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My Hungry Friend
When Mike Roberts kicks over a homeless woman's cup of change, she whispers a cryptic "Mind the cracks . . ." Now the Boston he knows and loves is unraveling around him. But his life is not the only thing at stake. His mother, a once acclaimed writer lost in the late stages of Alzheimer's, depends on him to have a home. And then there's her caretaker, Cassie, who might want something more from Mike than the friendship they've long shared. As his city balances on a razor's edge, Mike will have to hunt down the daughter of the woman he wronged and uncover their terrible family secret . . . or be plunged into a world of crawling horrors and unspeakable hunger. A world from which no one has ever returned.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2018
3 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Barnett
15 books257 followersDaniel Barnett lives in Portland, Oregon and is a lover of stories--especially ones where things go bump in the night. His work has appeared in Crowded Magazine, and his short story The Sadie Hawkins placed in the top 6 for the 2015 Aeon Award. When he isn't writing or reading, he's discussing fiction with others. Whether they want to or not.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 21, 2022
I found this one just okay. Such a shame since I really enjoyed his last book.
May 7, 2019
Daniel Barnett is a friend that I met on Twitter. He's one of my favorite people to see chime in on a bookish discussion. Awhile ago, he sent me this book, MY HUNGRY FRIEND that he wrote with the strong disclaimer that I was under no obligation to read it. And long it sat, because it's tough to read the books of a friend. What if you hate it? What would you say?
Recently a mutual friend of ours, Cody, showed up in a DM and said, "Hey, have you ever read any of Daniel Barnett's books?" To which I said, "I have one, but no."
Cody told me to get on it.
So I added it to my birthday TBR (May 2019) and just finished it last night.
First off, I'm happy to report that Daniel Barnett's writer voice/narrative and my reader's brain get along very well; swimmingly in fact!
Even though the protagonist was not someone I would be friends with, this story with him at the center of it is extremely gripping. I often found myself with the next page lifted in the act of turning it over before I had even finished all the words on the page-keep those pages turning! Find out what happens next!
Barnett's horror in this novella is uncomfortable--straddling the line between what is real and what isn't. Some of the protagonist's experiences were challenging to read because I wasn't sure if it was really happening or not. I can't elaborate more on that because it's really for the reader to embark on this strange journey for themselves--sans expectations.
I will say that as a skittish person in my real life, portions of this book made my skin want to walk right off my body--I was completely turned inside out and undone.
Creepy, creepy stuff.
I appreciated how Daniel carefully crafted the relationships between some of the primary characters. Several scenes between son and mother and also the main character and his love interest, added a strong foundation for me to stand on, while I navigated through some of the more intangible aspects of the tale.
Daniel's prose is almost lyrical at times; poetic. He has a strong sense of human emotions and how to translate those to his readers. This was an excellent introduction to Barnett's work and I would gladly read another.
Recently a mutual friend of ours, Cody, showed up in a DM and said, "Hey, have you ever read any of Daniel Barnett's books?" To which I said, "I have one, but no."
Cody told me to get on it.
So I added it to my birthday TBR (May 2019) and just finished it last night.
First off, I'm happy to report that Daniel Barnett's writer voice/narrative and my reader's brain get along very well; swimmingly in fact!
Even though the protagonist was not someone I would be friends with, this story with him at the center of it is extremely gripping. I often found myself with the next page lifted in the act of turning it over before I had even finished all the words on the page-keep those pages turning! Find out what happens next!
Barnett's horror in this novella is uncomfortable--straddling the line between what is real and what isn't. Some of the protagonist's experiences were challenging to read because I wasn't sure if it was really happening or not. I can't elaborate more on that because it's really for the reader to embark on this strange journey for themselves--sans expectations.
I will say that as a skittish person in my real life, portions of this book made my skin want to walk right off my body--I was completely turned inside out and undone.
Creepy, creepy stuff.
I appreciated how Daniel carefully crafted the relationships between some of the primary characters. Several scenes between son and mother and also the main character and his love interest, added a strong foundation for me to stand on, while I navigated through some of the more intangible aspects of the tale.
Daniel's prose is almost lyrical at times; poetic. He has a strong sense of human emotions and how to translate those to his readers. This was an excellent introduction to Barnett's work and I would gladly read another.
March 22, 2020
After a simple, yet costly, mistake a young dentist taking care of his Alzheimer's addled mother beings to see the world behind the world, and things are not so pretty on the other side. It's like an unraveling Lovecraftian horror, sharply written, full of genuine and all-encompassing dread. Really great.
March 27, 2019
(first published on Sci Fi and Scary)
“There’s a gauzy, feverish fear that only visits in the middle of the night...This fear is dry and clinging; it brushes the back of your neck and tickles along your earlobe...It is a cobweb, and when you are tangled in it, everything else is too. The world is a fly ensnared by its threads.”
Discovery is one of the most important things in this book, so know that I have been careful to avoid giving anything away. I must’ve re-read this review 8 times just to be sure. The synopsis does a great job of setting up what to expect - this book deals with a setting that crosses the veil between the “real” world and an alternate reality that, to me, sounds like pure hell with an eldritch feel. There are parts of this book, as the alternate world makes its present known, that are positively disgusting, and I liked that he had the story “go there”
Barnett has the MC tell the story retrospectively and everything is through his eyes and memories. When he is disoriented, the reader is too, but this sense of disorientation is done smoothly and with skill. Both worlds are developed, from the details of the bus system in Boston and the creatures of the other world (spiders, gah!), everything feels real. All of the story threads make sense when woven together, no matter how fantastical and no plot holes existed to yank me out of the story.
I HATED Mike Roberts in the beginning. Who just kicks over an old woman’s cup of change for no reason?? And he’s a dentist! But then some back story is provided, and like the synopsis mentions, Mike is dealing with a home life that is fraught with pain and exhaustion as he tries to be a caretaker for his mother. This leads me to my next point. It is quite clear that Barnett has done his homework in regards to Alzheimer's. I don’t have any personal experience with the disease but it seemed to be a straightforward and honest accounting. I do have some experience with the stress and heartache of being a caretaker, so this part resonated with me.
Barnett has taken with his overall product. I found the novel to be well edited and the cover design by Jeroen ten Berge is on point. Even the internal layout is aesthetically pleasing, and for a constant reader like myself, all of these things are a big deal. If you know anything about me I have a serious love for great covers and good editing - this has both.
I am interested in reading more from Daniel Barnett. One of my bookish friends enjoyed his book LONGREAVE and I plan to check it out when I get the chance.
“There’s a gauzy, feverish fear that only visits in the middle of the night...This fear is dry and clinging; it brushes the back of your neck and tickles along your earlobe...It is a cobweb, and when you are tangled in it, everything else is too. The world is a fly ensnared by its threads.”
Discovery is one of the most important things in this book, so know that I have been careful to avoid giving anything away. I must’ve re-read this review 8 times just to be sure. The synopsis does a great job of setting up what to expect - this book deals with a setting that crosses the veil between the “real” world and an alternate reality that, to me, sounds like pure hell with an eldritch feel. There are parts of this book, as the alternate world makes its present known, that are positively disgusting, and I liked that he had the story “go there”
Barnett has the MC tell the story retrospectively and everything is through his eyes and memories. When he is disoriented, the reader is too, but this sense of disorientation is done smoothly and with skill. Both worlds are developed, from the details of the bus system in Boston and the creatures of the other world (spiders, gah!), everything feels real. All of the story threads make sense when woven together, no matter how fantastical and no plot holes existed to yank me out of the story.
I HATED Mike Roberts in the beginning. Who just kicks over an old woman’s cup of change for no reason?? And he’s a dentist! But then some back story is provided, and like the synopsis mentions, Mike is dealing with a home life that is fraught with pain and exhaustion as he tries to be a caretaker for his mother. This leads me to my next point. It is quite clear that Barnett has done his homework in regards to Alzheimer's. I don’t have any personal experience with the disease but it seemed to be a straightforward and honest accounting. I do have some experience with the stress and heartache of being a caretaker, so this part resonated with me.
Barnett has taken with his overall product. I found the novel to be well edited and the cover design by Jeroen ten Berge is on point. Even the internal layout is aesthetically pleasing, and for a constant reader like myself, all of these things are a big deal. If you know anything about me I have a serious love for great covers and good editing - this has both.
I am interested in reading more from Daniel Barnett. One of my bookish friends enjoyed his book LONGREAVE and I plan to check it out when I get the chance.
March 5, 2018
Review: MY HUNGRY FRIEND by Daniel Barnett
Literally I devoured this novella in one evening (and "devoured" is apropos here). This is my third read by Mr. Barnett {the first was THE SAFE, the second LONGREAVE} and once again, I found my mind and horizons incredibly stretched. (Again, "horizons" is apropos.) I was not fond of the protagonist (though I did appreciate his literate mother and her highly intelligent and perceptive caregiver). I just found dentist Mike one who took the easy road way too often (and was quite a bit a spoiled brat).
But the protagonist wasn't my focus in the story. Although he did undergo a character arc (devolution, then evolution), what fired my imagination was the truly Lovecraftian overlay. {It is not true that as a Lovecraft devotee I find Mythos anywhere.} The overlay world that Mr. Barnett illustrates is wildly imaginative and highly creative, and deserves a wild audience. If you like the imaginative ponderings of author Tim Meyer, do snatch up MY HUNGRY FRIEND.
Literally I devoured this novella in one evening (and "devoured" is apropos here). This is my third read by Mr. Barnett {the first was THE SAFE, the second LONGREAVE} and once again, I found my mind and horizons incredibly stretched. (Again, "horizons" is apropos.) I was not fond of the protagonist (though I did appreciate his literate mother and her highly intelligent and perceptive caregiver). I just found dentist Mike one who took the easy road way too often (and was quite a bit a spoiled brat).
But the protagonist wasn't my focus in the story. Although he did undergo a character arc (devolution, then evolution), what fired my imagination was the truly Lovecraftian overlay. {It is not true that as a Lovecraft devotee I find Mythos anywhere.} The overlay world that Mr. Barnett illustrates is wildly imaginative and highly creative, and deserves a wild audience. If you like the imaginative ponderings of author Tim Meyer, do snatch up MY HUNGRY FRIEND.
December 11, 2023
Daniel Barnett's works are tumors of imagination.
And this, this is what it means to be real as dream, surreal as reality — actually, best of both worlds (wink). His way of turning phrases makes me writhe in anticipation. I'll be one of the people who'll brag I was here before he became a household name. If you like storytelling strewn in style, and nightmarish substance, this is for you.
And this, this is what it means to be real as dream, surreal as reality — actually, best of both worlds (wink). His way of turning phrases makes me writhe in anticipation. I'll be one of the people who'll brag I was here before he became a household name. If you like storytelling strewn in style, and nightmarish substance, this is for you.
July 28, 2021
Don't think I'll regret the 5 stars.
October 26, 2019
They say that being nice doesn't cost you anything but being mean certain does. Mike Roberts, dentist and caretaker of his own mother, learns this the hard way. Sure, it's good to have good intentions to say you're sorry or try to make it up afterwards... but then why do it to begin with. When does your temper snapping cause this ripple effect where you can not escape?!
Ok, let me just say that I have a thing about insects and creepy crawlies and arachnids and ...*shiver*.. I just got goosebumps even thinking about it and Barnett gives us these in spades. Barnett serves up visuals that are so bright, colorful, dark and creepy that your imagination will have trouble keeping up. Now, every time I feel like something is crawling on me but I find nothing, I'm going to think of this book. I'm also now finding myself running my tongue along my gums periodically now too. Great. Thanks mister. *sigh*
But these are all signs of how good this book is. I absolutely love where the title of this book comes from. Wow. While the main character isn't one you particularly care for at first, he does grow on you - in a magical fungus kinda way, not a wart kinda way. His relationship with his mother and Cassie, the woman who helps periodically, gives him a real humanness. His dive into this other world will also get you considering your sanity.
I'll certainly be taking extra care when walking past any homeless people on the streets - though I would never purposely kick a cup, I'm definitely accident prone so why take the chance? And whatever I do, I'll definitely "MIND THE CRACKS".
Ok, let me just say that I have a thing about insects and creepy crawlies and arachnids and ...*shiver*.. I just got goosebumps even thinking about it and Barnett gives us these in spades. Barnett serves up visuals that are so bright, colorful, dark and creepy that your imagination will have trouble keeping up. Now, every time I feel like something is crawling on me but I find nothing, I'm going to think of this book. I'm also now finding myself running my tongue along my gums periodically now too. Great. Thanks mister. *sigh*
But these are all signs of how good this book is. I absolutely love where the title of this book comes from. Wow. While the main character isn't one you particularly care for at first, he does grow on you - in a magical fungus kinda way, not a wart kinda way. His relationship with his mother and Cassie, the woman who helps periodically, gives him a real humanness. His dive into this other world will also get you considering your sanity.
I'll certainly be taking extra care when walking past any homeless people on the streets - though I would never purposely kick a cup, I'm definitely accident prone so why take the chance? And whatever I do, I'll definitely "MIND THE CRACKS".
February 26, 2019
Running the gauntlet of the homeless that are collected on the block, he makes the biggest mistake of his life.
“Everything’s got a price,” she said.
And he was going to pay it!
Is it real, or all in his head?
Will he take anyone down with him?
I wondered.
Spiders…one of the creepiest critters to crawl the face of the earth. Just thinking of, writing about them, makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck and chills run up and down my spine. That is the kind of scary I like. Not Jason coming at me with a chain saw.
The subtle creepiness and anticipation of what is to come gives me plenty of time to watch his world crumble.
The writing is great and the story is haunting.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of My Hungry Friend by Daniel Barnett.
See more at fundinmental
“Everything’s got a price,” she said.
And he was going to pay it!
Is it real, or all in his head?
Will he take anyone down with him?
I wondered.
Spiders…one of the creepiest critters to crawl the face of the earth. Just thinking of, writing about them, makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck and chills run up and down my spine. That is the kind of scary I like. Not Jason coming at me with a chain saw.
The subtle creepiness and anticipation of what is to come gives me plenty of time to watch his world crumble.
The writing is great and the story is haunting.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of My Hungry Friend by Daniel Barnett.
See more at fundinmental
August 1, 2019
I enjoy creepy tales of regret. This guy never should have taken his bad day out on a strange old lady. It brought him many more bad days.
This reminded me a bit of the movie, Drag Me To Hell. If you’ve seen it, you get the idea, and can see why I had a bad feeling about how things would end up for Mike. At first I wasn’t too keen on Mike after what he did to the old woman. But then I learned how sad his life was. Losing a loved one to a mind ravaging disease would make me want to kick the crap out of things too. From then on, I was team Mike.
That one action has such big repercussions as Mike’s world crumbles around him. Is he also losing his mind? Are the monsters real? And what can he do to fix things?
This is my kind of creepy story. Once it gets rolling there’s no stopping it. Strong writing, creepy build up and some intriguing characters. I got what I asked for.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
This reminded me a bit of the movie, Drag Me To Hell. If you’ve seen it, you get the idea, and can see why I had a bad feeling about how things would end up for Mike. At first I wasn’t too keen on Mike after what he did to the old woman. But then I learned how sad his life was. Losing a loved one to a mind ravaging disease would make me want to kick the crap out of things too. From then on, I was team Mike.
That one action has such big repercussions as Mike’s world crumbles around him. Is he also losing his mind? Are the monsters real? And what can he do to fix things?
This is my kind of creepy story. Once it gets rolling there’s no stopping it. Strong writing, creepy build up and some intriguing characters. I got what I asked for.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
February 4, 2021
In a perfect world I'd give all of Daniel's books five stars, but I'm not sure I've truly understood what I've just read. So, I'll have to read it again some day. This is a good book, not so much scary but it makes you feel desperation and sadness.
I went into reading this with the idea it's a horror book, and it might be, but to me it was a confusing story of utter despair.
I went into reading this with the idea it's a horror book, and it might be, but to me it was a confusing story of utter despair.
March 2, 2018
My Hungry Friend is a tightly written story that deals with the horrors of Alzheimer's, both literal and metaphorical. Mike Roberts commits an atrocious act in the opening pages which doesn't exactly endear him to the reader (who kicks a homeless person's cup of change?!) but we soon learn the mindset behind what he was feeling that day, and why he felt the need to 'kick out'. Having previously read Daniel's Longreave, one of his strengths is creating multifaceted characters, and as the story evolves, so do the layers within Mike.
Trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, Mike struggles to look after his mother who suffers from Alzheimers. The concept of cracks opening in her mind, through which she becomes more and more lost, translate to Mike through his fears of hereditary Alzheimer's, but then those fears also become real as the homeless woman enacts her revenge on him. This reflection is well done, and even leads to some slight ambiguity towards the end with regards to Mike's lover.
If this was a straight literary book, there could have been more exploration of this; his mother wasn't used as I thought she might have been used, in fact it was all kept very real. But as a horror, it was sufficient: bring on the spiders!
Arachnophobes, beware! Spiders, spiders everywhere. Daniel's writing style ramps up the tension as the darkness begins to unveil itself, and as things not of this Earth begin to creep across Mike's skin. There are also a few moments of cringe-horror taken from reality, the kind of thing that must happen every day but we don't like to think about. And as horrific as some of these moments are, there are also some sweet moments; Mike's love for his mother and Cassie, (she leaves the room and suddenly the room returns to existence).
Longreave was a high bar, and more of an epic (having multiple POV) so My Hungry Friend feels smaller compared to that. Almost like an extended short story. But still, a very enjoyable read, and if Goodreads would allow another half-star it would get it from me.
Trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, Mike struggles to look after his mother who suffers from Alzheimers. The concept of cracks opening in her mind, through which she becomes more and more lost, translate to Mike through his fears of hereditary Alzheimer's, but then those fears also become real as the homeless woman enacts her revenge on him. This reflection is well done, and even leads to some slight ambiguity towards the end with regards to Mike's lover.
If this was a straight literary book, there could have been more exploration of this; his mother wasn't used as I thought she might have been used, in fact it was all kept very real. But as a horror, it was sufficient: bring on the spiders!
Arachnophobes, beware! Spiders, spiders everywhere. Daniel's writing style ramps up the tension as the darkness begins to unveil itself, and as things not of this Earth begin to creep across Mike's skin. There are also a few moments of cringe-horror taken from reality, the kind of thing that must happen every day but we don't like to think about. And as horrific as some of these moments are, there are also some sweet moments; Mike's love for his mother and Cassie, (she leaves the room and suddenly the room returns to existence).
Longreave was a high bar, and more of an epic (having multiple POV) so My Hungry Friend feels smaller compared to that. Almost like an extended short story. But still, a very enjoyable read, and if Goodreads would allow another half-star it would get it from me.
March 5, 2018
Another brilliant read from a writer who is fast becoming one of my favourites. I’m constantly left speechless by Daniel’s writing and My Hungry Friend was no exception. I devoured it (pardon the pun) from page to page and enjoyed every single word. Never predictable and always terrifying, this novel will definitely be in my top ten of 2018 and we’re only just in March. Can’t see many topping this!
November 3, 2018
Eerily beautiful and special
Absolutely well written, I was sucked in and didn’t want to be let go until the very end. Daniel Barnett is my new Edgar Poe and I can’t thank him and his work enough.
Absolutely well written, I was sucked in and didn’t want to be let go until the very end. Daniel Barnett is my new Edgar Poe and I can’t thank him and his work enough.
June 24, 2019
Time taken to read - in and out over 3 days
Pages - 200
Publisher - Indie/self
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
When Mike Roberts kicks over a homeless woman's cup of change, she whispers a cryptic warning:
"Mind the cracks . . ."
Now the Boston he knows and loves is unraveling around him. But his life is not the only thing at stake. His mother, a once acclaimed writer lost in the late stages of Alzheimer's, depends on him to have a home. And then there's her caretaker, Cassie, who might want something more from Mike than the friendship they've long shared.
As his city balances on a razor's edge, Mike will have to hunt down the daughter of the woman he wronged and uncover their terrible family secret . . . or be plunged into a world of crawling horrors and unspeakable hunger.
A world from which no one has ever returned.
My Review
Meet Mike Roberts, a dentist and has a carer who comes in during the day to look after his mother who has Alzheimer's and Mike looks after her at night. Stressed, living in Boston Mike passes homeless people everyday, this day Mike make's an impulse choice that impacts life as he knows it. One knee jerk reaction brings consequences that will pull down Mike's whole world and bring terror and horror beyond the imagination.
There are a few parts to this story, excluding the horror & weird creatures we have his relationship with his mothers carer and the actual taking care of his mother. Intimate care of cleaning up her accidents at night, safety issues and the pressure of that from a son having to deal with such a change in dynamics from the child to parental role.
The dark in this book is very dark, we have insect like creatures that most folk have some kind of beastie that creep up out, let alone from another world. There is mystery, evil, spookiness and at least one scene with his mother, in particular one part of her anatomy, that made me feel really uncomfortable and creeped out reading. I personally don't think it would have hurt the book to not be in it but artistic license and we don't always get the scenes in the way an author has written or envisioned it being received.
There is a lot of creepy tension and build up to a darkness threatening and changing Mike's world whilst he desperately scrambles to understand what is happening, why and most importantly what he can do to stop it. I think Mike makes so many bad choices and errors but it works in highlighting the reality of humanity, flawed characteristics and how off character would you be if your world was falling apart with a darkness coming in. 3/5 for me this time, I liked the eeriness and tension and look forward to seeing what else this author has to offer.
Pages - 200
Publisher - Indie/self
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
When Mike Roberts kicks over a homeless woman's cup of change, she whispers a cryptic warning:
"Mind the cracks . . ."
Now the Boston he knows and loves is unraveling around him. But his life is not the only thing at stake. His mother, a once acclaimed writer lost in the late stages of Alzheimer's, depends on him to have a home. And then there's her caretaker, Cassie, who might want something more from Mike than the friendship they've long shared.
As his city balances on a razor's edge, Mike will have to hunt down the daughter of the woman he wronged and uncover their terrible family secret . . . or be plunged into a world of crawling horrors and unspeakable hunger.
A world from which no one has ever returned.
My Review
Meet Mike Roberts, a dentist and has a carer who comes in during the day to look after his mother who has Alzheimer's and Mike looks after her at night. Stressed, living in Boston Mike passes homeless people everyday, this day Mike make's an impulse choice that impacts life as he knows it. One knee jerk reaction brings consequences that will pull down Mike's whole world and bring terror and horror beyond the imagination.
There are a few parts to this story, excluding the horror & weird creatures we have his relationship with his mothers carer and the actual taking care of his mother. Intimate care of cleaning up her accidents at night, safety issues and the pressure of that from a son having to deal with such a change in dynamics from the child to parental role.
The dark in this book is very dark, we have insect like creatures that most folk have some kind of beastie that creep up out, let alone from another world. There is mystery, evil, spookiness and at least one scene with his mother, in particular one part of her anatomy, that made me feel really uncomfortable and creeped out reading. I personally don't think it would have hurt the book to not be in it but artistic license and we don't always get the scenes in the way an author has written or envisioned it being received.
There is a lot of creepy tension and build up to a darkness threatening and changing Mike's world whilst he desperately scrambles to understand what is happening, why and most importantly what he can do to stop it. I think Mike makes so many bad choices and errors but it works in highlighting the reality of humanity, flawed characteristics and how off character would you be if your world was falling apart with a darkness coming in. 3/5 for me this time, I liked the eeriness and tension and look forward to seeing what else this author has to offer.
December 4, 2023
What a freaking weird book!
I'm not entirely sure what went on in this book, how to write this review... There was a dentist and a mother with Alzheimer's and a homeless lady - and a lot of spiders. So many spiders.... Initial rating - 3 stars?
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 8 - The characters in this book were great. The portrayal of Alzheimer's is sadly very accurate. As well as the exhaustion of the caretaker.
Atmosphere/Setting: 9 - The atmosphere and setting in My Hungry Friend were spot on. I could imagine the setting and feel the atmosphere on every page.
Writing Style: 6 - Im not even sure how to describe the writing style in this book. Defiitely horror. Post-apocalyptic. But also weird and uniquely different.
Plot: 6 - This is a hard one for me. What exactly was the plot? Man takes care of mother and falls into his own madness?
Intrigue: 8 - The intrigue was dialed up for this book. My intrigue was not only with what was happening but also the characters - and "things" and places...
Logic/Relationships: 7 - Nothing made sense in the "real world" but it wasn't supposed to (I don't think), everything made "sense" in the nightmare world. The relationships were built in a realistic way.
Enjoyment: 6.5 - I'm not sure that enjoyement is the right word for this. Still really confused, but trying to parse things out. Too many spiders and heebee jeebees. (Yes that's a real thing, trust me ;) )
CAWPILE Total: 50.5/7 = 7.2 = 4 stars
I'm not entirely sure what went on in this book, how to write this review... There was a dentist and a mother with Alzheimer's and a homeless lady - and a lot of spiders. So many spiders.... Initial rating - 3 stars?
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 8 - The characters in this book were great. The portrayal of Alzheimer's is sadly very accurate. As well as the exhaustion of the caretaker.
Atmosphere/Setting: 9 - The atmosphere and setting in My Hungry Friend were spot on. I could imagine the setting and feel the atmosphere on every page.
Writing Style: 6 - Im not even sure how to describe the writing style in this book. Defiitely horror. Post-apocalyptic. But also weird and uniquely different.
Plot: 6 - This is a hard one for me. What exactly was the plot? Man takes care of mother and falls into his own madness?
Intrigue: 8 - The intrigue was dialed up for this book. My intrigue was not only with what was happening but also the characters - and "things" and places...
Logic/Relationships: 7 - Nothing made sense in the "real world" but it wasn't supposed to (I don't think), everything made "sense" in the nightmare world. The relationships were built in a realistic way.
Enjoyment: 6.5 - I'm not sure that enjoyement is the right word for this. Still really confused, but trying to parse things out. Too many spiders and heebee jeebees. (Yes that's a real thing, trust me ;) )
CAWPILE Total: 50.5/7 = 7.2 = 4 stars
February 28, 2018
Are you afraid of creepy crawlers?
You will be — because in My Hungry Friend, those bastards are everywhere. I came away from these chapters with paranoia in my heart and that terrible feeling that there were THINGS walking all over me. There was even one morning that I had a spider swing into my face, and I was convinced I had landed myself in the novel.
Such is the way of Barnett’s voice. He has the ability to drag you into his worlds and hold you captive there, even if it’s not a place you want to be.
I found My Hungry Friend to be gripping, engrossing, and terrifyingly believable. The characters are loveable (and hateable) in their own unique ways, and every one of them comes across as real enough that you’ll find yourself connected.
The plot is something like I’ve never seen before, and I absolutely loved it. The world building here is spectacular, and I’m dying to see what Barnett does next.
Do yourself a favourite and put this on your to-read list. You won’t regret it.
Or maybe you will — because you’ll be checking for spiders everywhere.
You will be — because in My Hungry Friend, those bastards are everywhere. I came away from these chapters with paranoia in my heart and that terrible feeling that there were THINGS walking all over me. There was even one morning that I had a spider swing into my face, and I was convinced I had landed myself in the novel.
Such is the way of Barnett’s voice. He has the ability to drag you into his worlds and hold you captive there, even if it’s not a place you want to be.
I found My Hungry Friend to be gripping, engrossing, and terrifyingly believable. The characters are loveable (and hateable) in their own unique ways, and every one of them comes across as real enough that you’ll find yourself connected.
The plot is something like I’ve never seen before, and I absolutely loved it. The world building here is spectacular, and I’m dying to see what Barnett does next.
Do yourself a favourite and put this on your to-read list. You won’t regret it.
Or maybe you will — because you’ll be checking for spiders everywhere.
August 14, 2018
This deserves a far better review than the one I will be writing here. Just read the book.
February 10, 2019
My Hungry Friend is one of those books that consumes you. It pulls you in and you don’t want to put it down. You devour the words until there are no more, then pass it on to friends and family so you can re-read it vicariously through them.
While reading, I was so engulfed into the world within the book that I found myself locked out of my apartment. I called the security company to let me back in and, spoiler alert, I wasn’t actually locked out. I was on the wrong floor. That’s right, distracted by the dark characters and worlds Barnett creates in his book, I tried to enter a strangers apartment.
Make sure you read this book all the way to the very last page. You will not be disappointed.
While reading, I was so engulfed into the world within the book that I found myself locked out of my apartment. I called the security company to let me back in and, spoiler alert, I wasn’t actually locked out. I was on the wrong floor. That’s right, distracted by the dark characters and worlds Barnett creates in his book, I tried to enter a strangers apartment.
Make sure you read this book all the way to the very last page. You will not be disappointed.
February 28, 2019
You ever have one of those days, when you’re in a bad mood, and you say or do something to someone you would normally never do? Of course you have! We all have. But Mike is having more than a few bad days, and he lashes out a poor homeless woman! He feels so bad about it however, he seeks her out to apologize but unfortunately for Mike, it’s far too late for that.
This is the story of a man who is burned out by grief and exhaustion due to caring for his mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. And because of this one impulsive mistake, his life is turned into a horrifying nightmare, one he can’t wake up from.
This book is one I would classify as literary horror. Yes, there is a strong ick factor but the writing is brilliant, full of stong imagery, metaphors, and it evokes strong feeling in the reader.
The parallel between Mike’s descent into “Hell” and his own mother’s deteriorating health, is beautifully done, and I can’t think of a single book that I have read that describes this vicious disease in such a way, that the reader will truly understands the nature of Alzheimer’s.
Short but powerful, My Hungry Friend hooks you immediately, and will stay with you long after you’ve read the last line.
This is the story of a man who is burned out by grief and exhaustion due to caring for his mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. And because of this one impulsive mistake, his life is turned into a horrifying nightmare, one he can’t wake up from.
This book is one I would classify as literary horror. Yes, there is a strong ick factor but the writing is brilliant, full of stong imagery, metaphors, and it evokes strong feeling in the reader.
The parallel between Mike’s descent into “Hell” and his own mother’s deteriorating health, is beautifully done, and I can’t think of a single book that I have read that describes this vicious disease in such a way, that the reader will truly understands the nature of Alzheimer’s.
Short but powerful, My Hungry Friend hooks you immediately, and will stay with you long after you’ve read the last line.
November 18, 2018
Most pleasantly surprised by this one, really enjoyed it! Intertwining Alzheimer’s with horror is a unique idea and the author made it work! The horror of one’s world disappearing and all we hold dear is horrifying in and of itself, be it from Alzheimer’s or a curse! This is thinking outside the box, outside our world!! Great read...
June 7, 2018
This book was creepy and filled with too many crawly things *shudder*.
I was quite happy it wasn't that long because I somehow couldn't really like it. Don't get me wrong you want to know what happens and why but somehow it didn't fascinate me as much as I thought it would.
I was quite happy it wasn't that long because I somehow couldn't really like it. Don't get me wrong you want to know what happens and why but somehow it didn't fascinate me as much as I thought it would.
July 8, 2023
The premise is the same as Stephen King's Thinner, but that's about all these two novels have in common. I never thought I would say this, but King's dialog was actually more believable than Barnett's. And I liked King's characters, especially Billy Halleck, but none of the characters in My Hungry Friend are likeable. The main character here, Mike Roberts, kicks over a homeless woman's cup of change (and feels good about doing it!).
The relationship between Mike and Cassie reads like 1980's romcom silliness.
Nothing good here at all. Can't recommend this one.
The relationship between Mike and Cassie reads like 1980's romcom silliness.
Nothing good here at all. Can't recommend this one.
January 12, 2020
This was a great read and a very unique story. The mysterious settings in the beginning capture your attention and when the story intensifies you can't put the book down. This novel is a bit shorter than his other ones which makes it the perfect book to experience Daniel Barnett's writing style.
September 27, 2022
I have not a lot of words really.
hard-hitting to the soul and creepy at times.
characters, the atmosphere are wonderfully written.
whole-heartedly recommend for an atmospheric, creepy-vibe read for Fall.
hard-hitting to the soul and creepy at times.
characters, the atmosphere are wonderfully written.
whole-heartedly recommend for an atmospheric, creepy-vibe read for Fall.
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