Reader discussion: Hunger

Public reader discussion about Hunger in the WeRead Catalog by Knut Hamsun.

Need suggestions for a book club!

By OldLetter7

Hey! So me and a few friends started doing a monthly theme for our book club to make it easier to plan out the year. For July, one of them threw out the idea of doing something “really messed up,” but we never actually agreed on what that should cover. We also haven’t chosen the book yet. Does anyone have suggestions for books that are pretty messed up/dark? Doesn’t matter if they’re older or newer. And as far as I know, none of us have any hard no topics. Thanks! :)

What books used to be required reading in schools but are now not taught as frequently?

By quantumFish2003

Me and a friend (we’re both in our early 20s) were just talking about newer novels that got turned into “required reading” in schools, like The Road or The Hunger Games. That made me wonder—are there any books that used to be standard but now basically don’t get taught at all anymore? Or at least ones that seem like they’ve been pushed aside. What did you have to read for school that you’re kind of shocked isn’t taught anymore?

Best way to find new books

By AutumnJuniper

Hey everyone—when I’m looking for new books, I usually end up getting recommendations from Twitter/Instagram or podcasts hosted by people whose taste I trust. I pretty much never find anything I actually want to read through Goodreads though. Is that just me, or do other people feel the same? I’m also doing a school thing where we’re trying to figure out how people discover recommended books and if they end up reading what they’re told to read. One guess is that tech/feeds are doing more and more of the work now, and the other side is that the algorithms don’t really get used the way people think—and that it’s more just personal recommendations from individuals that shape what we read. If you’re curious, there’s a short set of questions below. I’ll turn the answers into a visualization and share it if anyone wants to see. Don’t worry, it’s anonymous and I’m not collecting emails or anything personal. Should only take a few minutes: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5Dr1-g2WPDURPLg-dvpOSQwHzKI-fXdf5q_SsE6SfTQtQww/viewform?usp=share_link

A Hunger Artist - Franz Kafka

By prologue_chaffer1978

It hit me that both this book and The Metamorphosis kinda end in a way that finishes off the protagonist’s whole isolation and death. Like, once they’re gone, nobody really lingers on it—their absence just makes things better. Here it’s the panther suddenly being super lively and bringing in tons of visitors after the hunger artist gets buried basically without ceremony, and he’s robbed of whatever “glory” he should’ve gotten. And in Metamorphosis it feels like Gregor’s family moving on, getting the freedom to change their lives, leave the apartment, and get away from those tenants—especially with how the last part talks about his sister being so animated and full of life again.

Hunger by Knut Hamsun PDF novel (1899)

By EmmaLovesBooks

Really great book—I'd definitely recommend it.

Knut Hamsun hunger suggestions

By market1998

I really loved this one. It’s super moody and kind of dark. Does anyone have any recommendations for something with a similar vibe?

What is the best translation of Knut Hamsun's Hunger?

By Soft_Fish

I checked out what’s on Amazon and I’m pretty sure about this: whatever you do, don’t go with Egerton. It’s rough. The stuff just doesn’t land, like he’s reading a completely different book. The language feels really clunky. Hunger already has this bleak, heavy vibe, and the writing kind of just matches it instead of bringing the desperation and urgency you’d expect. That said, I’d pick Bly’s translation. It feels like it actually gets the tone right, kind of like what you get with Hamsun. Also, I only really compared the different opening bits, since that start is probably the most famous in Norwegian lit—if someone nailed that, I figured they must’ve understood something important.

Reread "The Hunger Games" and it really impressed me

By CloverKey58536

I picked The Hunger Games back up just kind of on a whim, and I was surprised by how layered it feels. The whole dystopian angle is honestly pretty sharp, and the Capitol coming off like some over-the-top circus is done really well. Plus, the way constant surveillance is built into everything is way more intense than I remembered. What also stuck with me is how messy and complicated the dynamic is: the Games are brutal, but the crowd treats it like entertainment. For YA, that balance between horror and spectacle feels like a big deal. And I thought it was especially gripping how Katniss has to play up to sponsors and still just try to stay alive. I also really liked how the romance isn’t just tacked on—it’s tied to the fact that they’re always being watched and judged. I don’t usually mind teen romance, but it can be pretty surface-level a lot of the time, and this one actually digs into Peeta and Katniss’s relationship. The whole “we’ll plan and strategize while the other one’s stuck not knowing” thing, how the act and the real feelings collide, and the constant pressure of the Games versus knowing they’re under eyes the whole time… it all lands really well. Overall, rereading made me appreciate how much depth this book has. Does anyone else feel like the series is way ahead of other YA dystopian stuff when it comes to the bigger themes?

Kierkegaardian Novels

By nebula_desert

Hey, does anyone have recommendations for novels that have themes or ideas that feel connected to Kierkegaard’s philosophy, or that were inspired by him? I’m trying to ease into him first because he’s kind of hard to read.

Knut Hamsun's "Hunger" adaptation by Martin Ernstsen

By shelfEnzyme

I remember seeing an interview with Simon Hanselmann where he was basically throwing shade at Ernstsen for getting there first with the adaptation of “Hunger.” I found one of these really odd promotional copies at Benders Books in Phoebus, VA, and I’ve got no idea how they ended up with it since it wasn’t actually published in English. If you can read German, you should definitely hunt it down. It’s kind of “I’ve got it, you don’t” energy…

Anyone have thoughts on David Shields' Reality Hunger?

By RapidCrown91

I’m only just now getting around to reading this, so I’m really interested in what others think about the arguments. I keep wondering about stuff like how it blurs the line between fiction and nonfiction, the whole appropriation thing without citation, and why collage matters so much. I’m only about halfway through, so I don’t have a strong opinion yet, but I haven’t really felt compelled to argue back either. What are you guys thinking?

Roxane Gay's 'Hunger' Is a Searing Memoir About Weight and Trauma

By clovermarket9982

Does anyone else read super fast? If so, have you gotten through Hunger yet? I just finished Difficult Women and I enjoyed it, but the writing felt kind of repetitive to me. Fingers crossed Hunger is a different vibe.

Looking for fiction books to learn what a famine feels like

By FernKettle

Hi! I’m looking for book suggestions for something I can use as inspiration for my writing—stories that take place during a famine. I want to see what it’s like when there isn’t enough food for everyone, like how “normal” society and everyday people react. Either historical fiction or straight-up fantasy is fine, but if it’s historical fiction, I’d prefer it’s set before 1900. Thanks!

Any books similar to Hunger by Knut Hamsun?

By WritesClock

I really liked this book—kind of loved the rambling main character, just feeling totally lost and desperate in the city.

Is the "Hunger Games"-series worth the read?

By chance_letter

With all the hype about the movies, I’m thinking about starting the series, but I’m kinda unsure if it’s actually worth it. I’m worried it might end up being one of those teen/adolescent novels. Also, I prefer to read first and then watch, so I’m not able to just start with the movies. What do you all think?

Does anyone else here think Knut Hamsun is the most underrated novelist of all time?

By ivory-lynx67

Norwegian modernist and honestly kinda a total badass, but I swear I never see him mentioned.

What's so good about 'Hunger' by Knut Hamsun?

By epilogueSwan1977

I started this last year and only made it about halfway. I found it pretty depressing and kind of oppressive, and I’m usually fine with bleak stuff, but I just couldn’t see much redeeming in it. Is it based on some kind of Russian novel? I’m honestly not sure why so many people seem to love it.

Did I miss the point of The Hunger Games series?

By LittleCamera3285

I just finished Mockingjay, and I liked it, but it still felt like there wasn’t much resolution. I saw a blog post today that had me wondering if I’m disappointed because I had expectations for this series that maybe weren’t really fair. Do you think that could be it?

Has Suzanne Collins (Author of Hunger Games) every commented on the similarities between The Hunger Games and Battle Royale?

By NovelRusty95

I just want to say up front that *Battle Royale* is one of my all-time favorite books, but I’m also a big fan of the *Hunger Games* trilogy. I’m not trying to claim Collins stole anything or anything like that, but there really are some obvious similarities. I was just wondering—has Collins ever talked about *Battle Royale* in an interview or mentioned it at all?

Books about reclaiming hunger and freedom?

By dreamy-window84

Hey, I’m trying to find more novels that kind of celebrate getting your hunger back and actually enjoying food again. I’ve dealt with an eating disorder, so it really helps me to read books where women eat openly and without restriction. I read *Milkfed* by Melissa Broder and I liked it, but I haven’t had much luck finding anything that feels similar.