A review by j_m_alexander
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, by Roxane Gay
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
We all carry scars and some are brave enough to bare them to the world.
This is one of those memoirs that I don't think anyone can say they particularly "enjoyed", but anyone with an ounce of humanity and empathy should be able to relate to, appreciate, and be thankful for it.
At once painfully detailed and sparsely written. This is an author telling their truth (of her body), exploring their feelings about those truths (of her body), their parts in creating their own pain (regarding her body), being honest about those that created the wounds that will never fully heal and those that insist on rubbing salt in those wounds, as well as a society that dehumanizes, disgenders, and disrespects the bearer of these wounds (because of their views of her body). I have heard some characterize this book and the author as self-pitying or all-blaming, but I wonder whether they actually read the book (or lived a life). Gay does share her sadness, self-loathing, and anger - who can find fault in that? Who can't relate at least in some way to it? It's honest. It's relieving in some ways to hear so much hard truth revealed. It's simple (or it's extremely complicated). Roxane Gay does not ask for your pity in these pages. She explains what she's been through, her experiences, takes blame for what's hers to take and places blame on those that it be should placed on. If anything Roxane Gay is extremely self-critical, but she also demonstrates the characteristics of a sensitive, loving, intelligent mind, an admirable resilience, and wry sense of humor even when things seem bleak. We all hunger, we all strive to satisfy desires, we all adapt and develop defenses - this is so much of what it is to be human. This book is powerful and I am thankful for it.
This is one of those memoirs that I don't think anyone can say they particularly "enjoyed", but anyone with an ounce of humanity and empathy should be able to relate to, appreciate, and be thankful for it.
At once painfully detailed and sparsely written. This is an author telling their truth (of her body), exploring their feelings about those truths (of her body), their parts in creating their own pain (regarding her body), being honest about those that created the wounds that will never fully heal and those that insist on rubbing salt in those wounds, as well as a society that dehumanizes, disgenders, and disrespects the bearer of these wounds (because of their views of her body). I have heard some characterize this book and the author as self-pitying or all-blaming, but I wonder whether they actually read the book (or lived a life). Gay does share her sadness, self-loathing, and anger - who can find fault in that? Who can't relate at least in some way to it? It's honest. It's relieving in some ways to hear so much hard truth revealed. It's simple (or it's extremely complicated). Roxane Gay does not ask for your pity in these pages. She explains what she's been through, her experiences, takes blame for what's hers to take and places blame on those that it be should placed on. If anything Roxane Gay is extremely self-critical, but she also demonstrates the characteristics of a sensitive, loving, intelligent mind, an admirable resilience, and wry sense of humor even when things seem bleak. We all hunger, we all strive to satisfy desires, we all adapt and develop defenses - this is so much of what it is to be human. This book is powerful and I am thankful for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Injury/injury detail, and Sexual violence