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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
Lisbeth is anorexic with the Thin voice constantly reminding her how fat she is and how many calories food that she may consume contain. One night when she takes an overdose of her mother's antidepressants she is visited by Death and is told he is the horseman of Famine.
This novel takes a rather flippant attitude towards a serious subject. As tormented as Lisbeth appears there is an underlying humor that is inappropriate.
This novel takes a rather flippant attitude towards a serious subject. As tormented as Lisbeth appears there is an underlying humor that is inappropriate.
I feel like this book does a great job of telling the story it was meant to. It doesn’t cut corners and is very honest about the main character’s eating disorder. Throughout the entire book, I was deeply invested in the health and wellbeing of the main character, and I was very pleased with the ending. I like that Death personified is a bit of an enigma that we don’t quite understand and I love the overall theme of balance. Four stars only because the book is so short and, as another reviewer said, we don’t really know why the ending happens the way that it does.
I enjoy reading stories about the 4horseman and this one was a nice take on famine.
I liked this story even though I could not relate to the main character or her issues.
I liked this story even though I could not relate to the main character or her issues.
Where do I begin with this novel? This book deals with an intense topic - eating disorders. In a world in which girls are told that in order to be beautiful they must look a certain way, the book explores the inner turmoil of a girl who is striving for unrealistic and false beauty. Lisa is anorexic. She doesn't want to believe it and she believes that her "best friend" Tammy who is bulimic is the only one in the world who understands her. Whenever someone mentions her health, she brushes them off or feels betrayed. The story is completely heart wrenching. I felt every battle I've ever experience with my self and my image rise to the surface.
The story takes such a serious topic and adds in the the notion of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Death, War, Pestilence and Famine. Lisa is Famine in story. Lisa becomes the Black Rider and it is her responsibility to bring Famine into the world along with her fellow horsemen. How will Lisa, a girl who struggles with food and her own self worth, take the reigns of famine and how will she use this new 'power.'
This is the first time in which I've read anything containing the idea of the 4 Horsemen and it was utterly enthralling. This novel touches upon a lot of world realities that I think too many people shield themselves from. When you think about it, the 4 horsemen exist. We see Death, war, pestilence and famine everyday of our lives and just like eating disorders, not everybody takes these issues as being serious topics of interest. And then on a lighter note, Death looks like Kurt Cobain, Pestilence is a philanthropists and War is just, well war. Lisa needs to find the strength to both battle her own inner demons and learn how to be Famine.
When I first began reading this book I wasn't sure in my ability to continue reading it. It was raw and all too real. At times, I found myself cringing but not because I wasn't finding myself engrossed with the story, I was. I felt my heart go out to all of those girl and boys who feel they aren't worth anything, it went out to all of the places that take food for granted, and all of the places which suffer from plagues of famine, pestilence, war and death. I wanted to reach into the pages and tell Lisa that everything was going to be okay. People are there who love her and only want to see her healthy. All too often there are forces who make us all feel unworthy of any love and self worth.
This story will touch a lot of lives and show a lot of people that they are not worthless. They will also find it engaging, gripping, captivating and inspiring. There is a lot of reality in Hunger, but it is a reality so well written that you lose yourself to the story completely.
The story takes such a serious topic and adds in the the notion of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Death, War, Pestilence and Famine. Lisa is Famine in story. Lisa becomes the Black Rider and it is her responsibility to bring Famine into the world along with her fellow horsemen. How will Lisa, a girl who struggles with food and her own self worth, take the reigns of famine and how will she use this new 'power.'
This is the first time in which I've read anything containing the idea of the 4 Horsemen and it was utterly enthralling. This novel touches upon a lot of world realities that I think too many people shield themselves from. When you think about it, the 4 horsemen exist. We see Death, war, pestilence and famine everyday of our lives and just like eating disorders, not everybody takes these issues as being serious topics of interest. And then on a lighter note, Death looks like Kurt Cobain, Pestilence is a philanthropists and War is just, well war. Lisa needs to find the strength to both battle her own inner demons and learn how to be Famine.
When I first began reading this book I wasn't sure in my ability to continue reading it. It was raw and all too real. At times, I found myself cringing but not because I wasn't finding myself engrossed with the story, I was. I felt my heart go out to all of those girl and boys who feel they aren't worth anything, it went out to all of the places that take food for granted, and all of the places which suffer from plagues of famine, pestilence, war and death. I wanted to reach into the pages and tell Lisa that everything was going to be okay. People are there who love her and only want to see her healthy. All too often there are forces who make us all feel unworthy of any love and self worth.
This story will touch a lot of lives and show a lot of people that they are not worthless. They will also find it engaging, gripping, captivating and inspiring. There is a lot of reality in Hunger, but it is a reality so well written that you lose yourself to the story completely.
The theme of this novel was really what got me interested in reading it -- I mean, a female being one of the Riders of the Apocalypse, come on, that's good stuff! Sadly, I ended up being more concerned with the eating disorder part of the story than the Riders portion. The supernatural aspect of the novel seemed to lack...something. I can't really put my finger on it, but I was sorely disappointed. It did shed some light on the thought process of a young female with an eating disorder, which I've always been rather curious about. I was happy to see how realistic it was in the end; there was no everything's-perfect-after-all ending and I appreciated that.
This was a really good book. I only took off a star for length and for some icky details I didn't like.
This is probably one of the only books I've ever read that had me tearing up. I felt so bad for Lisa and her struggle.
I really liked the fantasy element of this story. I loved the fact that she was famine and that War, Pestilence, and Death also appeared.
I was very surprised that Lisa as Famine was able to kill War. I also had been suspecting for a little bit that War was actually her mother.
Death was a really interesting character. I can't figure out who the author meant for him to look like. I guess I just don't know celebrities that well but I liked him as a character. I hope some of the other books in this series explore the other horseman/woman.
It was interesting to see famine travel the world and eventually help people. I particularly liked the part where she helped the little girl.
Overall very good. Would read again and can't wait to continue the series!
This is probably one of the only books I've ever read that had me tearing up. I felt so bad for Lisa and her struggle.
I really liked the fantasy element of this story. I loved the fact that she was famine and that War, Pestilence, and Death also appeared.
I was very surprised that Lisa as Famine was able to kill War. I also had been suspecting for a little bit that War was actually her mother.
Death was a really interesting character. I can't figure out who the author meant for him to look like. I guess I just don't know celebrities that well but I liked him as a character. I hope some of the other books in this series explore the other horseman/woman.
It was interesting to see famine travel the world and eventually help people. I particularly liked the part where she helped the little girl.
Overall very good. Would read again and can't wait to continue the series!
This is an excellent book, a look at the insidiousness of eating disorders with a dash of cool fantasy thrown in. The concept of the Four Horsemen has been adapted to be more modern and relatable for teens, with just the right amount of humor thrown in for good measure. While there is a relationship, it doesn't become the major focus of the book like so many young adult paranormal/fantasy books. Nor is Lisa a perfect character - she has her own flaws and she's really allowed a lot of room to grow over the course of this short novel.
Unexpectedly good. I got this book at a local book sale. $5 for a whole bag of books. In total, I got 41 books for $15. It's totally worth it. Hopefully, the rest of my finds are as good! The book itself confused me a bit at the start, but Lisabeth's journey and change was well written.
3.5 stars.
Student wanted me to read this book so bad he went to the library and checked it out for me.
Quick read (finished in a day) with a creative premise. The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse all embody their roles in some way. This story follows Lisa, or Famine, who has an eating disorder. Good mix of the realistic and mythical. A little cliche in terms of what to expect from a YA plot and characters.
Reminded me a lot of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Student wanted me to read this book so bad he went to the library and checked it out for me.
Quick read (finished in a day) with a creative premise. The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse all embody their roles in some way. This story follows Lisa, or Famine, who has an eating disorder. Good mix of the realistic and mythical. A little cliche in terms of what to expect from a YA plot and characters.
Reminded me a lot of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.
The cover was what first caught my eye. The premise of the story was the second thing to catch my attention. The irony that an anorexic girl who denies she's anorexic being famine?
Even though it was a short and fast read I think Kessler did an amazing job with bring alive Lisabeth's condition. It works well by giving her the job of famine, because it gives Lisa the chance to see the world of people suffering and the change she can make with her new gift.
I wish there could have been more character development specially more on the side of the friendship between Lisa and Susanne, as well as war. But it's still good anyway :)
The writing style is good it flows and wraps the reader into its story. The characters have some depth and the plot is excellant.
If you're looking for a story about a girl who's dealing with her own internal conflict, this is one of those.
Worth reading :)
Even though it was a short and fast read I think Kessler did an amazing job with bring alive Lisabeth's condition. It works well by giving her the job of famine, because it gives Lisa the chance to see the world of people suffering and the change she can make with her new gift.
I wish there could have been more character development specially more on the side of the friendship between Lisa and Susanne, as well as war. But it's still good anyway :)
The writing style is good it flows and wraps the reader into its story. The characters have some depth and the plot is excellant.
If you're looking for a story about a girl who's dealing with her own internal conflict, this is one of those.
Worth reading :)