In South Korea, becoming vegetarian is such a bizarre act it is likely to get you institutionalised (according to this story). It is probably better described as three linked but independent novellas. The first is a horror story, the second a piece of disturbing artistic erotica, the third, a decent into madness (but who, exactly, is the one going mad?) We see the life of the main character, Yeong-hye, through the eyes of the people you could reasonably expect to be closest to her, yet none of them really know her. I don't feel like any of them really cared either. Ultimately, this is a sad and thought provoking book.