Raped then murdered in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, 1942, Lin Shui's 'Hungry Ghost' clings tenaciously to life. Holing up in a hospital morgue, des...
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reviews
Jun 03, 2009
Kirsty
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I really enjoyed this book. It follows the story of a British family, living in Hong Kong during the time when the British ruled. In particular, it follows the story of Alice - the unwanted daughter - who is deeply troubled and becomes the host for the ghost of a Chinese girl murdered by the Japanese. We follow her as she tries to find her place in the world, whilst carrying around the 'ghosts' of the past.
The title would lead you to believe that this is a ghost story. It is, but not More...
The title would lead you to believe that this is a ghost story. It is, but not More...
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Jul 11, 2011
Jo
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The extraordinary story of two girls, Alice, youngest daughter of a member of the colonial Hong Kong British government and the wife who only wanted to provide her husband with her son, and the girl who haunts her, the ghost of Lin Shui, a young virgin raped and murdered by a Japanese occupying solider during World War II 20 years earlier. Alice is a ghost to her own family, unwanted by her mother, adored by her father, largely absent and unable to protect her from the increasing hostilities of
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Jun 06, 2009
Emma
rated it: 
In short I found this book rather cold, disjointed and pointless. The only thing that Berry had going for her with this novel was her ability to write scenes with an incredible amount of detail. To a fault even.
I found some of the chapters surplus to requirements, especially the siblings- Jillian, Nicola and Harry. The descriptive droned on for far too long...almost to the point that I could skim ahead 2-3 pages at a time and have missed nothing. Or it would have a different effect in More...
I found some of the chapters surplus to requirements, especially the siblings- Jillian, Nicola and Harry. The descriptive droned on for far too long...almost to the point that I could skim ahead 2-3 pages at a time and have missed nothing. Or it would have a different effect in More...
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Jun 19, 2009
Anne
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The Hungry Ghosts in the title of this debut novel are part of Hong Kong culture.
In Hong Kong, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a major Buddhist and Taoist event. Hungry ghosts are the restless spirits of people who did not have a funeral. There is no one visiting their graves and they do not receive the gifts that Chinese people would take to their ancestors to pay respects. They miss out on food and spirit money.
To stop the ghosts causing problems for the living, many commu More...
In Hong Kong, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a major Buddhist and Taoist event. Hungry ghosts are the restless spirits of people who did not have a funeral. There is no one visiting their graves and they do not receive the gifts that Chinese people would take to their ancestors to pay respects. They miss out on food and spirit money.
To stop the ghosts causing problems for the living, many commu More...
Jul 17, 2011
Briana
rated it:
This book was utterly horrible. I will give credit to the author for being skilled in the use of the english language, for having a firm grasp of painting a scene, and having quite believeable personalities for each character, but other than that this book was a morbid, dissapointing, pointless, and honestly depressing as hell. I disliked almost every character for being such horrible human beings, and i also felt that there was no glimmer of happiness, or positivity EVER in the entire story. I
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May 15, 2011
Alice
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Enjoyed the mystical nature of the books that pulled the story through, but that became so very normal. YOu basically have a troubled young girl living her life surrounded by an entourage of ghostly friends. Quite fascinating in parts, but not so fascinating as the turbulent familial relationships. Whilst in the first instance you might believe it is the ghosts who cause her troubles, it is, in fact, the presence of living people who tend to do the most damage.
I picked up this book More...
I picked up this book More...
Jul 27, 2011
Nicola
rated it:
Really struggling with this one. Not enjoying it at all, it's taking me ages to finish it. It started off quite well for me, with the story of the Chinese girl and the mystery kicking off at the funeral all in the first few pages but afterwards it all became rather disjointed and haphazard. Some chapters and even characters added very little to the story. In some places, the descriptives are just far too long and unnecessary leaving me to skip whole paragraphs at some points or completely lose t
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Nov 05, 2009
Flora
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Jul 30, 2011
Jo
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22nd July 2010
Disappointing! The story of a dysfunctional family which may have been made less miserable to read if it had been a believable ghost story but some of the specters that haunt Alice are not really all that believable. Neither the living or dead carachters were in the least endearing and the book had no real conclusion. I only persisted to see if it got better. It didn't!
Disappointing! The story of a dysfunctional family which may have been made less miserable to read if it had been a believable ghost story but some of the specters that haunt Alice are not really all that believable. Neither the living or dead carachters were in the least endearing and the book had no real conclusion. I only persisted to see if it got better. It didn't!
Oct 20, 2011
Kathy
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Reviewed at Mama Kucing Meow: The Hungry Ghosts by Anne Berry
Not a book for this coming halloween. It's more about alice than about ghosts. At places its just too depressing and dragging
Not a book for this coming halloween. It's more about alice than about ghosts. At places its just too depressing and dragging
Jul 11, 2010
only half way through the 3rd chapter and I'm thinking of not bothering reading the rest. First intro was really quite gripping, but the couple of chapters after have been really disjointed and all over the place. Is it worth reading some more???? Maybe I'm quiting too early on this one.
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Jan 11, 2011
Pearlescent
rated it:
The concept was great and worked for a while but I struggled to find any of the characters were believable, the author seemed to build too much of her own judgement into each of them - too black and white. Also - too flowery with far too many overly descriptive passages. Otherwise good.
Jul 26, 2011
Finn
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this book, though disturbing, is captivating, and a great read. Told through the voices of many alternating characters; it tells the story of Alice's harrowing life and her company of the hungry ghosts
Aug 05, 2011
Selene
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Disappointing but good. The story of Alices life and how her family hate her. This points at poltergeist problems but we don't get enough information on this. More a story of a tragic family who lack love!
Sep 10, 2009
Judy
rated it: 
A strange book but definately one that you want to finish reading to find out what happens in the end. It's partly factual and partly fantasy.
I enjoyed it but wouldn't want to keep it to re-read.
I enjoyed it but wouldn't want to keep it to re-read.
Oct 27, 2010
Precious
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Immensely talented writer. For the most part an utter joy to read her words. I felt the book went off the rails and became confusing and slightly irritating after Alice met Reta.
May 05, 2010
Linda
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a very interesting story line,with some chinese history of life in hong kong for young girls,but with a supernatural twist
Jan 24, 2010
Carina
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Not entirely enthralling at the time but very thought provoking. The idea stayed with me and became quite inspiring.
Feb 18, 2011
Jean
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So far...very intriguing. Each chapter is written in the first person from the point of view of a different character in the novel. This creates a 360-view of each person on the story. However, we never have a first person account from our protagonist....a good discussion regarding the symbolism in the book. The beginning started with tragedy and colorful, poignant description, pulling me in right from the start. I have had trouble putting it down. If I taught, I would teach this book.
Sep 05, 2010
Ashley
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I thought this book had a lot of potential but it needed some tightening up. I felt that the story lines could have been better defined and I suspect that if it had been shorter some of this could have been achieved.
Jan 22, 2011
Christina
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'The Hungry Ghosts' is about all the things we leave unsaid and unresolved, things that then follow and haunt us. Gorgeous use of heady language linking the colonised nation (Hong Kong) and post-colonial subjects (ex-colonials becoming drifting 'ghosts', shadows of their former selves) with the colonised Alice (main character, inhabited by a ghost). I found the most interesting narrative ploy was that the story was told from every angle (other characters) except Alice's own internal voice.
Jul 12, 2010
Lianne
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A really enjoyable read. The first chapter had me hooked, and it was a really imaginative story.
May 31, 2009
navi
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Really loved this one...beautifully written and so compelling. Just stunning!
Jan 13, 2012
Liz
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Set against the backdrop of decolonisation in Hong Kong, "The Hungry Ghosts" is at its essence a family saga that happens to also be a ghost story. The premise is interesting but isn't well executed. Few, if any, of the characters are sympathetic, and none more frustratingly so than the main character, Alice Safford, who fights for nothing and takes everything upon herself.
Oct 18, 2009
Rachel
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This book was a very unusual ghost story, it was gripping, depressing although laugh out loud funny at times, and harrowing. It also gave me nightmares which is usually a sign for me that im really enjoying the book! i would definitely reccomend it. Brilliant for a debut novel, i hope anne berry writes again!
Dec 25, 2011
Shelly
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This book is haunting and the story has stuck with me since I read it.
May 26, 2011
Bo
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I only read this book because it was one of very few 'english' books I could find in a foreign town overseas.
It started out very interesting, but it slowly descended from there, with no real unique ending.
It started out very interesting, but it slowly descended from there, with no real unique ending.
Sep 08, 2010
Annette
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The book sounded good but I just couldn't get into the story line or the characters - I certainly didn't feel much sympathy for anyone. In the end I gave up.
Sep 14, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
Very strange book, took me a long time to read because I just couldn't get into it.
