, a call of attention to the danger represented by the current war conflicts, which threaten the world if they continue to escalate. I wonder about the real motives of its detractors: envy... or editorial marketing? You know, creating controversy is a strategy to promote sales. Many readers, now, will want to know about the writer, and the best way, of course, is to read a representative sample of her work.

I was no exception. Yesterday I finished reading “La Vegetariana”; a short novel, that, by virtue, it is said, is the main merit for the prestigious award. At least, according to the gossip of connoisseurs on social networks. I confess it was not my first choice, I hesitated in opting for “The Greek Class”. My daughter, the youngest, recently opted for vegetarianism, although since she was very young she showed a dislike for eating meat. I saw myself reflected in her. I still remember how my grandmother would blend steaks (beef or chicken) into a thick soup with a strange taste for me to slurp and nourish me properly. Eventually, I learned (I half-accepted) under scolding to chew them until the fluids were extracted and the bagasse was thrown away. With marriage came total acceptance. So, you will understand why I made my choice.

Please excuse the anecdote, but I feel it is pertinent to the comments I want to share with you. Before reading it, I cheerfully told my daughter: I will read “The Vegetarian”, by this year's Nobel Prize winner. If you want, I'll share it with you? I presumed it would be of interest to her because of the title. Now, I have some misgivings, not that it is bad or inappropriate! On the contrary, it is excellent from a narrative point of view, I would say daring and exquisite within contemporary writing. However, the story it tells is quite bloody and painful, while remaining realistic, even universal. It doesn't matter if it takes place in an oriental and traditionalist context, as in Seoul. I think it could easily take place anywhere where similar determinants prevail. You be the judge, wherever you are. Perhaps in the not-too-distant past. For example, without going to the extreme, in my personal history. Thank God, my environment and that of my daughter, were much more tolerant and compassionate compared to that experienced by the silent protagonist (seen from the optics of three characters: the husband, the brother-in-law, and the sister of the vegetarian) presented to us by Han Kang.

The novel is short, and at the same time, profound. It invites reflection on the social conventions that contravene freedom. I confess that in some paragraphs I felt very uncomfortable, as expressed by one of the characters in a scene that transgressed the sensual and artistic, a disturbing descriptive, rising tone, coming from the perspective of a woman. It denotes a very well-calculated intentionality and the fine intelligence of the author. I imagined my daughter, an almost 27-year-old woman, reading it. Of course, I am aware that she is already an adult in search of full maturity. However, still, as a parent, there are topics that I consider taboo in the tradition of the people. Maybe I am not so modern, and I retain many complexes? I am not one to give you spoilers either, today I will make an exception, as vague as possible to explain myself. The protagonist (after deciding not to eat meat because of nightmares and insomnia) dislikes wearing bras, and on several occasions when she felt hot, she took them off and walked around with her bare torso shamelessly to cool off, undisturbed by being seen. The day before last it was so hot, I was sweating so much, that I took off my shirt and walked around the house like it was nothing. What makes me different from the protagonist? Yes, my breasts are flat compared to women's breasts, but... they are still breasts. Why, then, in the West, is this situation tolerated in men, and in women, on the other hand, modesty makes it scandalous and even sinful in public?

I am tempted to delve into some of the details of the novel and give you a complete synopsis of it. However, I know that other splendid ones already exist, and will be written. Do you want to skip the personal experience, the enjoyment or not of leisurely reading? Go ahead and read it! You are free to do so. Of course, I recommend you to follow my example: read it first, and then check it against the positive or negative reviews written about it. If you ask me if it is worth reading, I would say yes. I would say yes, it is short, entertaining, it will give you a good time to think, and probably, you will reread it in the future, I plan to do so, with God's permission. Although, I am also well aware that it will depend on your tastes. Well, one argument in its favor: the verdict of a centennial foundation that rewards talents; and I share it with this one.

Of the translator into Spanish, my mother tongue, I know from the author's resonance in these times, that her name is Sunme Yoon, born in South Korea and of Argentine nationality, with a degree and doctorate in philosophy and letters. More from there, there is little on the web, although, I have no doubt that she will be talked about or written about in the future. Of the English version, there is one by Debora Smith, a British translator, as I found on Wikipedia.

Thanks for joining me here. We'll keep reading to share our passion for books.