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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
Whew. What a memoir. In this book Roxane really pulls back the curtains to let us see into her life, her past, and her inner thoughts. I feel like it should be a required reading for everyone. I feel it has given me priceless insight into the lives of some of the people of love, as well as made me feel fired up about creating a society where people in all bodies can navigate without shame. It can be hard to read, but it’s an important read. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
Brutally honest and eye opening. Wonderfully written.
This was devastating. A blunt, searingly honest exploration of what it is to be other, to be caged in cultural presumptions so powerful that you yourself reinforce your incarceration. So many passages in this memoir resonated for me and echoed my own experiences as a queer man who grew up in the 1970s, it felt as if Roxane Gay had accessed the painful and embarrassing places and traumas I had locked away, kept to myself, refused to face, and done some of the work for me. This isn't just a memoir, it's an act of extraordinary bravery and service. Warning: it is NOT easy, in fact, it is emotionally draining but also enlightening and thought-provoking and encouraging; Roxane Gay has survived what could have been an overwhelming amount of horror, pain and abuse (physical and emotional), and ugly energy --- from herself (to which she freely cops) and others, and the culture at large. If I had the power, I would make every child entering adolescence read this as it would be a benefit to those who feel alone and unseen and not right (and what adolescent doesn't feel those things?) as well as those who might be bullies, haters, judgey popular kids who think it's okay to mock and torture others, never having a thought to the long-term (permanent?) damage it can do.
This is the first novel I have read by Roxane Gay. Immediately I fell in love with her voice. Her poise and forwardness. The ferocity in which she opened herself up and bared her soul throughout this memoir. I admire her courage, and the way she refused to shy away from her deepest shames. It takes an amazing amount of strength to do what she did with Hunger and for that, I applaud her.
However, I felt that Gay was not ready to write this novel. At times Hunger was eye opening, heart breaking, and dripping with truth about the world that we live in. Gay holds everyone accountable for todays societal norms, from the person who fears sitting next to an overweight person on a plane to concerned family members that push weight loss as a necessity for good health. Her description of the trauma she faced was bone chilling, and how she struggled to survive the aftermath gave a distinct voice to so many victims.
Unfortunately, at most times, Hunger was repetitive. The very beginning of the novel felt like Gay could not decide on an opening so she combined every option she had into it's own section. The rest of the chapters jumped around with no discernible reason that was often hard to follow. One moment she talked about her love of cooking and then the next focused on how she continues to stalk the man who raped her online. The only part that felt cohesive was her description of her schooling years, because that, at least, followed a sort of timeline. I felt like far too often, Gay kept coming back to her feelings of worthlessness and inadequacies. No matter what the chapter was about, it ended with this utter hopelessness that makes me feel Gay is not yet close to healing. I knew not to expect a happy ending or some trimuphant conquering over her body or the impressions that are inflicted upon it. But I did not expect or enjoy the negativity that she uses to describe herself and anything that fails to accommodate her body. Sometimes, of course, it was called for. But some times I think she needs to give others the same allowance she expects from them.
Hunger definitely gave me a new perspective of how to look at and respect other people's space in this world but page upon page of Gay's ruthlessness towards herself and others wore me out. I hope in the future, Gay can revisit this novel and sculpt it into something more than just a series of blog posts.
However, I felt that Gay was not ready to write this novel. At times Hunger was eye opening, heart breaking, and dripping with truth about the world that we live in. Gay holds everyone accountable for todays societal norms, from the person who fears sitting next to an overweight person on a plane to concerned family members that push weight loss as a necessity for good health. Her description of the trauma she faced was bone chilling, and how she struggled to survive the aftermath gave a distinct voice to so many victims.
Unfortunately, at most times, Hunger was repetitive. The very beginning of the novel felt like Gay could not decide on an opening so she combined every option she had into it's own section. The rest of the chapters jumped around with no discernible reason that was often hard to follow. One moment she talked about her love of cooking and then the next focused on how she continues to stalk the man who raped her online. The only part that felt cohesive was her description of her schooling years, because that, at least, followed a sort of timeline. I felt like far too often, Gay kept coming back to her feelings of worthlessness and inadequacies. No matter what the chapter was about, it ended with this utter hopelessness that makes me feel Gay is not yet close to healing. I knew not to expect a happy ending or some trimuphant conquering over her body or the impressions that are inflicted upon it. But I did not expect or enjoy the negativity that she uses to describe herself and anything that fails to accommodate her body. Sometimes, of course, it was called for. But some times I think she needs to give others the same allowance she expects from them.
Hunger definitely gave me a new perspective of how to look at and respect other people's space in this world but page upon page of Gay's ruthlessness towards herself and others wore me out. I hope in the future, Gay can revisit this novel and sculpt it into something more than just a series of blog posts.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
“What does it say about our culture that the desire for weight loss is considered a default feature of womanhood?” yep! yep. yes. yeah!!!!
emotional
fast-paced
This was phenomenal but not an easy read. It’s relatable in a way that I couldn’t imagine. Tons of triggers, but it’s memoir of a black woman, so you can almost always guarantee she was treated like garbage for most of her adolescent and young adult life.
LIKES:
1) she is a black, 6 ft+ woman- I relate and feel most of pain that she endured. You tend to put it in a box and “forget” or make excuses. But here was her story in black and white and you can’t hide from that.
2) she’s plus size- where I am no where near her size, I have had the same conversations with my mother about weight. I have had the same stares and hopes that I can just disappear.
3) it’s so real and raw- she doesn’t shy away from anything, but she lets the wrongdoers in her life remain nameless. Boy, are they lucky she is classy.
DISLIKES:
LIKES:
1) she is a black, 6 ft+ woman- I relate and feel most of pain that she endured. You tend to put it in a box and “forget” or make excuses. But here was her story in black and white and you can’t hide from that.
2) she’s plus size- where I am no where near her size, I have had the same conversations with my mother about weight. I have had the same stares and hopes that I can just disappear.
3) it’s so real and raw- she doesn’t shy away from anything, but she lets the wrongdoers in her life remain nameless. Boy, are they lucky she is classy.
DISLIKES:
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence