tweyant's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book I’ve read by Roxane Gay, but I’m sure it won’t be the last! I felt so seen/heard/understood throughout this entire book. The way she writes about being a fat woman in the world is so beautiful and heartbreaking. I’m so thankful for this book!
roll_n_read's review against another edition
4.0
A short, but powerful memoir giving a peek inside some of the challenges Gay has tried to live through, many of which stem from a terrible and traumatic experience as a young girl. The title “Hunger” works at multiple levels as she discloses her struggles as a “morbidly obese” person and with her hunger to be loved and accepted.
One of my favorite little tidbits is that she seems to refer to her boyfriends or girlfriends or romantic partners as her “person” which I find really charming.
This book gave me a better understanding of some of the things that overweight people may be especially self conscious of and how I can try to be more thoughtful of some of the things I do and say. It, like many recent stories, also reminded me of how destructive rape and sexual abuse can be to a person.
One of my favorite little tidbits is that she seems to refer to her boyfriends or girlfriends or romantic partners as her “person” which I find really charming.
This book gave me a better understanding of some of the things that overweight people may be especially self conscious of and how I can try to be more thoughtful of some of the things I do and say. It, like many recent stories, also reminded me of how destructive rape and sexual abuse can be to a person.
eddygrant's review against another edition
2.0
Appreciate the vulnerability it took to write this book. Can see the appeal but didn’t really enjoy it. Writing was quite repetitive and found the structure hard to follow. Also hated some lines e.g. “Finally, I found the discipline to have an eating disorder”. Just not the book for me I don’t think!
biblioghoul's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/injury detail, and Homophobia
kbear_59's review against another edition
5.0
Wow..
First off: so many trigger warnings for this book! Please know your ability to handle very difficult content before reading this book.
This book is immense and important and was me and not me and people I know and everything that people with a body need to hear. Sometimes it’s to relate and not feel alone. Sometimes it’s to hear the truth of what living in a body is like.
Intersectional and forward reaching while still speaking about the true and grotesque truth of living in a world that screams for you to change who you are.
This was very impactful to me and beautifully written. I was so deeply engaged the whole time.
This is the truth of the struggle to live in the skin you are in as well as be the soul you are meant to be.
So good!
First off: so many trigger warnings for this book! Please know your ability to handle very difficult content before reading this book.
This book is immense and important and was me and not me and people I know and everything that people with a body need to hear. Sometimes it’s to relate and not feel alone. Sometimes it’s to hear the truth of what living in a body is like.
Intersectional and forward reaching while still speaking about the true and grotesque truth of living in a world that screams for you to change who you are.
This was very impactful to me and beautifully written. I was so deeply engaged the whole time.
This is the truth of the struggle to live in the skin you are in as well as be the soul you are meant to be.
So good!
redrosemoth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Vomit, Eating disorder, Medical content, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexism, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Biphobia
Graphic description of the rape of a child and the emotional impact of that throughout life, eating disorders, and an injury.toryfram's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I considered abandoning this book a handful of times. I’m glad I saw it through.
A bit repetitive at times, I think it would have benefitted from additional editing. Overall, it was a heart-breaking and honest telling of a common story. And while I did not relate to many of the main themes, I recognize that this was not written for me. I appreciated the space to be a bystander to such a novel.
The sources may differ, but trauma is universal. That is a burden we share as humans.
A bit repetitive at times, I think it would have benefitted from additional editing. Overall, it was a heart-breaking and honest telling of a common story. And while I did not relate to many of the main themes, I recognize that this was not written for me. I appreciated the space to be a bystander to such a novel.
The sources may differ, but trauma is universal. That is a burden we share as humans.