Reviews

Blue Hunger by Viola Di Grado

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bbypepsi's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

rouge_red's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced

3.0

Overwhelming grief and the need to distract with questionable love and sex. There were some stunning sentences, juxtaposing with the latter half of the book and the disgusting places our two characters had sex in. Talk about crossing streams. I thought the author did a good job at creating a scenario and setting to explore loneliness and grief for our MC, as well as showing how Xu processed her own emotional baggage- one person gave themselves up to letting a different emotion wash over them, while the other dominated and only gave you whatever truth of herself she wanted. The relationship dynamic was really interesting and you can see how the MC would be drawn to Xu because of how she balanced her openness with her secrets. You really felt like you knew her, and that generosity and spontaneity would be exciting for a lot of people, esp. our MC who is in need of a distraction.

Overall, the kind of book that benefits from a shorter length. A good read.

vidhyaa's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

lauziereads's review

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

j_enna's review

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book was in the horror section of the library so I was disappointed that there weren't many horror elements

joef3l's review

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5.0

In such a clench of grief whilst effusively absorbed by obsession, Blue Hunger delivers an upmost question of what to compromise, what to compel after the death, and to meet a person in just unexpected but consuming moment. I love every page of this book, from the chapter titles, including my favorite, the first one entitled Mouth, such an immense introductory to deal with lust and comprehension. There are so many tinge feeling from the narrator, I could actually pull to her impulsive actions, to peak parts, her random thoughts are kind of life a therapy and at times, feels a poison in head.

A particular sentences induce into a powerful thoughts I knew it will disturb me, it said, “As I sat down at the desk and pulled out my notes, a swarm of mosquitoes descended upon me. Mosquitoes always appreciated my blood. I never turned them away. I saw their hunger as a form of love.” THIS! I love this part so much, it speaks so much rawness and authenticity. I believe I will keep on saying I love this book whenever I remember and that because it’s true, I love a piece which compasses an ode to longings and vulnerability.

From a body chapter title to another title, the consistency lingers in me as I read this to its end, I found that characters are clinging to promises yet they demise that feeling. A book that contradicts to each self is an enormous plus for me when I’m reading and this book does it all. A very dark literary fiction that brought by Viola to the very dot of the last chapter. It’s so compelling and good, I love Blue Hunger and how it plays fire.