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A review by gxcons
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Used this book as a palate cleanser after a string of romance-centered litfic, and it sure did the job. The book is MC Dorothy's beginnings of a memoir, a tell-all of her crimes after being sentenced to life in prison for murder. Dorothy is an NYC food critic who came to prominence in that industry's big print boom in the 90s. She's also a psychopathic cannibal.
A Certain Hunger takes on a lot of topics: bucking societal norms as a successful, independent woman; the food criticism industry from the 90s to present day; female psychopathy and serial killers. At times, Dorothy's voice felt overdone, especially since this is told in the first person, like "I'm a woman and I love sex and this is how I present as a psychopath and I am society's worst nightmare." A little edgy for edgy's sake, you know? But I found other components of the writing made up for it, the absolute sensuality to describe the places Dorothy's visited and the food she's eaten; being a food critic is, after all, an unshakeable part of her identity.
If you're not put off by cannibalism in general and graphic descriptions having to do with, should be a fun read. A bit reminiscent of NBC's Hannibal in how that titular character has a very particular appreciation for well-made food.
A Certain Hunger takes on a lot of topics: bucking societal norms as a successful, independent woman; the food criticism industry from the 90s to present day; female psychopathy and serial killers. At times, Dorothy's voice felt overdone, especially since this is told in the first person, like "I'm a woman and I love sex and this is how I present as a psychopath and I am society's worst nightmare." A little edgy for edgy's sake, you know? But I found other components of the writing made up for it, the absolute sensuality to describe the places Dorothy's visited and the food she's eaten; being a food critic is, after all, an unshakeable part of her identity.
If you're not put off by cannibalism in general and graphic descriptions having to do with, should be a fun read. A bit reminiscent of NBC's Hannibal in how that titular character has a very particular appreciation for well-made food.