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dark
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Difficult to rate as I found the first third absolutely insufferably pretentious from the author and was sure I was going to DNF. But then it picked up and I really enjoyed the last two thirds, still pretentious but this time felt like it was from the MC which made sense. Good commentary on the meat industry / US food culture, female friendships, the internet making influencers out of everyone etc. Made me both insanely hungry and absolutely repulsed by meat. Definitely not for everyone
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Car accident
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book is incredibly descriptive which helps draw you in. Watching the main character reflect on her life was partially disturbing but very interesting. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes a more dark POV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Stalking, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder
Minor: Rape, Sexual content
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent
dark
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another booktok recommendation that took me two years to read on and off. The premise is quite fun. A food reviewer who eats people. Great.
But oh my god the writing. It was a slough and I saw that as somebody who has read quite a few sloughs in my day. Dorothy, the main character, is not necessarily supposed to be likable but I don't think the author intended her to be as annoying as she was. Despite the book being written by a woman (and yes, I know, being satire) it kept feeling like I was reading a man's summation of how an unmarried 50 year old woman would act. Less Devil Wears Prada and more bad SNL sketch if that makes sense.
It felt like the author couldn't decide if the book was a satirical commentary on sex and gender or if it wanted you to take it really seriously. Had the book taken itself less seriously and leaned more into popcorn read, I think it wouldn't have bothered me as much.
But oh my god the writing. It was a slough and I saw that as somebody who has read quite a few sloughs in my day. Dorothy, the main character, is not necessarily supposed to be likable but I don't think the author intended her to be as annoying as she was. Despite the book being written by a woman (and yes, I know, being satire) it kept feeling like I was reading a man's summation of how an unmarried 50 year old woman would act. Less Devil Wears Prada and more bad SNL sketch if that makes sense.
It felt like the author couldn't decide if the book was a satirical commentary on sex and gender or if it wanted you to take it really seriously. Had the book taken itself less seriously and leaned more into popcorn read, I think it wouldn't have bothered me as much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gruesome, brutal, and brilliant. Following the narration of a female psychopath as she tells her life story through the list of lovers she had, killed, and consumed, A Certain Hunger will challenge you, especially as you start to like the narrator despite all she's done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Minor: Rape
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
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
In the timeless words of Tumblr user puppygirllaika, "If you're struggling to write sex, write food. if you're struggling to write food, write gore. if you're struggling to write gore, write sex. They're all variations on the same themes."
Chelsea G Summers clearly struggles with neither, and has woven together a truly disturbing narrative that glistens with sweat, cum, duck fat, and human viscera, with a lovely and aromatic glaze on top. I guess that doesnt sound very appetizing, but as disturbing as this book is, it is also delicious. At first, I found it a bit hard to follow, with an abundance of cultural references I wasn't really familiar with, and violence that came faster than I was expecting. But I couldn't put it down. The writing is really stunning, and our psychopathic narrator often goes in informative tangents, which taught me a lot and really made me think. Lots of highlighting in this one. She describes meals in a way only a true lover of food can - likewise with sex, and likewise with murder - and this lent a sort of mouth watering quality to the whole book.
Not a feel good read! But if you want to read about, I guess, bodies in ecstasy and in bloddy horror, you will likely enjoy it. Compliments to the chef
Chelsea G Summers clearly struggles with neither, and has woven together a truly disturbing narrative that glistens with sweat, cum, duck fat, and human viscera, with a lovely and aromatic glaze on top. I guess that doesnt sound very appetizing, but as disturbing as this book is, it is also delicious. At first, I found it a bit hard to follow, with an abundance of cultural references I wasn't really familiar with, and violence that came faster than I was expecting. But I couldn't put it down. The writing is really stunning, and our psychopathic narrator often goes in informative tangents, which taught me a lot and really made me think. Lots of highlighting in this one. She describes meals in a way only a true lover of food can - likewise with sex, and likewise with murder - and this lent a sort of mouth watering quality to the whole book.
Not a feel good read! But if you want to read about, I guess, bodies in ecstasy and in bloddy horror, you will likely enjoy it. Compliments to the chef
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Rape
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
gory, repulsive, and stunningly beautiful and intricate writing. I ate it up like Giovanni's liver
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship