Reader discussion: Hunger

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

Read "The Hunger" by Alma Katsu because it scared Stephen King, but I was disappointed.

By storyDesk7

It was pretty readable. I liked a few of the ideas and the characters, and I’m glad I stuck it out—I don’t regret reading it. But I kept waiting for this huge twist, some real climax moment, and then… nothing. The stalking “things” didn’t end up feeling that scary to me, honestly. The author nailed a lot of the messy stuff about how people are—like their emotions and different traits—but near the end it started feeling like there were way too many melodramatic backstories. I’m just kinda rambling here, not super organized. That said, I still can’t quite tell about a few things: - Was Louis Keseberg’s dad actually a cannibal, a serial killer, or both? And what about his uncle? - With James Reed and John Snyder—did it turn into something like sexual assault? By the end it seemed like Snyder was basically blackmailing Reed for sex. - Did Tamsen’s brother know about her secret wants?

Thoughts on Hunger by Knut Hamsun?

By brightbutton

So what are people’s thoughts on Hunger? I just finished the Lyngstad translation and I really liked it. It felt way too real, like you could actually see what life looks like when things just keep going wrong, and it’s honestly pretty relatable. I didn’t go through anything as bad as the main character, but I have absolutely slept in my car before, so yeah, it hit. It’s also pretty short and there isn’t a ton of extra fluff, which I think helps it stay grounded instead of turning into something way more dramatic than it needs to be. And even though it ends on a possibly hopeful note, I still found it one of the more depressing books I’ve read—maybe only The Road comes close.

The Hunger by Almsa Katsu- Discussion

By AmberBasketBison

I’m hoping to chat with someone(s) about *The Hunger* by Alma Katsu. I just finished it last night and basically couldn’t stop once I started. I really loved it, but I’ve got a few questions I’m stuck on and would love to hear other people’s takes. **Spoilers** Was the na’it actually stalking them out on the plains, or do you think it was Lewis? Also, does it seem more like some kind of spirit thing or more like a disease? I thought it was interesting that it shows up in a family, but can still spread to other people too—so I’m not sure what it’s supposed to be. And the native tribes talk about it like it’s ancient, which got me wondering: is this something that other cultures also have, or is that just how they explained it?

Norwegian Authors/Themes

By WhiteFinch

Hey everyone! I’m heading to Norway for the first time for a couple weeks and I’m looking for some reading while I’m there. I’ve gotten really good “travel destination” book recs from this group before, so I figured I’d ask again—what are your favorite Norwegian authors, books that take place in Norway, or anything pretty tied to Norwegian culture? Also, I’m totally unprepared for this language-wise, so I’ll need books in English (or at least great translations). Thanks!

FULL BOOK "Hunger by Knut Hamsun" eng german apple sale audio phone

By Cougar_Meadow175026

I’m not totally sure about this one, but it’s kind of interesting.

The 10 Year Reading Plan for the Great Books of the Western World

By folioHollow

Wait, no Borges? And like, almost no women, or none at all? I’m Latin American, and I always get a little amused when lists act like our work isn’t part of the Western canon. It’s kind of funny in a frustrating way. Even Bloom wouldn’t go that far, I think.

Knut Hamsun and National Socialism in Norway

By NinaInTucson95

Sorry if this is a weird or too-common question, but I’m really curious what people think about Knut Hamsun’s support for National Socialism—like, did it actually end up affecting Norwegian culture much in any real way, or was it just part of his personal mess? I’ll admit I had a pretty good time reading the first part of *Hunger* (the Dover George Egerton translation). That was before I knew anything about his Nazi sympathies, or that he’d met Hitler, or the whole thing I saw later—Wikipedia reproducing his short, favorable obituary for Hitler. When I finally learned that, I honestly felt pretty thrown. It’s kind of a similar situation for me with Thomas Carlyle too (the Victorian Scottish author). I’ve read about him and owned an old copy of *Sartor Resartus* I found at a thrift store in Georgia, and I even came across that essay of his, “On the Negro Question,” but I haven’t actually dug into it yet. And then there’s Ezra Pound, who supposedly ran a fascist-leaning radio program—I think it annoyed T. S. Eliot’s circle, at least from what I’ve heard. For context, I’m an American who’s gone to college, votes pretty left, and in the 2020 Democratic primaries I supported Bernie Sanders. I don’t really hang out in mainstream politics, but I do like the idea of Scandinavia-style progressive taxes and I’m big on the whole egalitarian/democratic kind of worldview—basically the Enlightenment belief that if you take human nature and government seriously, democracy is the end result. So yeah, that’s why this stuff matters to me: I’ve liked reading books by people who seem… pretty compromised, and I’m not always sure what to do with that.

Advice: which translation of Hunger (Knut Hamsun) is best?

By eclipsesilver1992

I was about to ask this over in the books area, but figured here might be better. I just got recommended Knut Hamsun’s *Hunger*, and now I’m seeing people argue that some translations don’t really capture what’s in the original. I’m not really in a position to learn Norwegian, but I still want to read the best version. The options I’m seeing on Amazon are: Robert Bly, George Egerton, Sverre Lyngstad, and W. W. Worster. I was leaning toward Lyngstad, but I’m open if another one is clearly better. If anyone can share opinions—especially if you’re a native Norwegian speaker—that’d be great. EDIT: I just noticed the Egerton translation is on Project Gutenberg, so I’ll probably grab that since it’s free. Still, I’d love to hear how the other versions stack up. Thanks!

What’s a book that has left you dumbfounded at how bad it was?

By EspressoClock

Honestly, for me it’s the Witcher books, but only the novel part. The first two, *The Last Wish* and *Sword of Destiny*, were way more enjoyable because each chapter was basically its own little thing. You’d get a new character, a new mess to deal with, and the stories actually grabbed you. Then I switched to the main novels and I’ve never been more let down by a series. I hated them so much I basically stopped reading for a whole year. The first one was “fine,” I guess, but pretty slow, so I told myself it was just setup. But after that I felt like it was the same pattern every time: only like 15% of the book is actual important plot, and the rest is him name-dropping people/places that go nowhere. Like I’d be in a chapter for 40 pages and it’s just endless talking about some random king or location and what happened there, but it never even lands on what the actual event was. It’s like someone keeps bringing up the earlier parts of a story but refuses to say what they’re for. And it happens over and over. On top of that, the POVs drive me nuts. It should be following the interesting people—Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, Triss, Dandelion—but instead you get a bunch of chapters with POVs of randoms who never matter again. There was one moment in the 4th book that was genuinely tense and exciting, and then it just cuts away to some random soldier POV for a long time, talking through how to go about raping women. Ten pages of that, too. And then yeah… the rape situation is a whole other issue. It feels like every character is either doing it or getting it done to them. Geralt basically forces Yennefer into love via a wish. Yennefer manipulates him into sex with magic. Triss uses Geralt’s amnesia to trick him into sleeping with her thinking she’s Yennefer. Then later Ciri gets sexually assaulted too. Anyway, rant over. Anyone else have Witcher rants of their own?

Hunger - Knut Hamsun

By Winter_Heron21

I just finished this book and it honestly stayed in my head for a while. It somehow slipped past me, even though it’s super existential and kind of bleak—like, teenage me probably would’ve been obsessed with it lol. I really liked the four-part structure and the whole old Oslo vibe. What hit me most was the whole thing about “rational” people (especially guys) basically talking themselves into living in total squalor—not because it’s some temporary phase or for their art, but because they insist on being an artist. The narrator ends up homeless because he won’t just accept reality and take any normal job. I feel like a bunch of newer autofiction stuff wrestles with that, but this one did it better than most. Anyway, if anyone else read it, I’m curious what you thought. I only found out after that Hamsun was a fascist… oops.

One of Kafka's last stories, "A Hunger Artist". Haunting.

By inburntBookmark

The comic version of the story is pretty good too. I’ve only ever come across it in a textbook, though :/

Just listened to Roxane Gay speak, have Hunger & Bad Feminist on hold

By marginLost145861

I went to a writing conference last weekend and Roxane Gay was speaking, and wow. She’s such a great speaker and just has this amazing vibe, but the interviewer also had her read something from her work. The little bit I caught was seriously intense, and now I’m itching to get her books ASAP. Honestly, with everything she’s dealt with and still deals with (like the whole weight/bias stuff), she still comes across as super confident and strong. Also—she said she’s got three books in the works this year, and I was like how?? She kind of shut that down fast by saying she doesn’t have kids. Curious what everyone thinks of her books. I’m sure I’ll pop back in once I finish them.

Tips for getting back into reading

By ion

Hey all—so I’m 25 and I’m kind of in a reading slump that’s been going on forever. I used to tear through books like crazy (I was an English major, so I was reading a lot even when I didn’t always *want* to). But for the last couple years I can barely make it through a few chapters of pretty much anything. I start getting restless, can’t keep my attention on it, and I feel like I have to go do something else. I’ve got a few possible reasons, but I honestly don’t know what’s true: - First off, the internet… and specifically Reddit. I know it’s dumb to blame it, but it’s there. - More broadly, just being online. It’s amazing, but it’s wrecked my ability to stay with one thing for more than like 20 minutes, because it’s so easy to fall into endless rabbit holes. I don’t even think it’s “bad,” just harder to focus. - Also pot. I didn’t start until about two years ago, around the same time I got way into Reddit, so whether it’s the internet or weed, I’ll never know. - I’ve watched a ton more movies too. - And maybe it’s just a 20s thing? A friend brought up that your brain/interest shifts as you get into your twenties, and honestly my life feels a lot more crowded socially and in general than it did when I was still cranking through books. - Another big one: I keep getting this feeling that I’ve already read the book. Like the writing feels predictable and kind of empty, which is probably just what happens when you’ve read a lot. I get it with movies too, but they’re shorter so I can just power through easier. With books, though, the more I read the more I miss that first-time feeling—like when I first found Dostoevsky or something. Now I’m weirdly impatient if it doesn’t feel like it’s really going somewhere new. Not sure if that’s just me being arrogant or if my expectations are too high. Anyway—probably not the first person to hit a dry spell. For New Year’s I’m trying to actually start reading again, and I’m going back to two books that used to pull me in: *The Idiot* and *Sister Carrie* (I never finished either one). Any tips for getting back into it?

The Hunger Games, is it worth reading?

By dragon-paperback

I know it’s probably not a classic or anything, but I keep hearing all sorts of stuff about it and I can’t tell if it’s actually any good. Anyone have thoughts? Thanks in advance :]

A gripping, little-known YA dystopian novel: Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes, something of a spiritual precursor to The Hunger Games

By martenreader56

I read this when I was about 11, and I remember thinking it was really good. I revisited it a little over 10–15 years later and it held up pretty well again.

Fright Club: Alma Katsu's The Hunger - Midway Discussion

By heatherkey1989

Okay so FRIGHT CLUB is basically r/Fantasy’s horror book club, but like… extra nasty. We’re supposed to be reading the most creepy stuff, the scariest books, all that good nightmare energy. You know the vibe. Anyway, hello friends, we’re at the halfway point of this whole east-to-west adventure. Food’s running low and people are starting to look a little too hungry (or maybe just stressed), but I’m honestly hoping once we get out of this awful, stuck-in-the-woods part it’ll get better. Also no, I still haven’t heard of the Great Salt Lake Desert, so don’t roast me. Today’s chat is anything through chapter 21, so please spoiler tag later stuff. And even though it’s based on real history, some people still don’t know the full story, so if there are any real-life references that haven’t been mentioned yet, tag those too. Thanks! **Discussion stuff:** - First impressions? How’s the writing, and is it actually creepy to you? - Had you heard of the Donner Party before? How much did you already know? - What do you think about blending supernatural stuff with a real tragedy like this? - Speculation: why does Reed seem so obsessed with Synder’s hands? What’s going on with Stanton’s past/background? Is Edwin making a bad choice by splitting off? And uh… what’s up with Tamsen Donner—like is she actually doing witchy things or is it something else (questionable wording, I know). - Anything else that really stood out? **Related things (if you want):** - *Ravenous* (1999) — Western/horror with Guy Pearce where people get desperate and it goes downhill fast. - *The Last Podcast on the Left* episodes 331/332 — two-part Donner Party coverage. - *The Terror* by Dan Simmons — Donner Party vibes but set up in the Arctic, with ships and all that. **Bingo squares:** - Local Author: Washington, DC - Book Club/Read Along - Retelling (?) Final discussion is on the 27th. I’ll probably set up the poll for next month’s book sometime next week too, so keep an eye out. And drop your thoughts/theme ideas/related recs/praise in the comments or DM me like usual.

The House of Hunger might be one of the hardest books to analyze that I’ve ever read.

By DrizzleCat

I really loved the novella. I’m maybe halfway through the short stories right now, but I had to jump in and say something because I’m just obsessed with this book. The stream-of-consciousness thing, plus the way the setting and stuff keeps suddenly flipping, somehow works really well. It’s also wild how much is packed into like 80 pages—there are so many ideas in there. Colonialism, racism, mental illness, sexual assault… it all feels like it’s been pulled together neatly, but at the same time I kept getting tripped up and having trouble keeping up for a lot of the book. Did anyone else feel that way? I don’t even know how Marechera manages it, but wow—this feels like a real classic to me.

Has anyone else read Knut Hamsun's "Hunger?" I can't find another person in my town beside my mother who can relate to the main character.

By looseFig4990

My mom was pretty broke when she was in college. She’d dumpster-dive, grab cans, all that stuff, but somehow still kept a crazy high GPA. I’m getting close to the age she was then, and things are really tight for me right now. I keep thinking I should re-read the book and see if my thoughts are any different, since I grabbed it off her shelf when I was still in high school. The whole way it’s written—this stream of consciousness thing where the main character feels like he’s dealing with every “level” at once—has always grabbed me. I don’t think I’ve ever gone hungry, but seeing what that kind of pressure does to someone, especially a writer/intellectual type, was honestly kind of eye-opening. I read it when I was dealing with pretty bad paranoia too, and it helped me realize I was basically just making myself miserable for no reason. I’m not like the protagonist where I’d turn it into some “honor” thing—I was probably more useless than a starving artist—so I just tried to tough it out and leaned on sarcasm to get through the day. I really do wish more people in the 18–24 range would pick it up. It’s a genuinely good novel.

Recommend me a classic not originally written in English, French, German or Russian

By orbit-walks9

Every autumn I get this urge to go back to the classics. But whenever I try to look up “new” recommendations, it’s basically always the same handful of countries—British, American, French, Russian, German writers everywhere. This year I’d really love to hear about classics that come from somewhere else. Ideally stuff published before the 1930s. So what classic books have you loved that weren’t originally written in English, French, German, or Russian? I’m especially curious about recommendations from places like Poland, Argentina, Indonesia, Nigeria, etc. PS: feel free to skip Dutch ones too—I already know that whole lineup since it’s my first language.

Stephen King reviews The Hunger Games

By Island_Rapid

Gale’s kind of smoldering—I swear it says so on page 14. That’s probably my favorite line in the whole book. :)