Reviews

Eat Only When You're Hungry by Lindsay Hunter

janessakat's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

lynniew13's review against another edition

3.0

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Sad characters.

hongstoes's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

If Lindsay Hunter wrote about paint drying or grass growing, I would read it. Her reflective and introspective approach to storytelling is unparalleled. I could not finish this book fast enough and I cannot wait to read another book from her. Fantastic book

greg_m's review against another edition

5.0

The whole thing stuck pretty closely to how it was described on the front cover: a story about a man who faces the pain and suffering of his addictions to alcohol and to food, and his tortuous ruminations on past failures. He details the failures of his mother, father, son, and his own.
I was shocked by how quickly I flew through his whole journey. I guess Hunter is as good at flash-fiction as the "About the Author" blurb claims. It was just a slice-of-life kind of story, and there really wasn't that much closure, for me, but the whole experience just sucked me in while I was reading. It was less of a pleasure to watch Greg struggle and more of an exercise in sympathy with the downbeaten.

mhprince21's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

angelamichelle's review against another edition

4.0

There are many things I don't care for about this book. A pretty unlikable main character. TMI on his sex life. In fact, everyone is pretty unlikable. The ending felt like a stop more than an end.

Things I do like:
-The title. The phrase echoes silently throughout the whole book (and is mentioned once near the end) as exactly what the book is about, i.e., Yeah, but I'm always hungry (for love, acceptance...)

-Most chapters could stand alone as short stories. I love how the author moved the narrative forward--and it is a travelogue after all--while still keeping each chapter a perfectly constructed gem.

-Several perfect turns of phrase. Like the barstools that "honked and tumbled" as he fell to the floor.

-The message. That we're all a mess, all hungry, all clueless, all driving aimlessly trying to right past wrongs, escape our inescapable flaws.

sarahmareacarr's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I loved this

cami19's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

taylorturnsapage's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction

tstuppy's review against another edition

5.0

Succinct and brutal, this novel was startling. Between the father/son narrative and the varied kinds of addiction depicted, the author brought a world to life. I really enjoyed it, and the writing was stellar icing on the cake.