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Hunger of the Pine
Aria Abbott has never had a home. Drifting through the foster system for most of her life, she finally finds herself in a situation so unbearable that she has no choice but to run away. Sleeping on the streets pushes Aria beyond any suffering she has felt before; the only thing worse than seeing no escape is the knowledge that no one in the world cares enough to try and find her.
Enter Taylor, a homeless young man with a charismatic smile and a dream of fame, fortune, and the sunshine of LA. Swept up in his energy, Aria and Taylor board a greyhound bus and never look back.
In this bright new world, Aria will discover a whole community of people living in the shadows, in the margins of society. As Taylor follows his dreams, Aria follows her heart. But she will discover that it isn’t always clear who you can trust, that strangers can be kind, or treacherous, or sometimes as familiar as your own reflection, if you’re willing to look hard enough.
Enter Taylor, a homeless young man with a charismatic smile and a dream of fame, fortune, and the sunshine of LA. Swept up in his energy, Aria and Taylor board a greyhound bus and never look back.
In this bright new world, Aria will discover a whole community of people living in the shadows, in the margins of society. As Taylor follows his dreams, Aria follows her heart. But she will discover that it isn’t always clear who you can trust, that strangers can be kind, or treacherous, or sometimes as familiar as your own reflection, if you’re willing to look hard enough.
- GenresFictionYoung Adult
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2020
18 people are currently reading
2537 people want to read
About the author
Teal Swan
20 books579 followersTeal Swan is a personal transformation revolutionary. She was born with a range of extrasensory abilities and is a survivor of severe childhood abuse. Today she uses her gifts as well as her own harrowing life experience to inspire millions of people towards authenticity, freedom, and joy and teaching people how to transform their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual pain.
The result when people are restored to wholeness is that the world will be restored to wholeness. Teal Swan's teachings invite people to step fully into their authenticity, knowing that this will bring about the positive change that we want to see in the world.
The result when people are restored to wholeness is that the world will be restored to wholeness. Teal Swan's teachings invite people to step fully into their authenticity, knowing that this will bring about the positive change that we want to see in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 14, 2020
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
This book is beautifully written in its stark depiction of homeless and, although a little slow at times, the detail with which Aria’s world is built really draws you in. However, the ending of this book was disappointing and ultimately left me feeling cheated. It seemed unnecessary to add in the trope of ‘boy falling instantly for a girl he doesn’t know’ and, for a story that shows the harsh reality of homelessness, this feels too fanciful.
This book is beautifully written in its stark depiction of homeless and, although a little slow at times, the detail with which Aria’s world is built really draws you in. However, the ending of this book was disappointing and ultimately left me feeling cheated. It seemed unnecessary to add in the trope of ‘boy falling instantly for a girl he doesn’t know’ and, for a story that shows the harsh reality of homelessness, this feels too fanciful.
October 21, 2020
The writing style allowed me to understand all the characters so intimately. I loved being allowed into the heart of the character's lives Knowing and feeling all they are naturally feeling. I cried so many times because, having worked with the homeless, I know how absolutely true these stories are for so many people’s lives. I think it would be good for humanity to have a good cry for our trespasses. Trespasses for me being I might not have been as understanding and compassionate as I should’ve been.
November 21, 2020
If Catcher in the Rye was a romance novel, it would be this book. Not horrible but it tried a little too hard to be profound.
December 16, 2020
What is the hunger of the pine? And who is Teal Swan? That all depends. Hunger of the Pine is both a song and a book. According to the author, Alt-J, and Miley Cyrus, of the song - it's a metaphor for the yearning, or pining for love or a loved one. The author of the book lifted the title of the song for the title of her book because it is apropos to the story she tells.
Shadow work
Teal Swan is either a "spiritual catalyst" or a "suicide catalyst". Because she is very influential and controversial. Or maybe just a successful capitalist entrepreneur? For sure she is "smart, beautiful, sweet [questionable], crazy, compassionate [questionable], wild, and sensitive"; just like the protagonist, Aria, in her novel.
The Setting
is in the cities of Chicago and Los Angeles and the time is now, 2020. There is also a cross-country bus trip, and of course, the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the reader gets to live inside the minds of Aria, and Teal - which can be dark. Or, "the carriers of the shadows that no one truly wants to face." (pg. 290)
The Plot
is not uncommon. It is in some ways a coming of age story and a love story. Lonely, lost teen girl searches for meaning and finds it in the form of love from a man. It's almost Cinderella's story. Or that of the White Knight? Either way, it's a rescue tale.
But that's just on the surface. This story gets real deep down into the nitty-gritty of the human experience.
[There's no doubt in my mind that much of the detail, which is exquisite, comes from the author's own experience. Moreover, she identifies as only part human, the other part alien.]
looks human
A big part of the story is that of being homeless in America. Just how, why and to whom that happens. (It could happen to you!) One part of the plot is that there is a force outside (or maybe not) of us that is of "cosmic orchestration".
Thus the story, or plot, is part typical and part pure Swan. Postmodern. [Which I like.] Not unlike David Foster Wallace's fiction. In fact, she tells a tale (pg. 285) not unlike his 2004 commencement speech: This Is Water.
Characterization
is used perfectly. Swan uses the characters to tell the story, theirs (the homeless), hers, as well as everyones. Mostly she uses dialogue, but sometimes speaks directly to you, the reader, via her voice [the alien?].
Style / Voice
is my favorite part of this book. It's unconventional. Breaks boundaries and crosses lines. Which makes it Postmodern. Of course! What would you expect from an hybrid? A mutant?
Theme / Big Ideas
is where I would challenge Swan. However, that makes it fun, right?
At root, Teal is a Postmodern, Liberal, Left, Progressive, Millennial. Of course. In the course of the novel she takes on, and opines (mostly, via the characters) on all the big issues of the day. The issues of forever?
Such As:
Homelessness
Immigration
Abortion
Policing
Child Welfare
Pets
War
Culture
Religion
Addiction
Marriage
Love
Abandonment
Sex
Homosexuality
Values
Territory
Money
Power
Freedom
Swan weaves it altogether in a very readable way. Seductive.
In conclusion
I can't recommend this novel enough. However with this caveat: It's tricky.
You've been warned.
Shadow work
Teal Swan is either a "spiritual catalyst" or a "suicide catalyst". Because she is very influential and controversial. Or maybe just a successful capitalist entrepreneur? For sure she is "smart, beautiful, sweet [questionable], crazy, compassionate [questionable], wild, and sensitive"; just like the protagonist, Aria, in her novel.
The Setting
is in the cities of Chicago and Los Angeles and the time is now, 2020. There is also a cross-country bus trip, and of course, the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the reader gets to live inside the minds of Aria, and Teal - which can be dark. Or, "the carriers of the shadows that no one truly wants to face." (pg. 290)
The Plot
is not uncommon. It is in some ways a coming of age story and a love story. Lonely, lost teen girl searches for meaning and finds it in the form of love from a man. It's almost Cinderella's story. Or that of the White Knight? Either way, it's a rescue tale.
But that's just on the surface. This story gets real deep down into the nitty-gritty of the human experience.
[There's no doubt in my mind that much of the detail, which is exquisite, comes from the author's own experience. Moreover, she identifies as only part human, the other part alien.]
looks human
A big part of the story is that of being homeless in America. Just how, why and to whom that happens. (It could happen to you!) One part of the plot is that there is a force outside (or maybe not) of us that is of "cosmic orchestration".
Thus the story, or plot, is part typical and part pure Swan. Postmodern. [Which I like.] Not unlike David Foster Wallace's fiction. In fact, she tells a tale (pg. 285) not unlike his 2004 commencement speech: This Is Water.
Characterization
is used perfectly. Swan uses the characters to tell the story, theirs (the homeless), hers, as well as everyones. Mostly she uses dialogue, but sometimes speaks directly to you, the reader, via her voice [the alien?].
Style / Voice
is my favorite part of this book. It's unconventional. Breaks boundaries and crosses lines. Which makes it Postmodern. Of course! What would you expect from an hybrid? A mutant?
Theme / Big Ideas
is where I would challenge Swan. However, that makes it fun, right?
At root, Teal is a Postmodern, Liberal, Left, Progressive, Millennial. Of course. In the course of the novel she takes on, and opines (mostly, via the characters) on all the big issues of the day. The issues of forever?
Such As:
Homelessness
Immigration
Abortion
Policing
Child Welfare
Pets
War
Culture
Religion
Addiction
Marriage
Love
Abandonment
Sex
Homosexuality
Values
Territory
Money
Power
Freedom
Swan weaves it altogether in a very readable way. Seductive.
In conclusion
I can't recommend this novel enough. However with this caveat: It's tricky.
You've been warned.
January 2, 2021
I received this book through goodreads giveaways.
I enjoed the characters and the plot, however I had a hard time connecting to the characters because the writing still didn’t click with me. There is a lot of exposition, more “showing” than there is “telling”. But the story itself was heartfelt and beautiful.
I enjoed the characters and the plot, however I had a hard time connecting to the characters because the writing still didn’t click with me. There is a lot of exposition, more “showing” than there is “telling”. But the story itself was heartfelt and beautiful.
February 13, 2022
Lacked depth and flow. Seems like it was trying too hard to be profound. Came across as someone who lacked real empathy wrote it.
September 18, 2021
Felt like a low-budget romcom with some vague references to homelessness, CSA and random characters.
October 22, 2020
This is the first novel in ten years that I couldn't stop reading. The author has an excellent talent to make the book come alive with her writing style which made me very involved with the characters and the plot. What surprised me was, that the book wasn't just "a nice read", it also had me stop from time to time and think deeper about live, as I feel like there is a lot of knowledge and wisdom in between the lines of this book. I feel like I've become a better, more kind and more understanding person reading this book, especially in regards to the homelessness issue. I can't wait to read more by Teal Swan and would recommend this book to anyone for a compelling read that simultaneously takes you deep into the world of trauma, family dynamics, romance, homelessness, lgbt+ and healing.
May 29, 2021
This book was clearly written by someone who doesn’t have experience with homelessness in the cities.
March 5, 2021
I love Teal Swan! I have been watching her YouTube videos since 2015 when I still identified as a Christian, and a year later I gave up what I felt like was the most constricting religion to be a part of and began my journey into the self and spirituality.
However, as this is her first work of fiction, I do have a reason for holding back the two stars. First, I'll start with the positive! I listened to the audio of this and couldn't stop listening because I wanted to know what happened! Also, the narrator was absolutely excellent so I can say that definitely helped. All of the characters felt like real people and you could immediately see into their lives, minds, and motives. I enjoyed how much culture was shown here, and how everyone's voices sounded different.
Here's the negative. Much of the story was told, not shown. There were many times when it seemed like the plot dragged a bit, or I wondered if there was any real plot oat all, and many characters I personally didn't feel were essential to the plot/story in itself got dwelled a bit too much. If you're familiar with Teal's work, then you know she is a spiritual teacher and very good at shadow and parts work, this is why I think her characters felt so real. This story felt more like a real life story with some embellishment than a well thought out plot. From what I've seen from her interview, Teal is more of a discovery writer with her spiritual books. It's blatantly obvious to me that this was the case with this book. If she had just revised it and gone back and switched a few things up and added some comic relief, it probably would have gotten 5 stars from me.
The story starts of a little sad and just gets worse and worse, so I feel like I mostly kept listening because I had a strong feeling it would have a happy ending. I'm glad to say it did. I look forward to more fictional works from Teal. I strongly believe that there is a way to have a fantastic plot while still getting all of the messages out that she wanted to get across and I hope she achieves this in future.
**********Spoilers**********
I felt like the love story towards the end was a bit insta-lovey. There was a little build up, but it felt very rushed. I really wanted to like it, but I think if it had been introduced earlier on it would have had more momentum and emotional payoff, even with the proposal at the end. Also, the Hollywood sign? Kinda gimmicky, but maybe it's just because I live an hour from LA. Also, that hike is like 6 miles, there's no way that they would have been able to climb that in the dark, or what was sure to be sunset time, and make it back without an accident of some kind.
There was a lot of sad and terrible things that happened in this, and though that happens in real life all the time, in a story you need to have a good balance of positive and negative. The most common example of this would be comic relief. There was very little of that to be had here, which is a shame because Teal can be very sarcastic in her videos that she cracks herself up. Things started bad and just got worse and worse and worse. I think she was trying a touch to hard to relate through writing to those that have gone through was Aria has gone through.
Overall, the story was a good premise. It could have used work in the structure of the plot for sure, as well as critique in showing versus telling. I understand she was relaying what she sees with people's real motives and why they really do things even if they do not know themselves, but I would have liked to see three or four of these characters realize this for themselves, rather than be told this information through at-least fifteen different characters, it would have had much larger emotional payoff. If Uncar (don't know if I'm spelling that wrong, again I listened to the audiobook) if he hadn't come into the story when he did, I was going to stop listening. The story was just getting too sad, and when stories are too sad with no uplift or goals or feel like it's going somewhere, they get bored and lose interest.
However, as this is her first work of fiction, I do have a reason for holding back the two stars. First, I'll start with the positive! I listened to the audio of this and couldn't stop listening because I wanted to know what happened! Also, the narrator was absolutely excellent so I can say that definitely helped. All of the characters felt like real people and you could immediately see into their lives, minds, and motives. I enjoyed how much culture was shown here, and how everyone's voices sounded different.
Here's the negative. Much of the story was told, not shown. There were many times when it seemed like the plot dragged a bit, or I wondered if there was any real plot oat all, and many characters I personally didn't feel were essential to the plot/story in itself got dwelled a bit too much. If you're familiar with Teal's work, then you know she is a spiritual teacher and very good at shadow and parts work, this is why I think her characters felt so real. This story felt more like a real life story with some embellishment than a well thought out plot. From what I've seen from her interview, Teal is more of a discovery writer with her spiritual books. It's blatantly obvious to me that this was the case with this book. If she had just revised it and gone back and switched a few things up and added some comic relief, it probably would have gotten 5 stars from me.
The story starts of a little sad and just gets worse and worse, so I feel like I mostly kept listening because I had a strong feeling it would have a happy ending. I'm glad to say it did. I look forward to more fictional works from Teal. I strongly believe that there is a way to have a fantastic plot while still getting all of the messages out that she wanted to get across and I hope she achieves this in future.
**********Spoilers**********
I felt like the love story towards the end was a bit insta-lovey. There was a little build up, but it felt very rushed. I really wanted to like it, but I think if it had been introduced earlier on it would have had more momentum and emotional payoff, even with the proposal at the end. Also, the Hollywood sign? Kinda gimmicky, but maybe it's just because I live an hour from LA. Also, that hike is like 6 miles, there's no way that they would have been able to climb that in the dark, or what was sure to be sunset time, and make it back without an accident of some kind.
There was a lot of sad and terrible things that happened in this, and though that happens in real life all the time, in a story you need to have a good balance of positive and negative. The most common example of this would be comic relief. There was very little of that to be had here, which is a shame because Teal can be very sarcastic in her videos that she cracks herself up. Things started bad and just got worse and worse and worse. I think she was trying a touch to hard to relate through writing to those that have gone through was Aria has gone through.
Overall, the story was a good premise. It could have used work in the structure of the plot for sure, as well as critique in showing versus telling. I understand she was relaying what she sees with people's real motives and why they really do things even if they do not know themselves, but I would have liked to see three or four of these characters realize this for themselves, rather than be told this information through at-least fifteen different characters, it would have had much larger emotional payoff. If Uncar (don't know if I'm spelling that wrong, again I listened to the audiobook) if he hadn't come into the story when he did, I was going to stop listening. The story was just getting too sad, and when stories are too sad with no uplift or goals or feel like it's going somewhere, they get bored and lose interest.
October 18, 2020
This book honestly sent me to my extremes: I both truly loved and hated it at times.
What first caught my attention other than the beautiful cover was the blurb. I really hoped the author took advantage of the theme and explore privilege on several fronts instead of just making us pity a pretty white girl, and Teal Swan did that a thousand times over. We had discussions about LGBTQ and racial discrimination, police brutality, sex work, drug addiction, mental health, …
I found the opening too "wattpaddy": there was too much info dump and I hated that the main character was physically characterized all at once but as the story progressed I found myself unable to choose between putting the book down to shake off all the awful, heartbreaking things that were happening or push through because the plot was so good and the characters had found their way into my heart in a way that I was absolutely unprepared for.
This book truly shone for me when it showed the reader how easily it is, to end up where these characters did because there really wasn't that much in common between them. It can happen to everyone down on their luck but it would be dishonest to pretend some groups weren't pushed into it: racial minorities, LGBTQ folk, orphans, children from abusive homes, people that live paycheck to paycheck until they don't, retired people that depend on their social security, veterans,…and once you are in the streets, it's difficult to get out.
At the same time those same groups of people that are pushed to the sidelines or even hidden away and looked upon with suspicion, are the ones that offer their hand in friendship with the least amount of judgment. Teal really made sure that we could see the good in every one of her characters, no matter how difficult it might be at first.
This would have been a five-star book if not for the ending, particularly the romance aspect. Two of the most beloved characters find their way out of the streets through romantic relationships. Although Aria's romance with Omkar is based on feelings rather than material worth, I found it too forceful at times and even toxic towards the end.
This was the only time in which I found there was wasted potential: we could have had a beautiful, interracial, interfaith relationship between two people that bring the best in each other and ended up with a girl that magically fell in love with a guy that only became a man, only had value in his own eyes because he needed to "protect her". Omkar ended up feeling less like the wonderful, kind, faithful charcater he could have been and more like an exotic stereotype, and in an otherwise pretty much flawless book, that really impacted the way I felt about this story once I finished it.
Thank you so much to Watkins Publishing for gifting me this copy.
What first caught my attention other than the beautiful cover was the blurb. I really hoped the author took advantage of the theme and explore privilege on several fronts instead of just making us pity a pretty white girl, and Teal Swan did that a thousand times over. We had discussions about LGBTQ and racial discrimination, police brutality, sex work, drug addiction, mental health, …
I found the opening too "wattpaddy": there was too much info dump and I hated that the main character was physically characterized all at once but as the story progressed I found myself unable to choose between putting the book down to shake off all the awful, heartbreaking things that were happening or push through because the plot was so good and the characters had found their way into my heart in a way that I was absolutely unprepared for.
This book truly shone for me when it showed the reader how easily it is, to end up where these characters did because there really wasn't that much in common between them. It can happen to everyone down on their luck but it would be dishonest to pretend some groups weren't pushed into it: racial minorities, LGBTQ folk, orphans, children from abusive homes, people that live paycheck to paycheck until they don't, retired people that depend on their social security, veterans,…and once you are in the streets, it's difficult to get out.
At the same time those same groups of people that are pushed to the sidelines or even hidden away and looked upon with suspicion, are the ones that offer their hand in friendship with the least amount of judgment. Teal really made sure that we could see the good in every one of her characters, no matter how difficult it might be at first.
This would have been a five-star book if not for the ending, particularly the romance aspect. Two of the most beloved characters find their way out of the streets through romantic relationships. Although Aria's romance with Omkar is based on feelings rather than material worth, I found it too forceful at times and even toxic towards the end.
This was the only time in which I found there was wasted potential: we could have had a beautiful, interracial, interfaith relationship between two people that bring the best in each other and ended up with a girl that magically fell in love with a guy that only became a man, only had value in his own eyes because he needed to "protect her". Omkar ended up feeling less like the wonderful, kind, faithful charcater he could have been and more like an exotic stereotype, and in an otherwise pretty much flawless book, that really impacted the way I felt about this story once I finished it.
Thank you so much to Watkins Publishing for gifting me this copy.
November 3, 2020
Hunger of the Pine is a gripping novel about the hard truth of homelessness. Teal Swan's writing is both eloquent and affecting.
As the story begins, we meet Aria. She is in the foster care system and doesn't have the best living situation. Readers quickly learn that she is sexually abused by her foster dad. I grew up with a parent working with child protective services, so I know how common this actually is and it continued to break my heart on this topic.
Aria is going through so much and feels like she has no other option but to run away. She is away from her toxic 'family' but now faces a different type of hardship. She is now homeless. She feels so alone but when she meets Taylor at a homeless shelter they form a bond. They both felt like they were the only ones suffering but bonded when they began to share more about their rough experiences in life.
As the story progresses, we get to see Aria grow up more and more. She is still a bit naive when it comes to trusting people but I liked her positive spirit. We also see her as she enters into a romantic relationship with a guy name Omkar.
I give Hunger of the Pine 4 stars. Teal Swan did a great job of presenting an authentic depiction of homelessness. The writing was striking and emotive. The author tackled tough subjects like homelessness, mental health, abuse, and rape in a way that was educational and non-judgemental. After reading this book, I look forward to reading more from Teal Swan.
As the story begins, we meet Aria. She is in the foster care system and doesn't have the best living situation. Readers quickly learn that she is sexually abused by her foster dad. I grew up with a parent working with child protective services, so I know how common this actually is and it continued to break my heart on this topic.
Aria is going through so much and feels like she has no other option but to run away. She is away from her toxic 'family' but now faces a different type of hardship. She is now homeless. She feels so alone but when she meets Taylor at a homeless shelter they form a bond. They both felt like they were the only ones suffering but bonded when they began to share more about their rough experiences in life.
As the story progresses, we get to see Aria grow up more and more. She is still a bit naive when it comes to trusting people but I liked her positive spirit. We also see her as she enters into a romantic relationship with a guy name Omkar.
I give Hunger of the Pine 4 stars. Teal Swan did a great job of presenting an authentic depiction of homelessness. The writing was striking and emotive. The author tackled tough subjects like homelessness, mental health, abuse, and rape in a way that was educational and non-judgemental. After reading this book, I look forward to reading more from Teal Swan.
November 30, 2020
4.5 stars but I am rounding it up for the pure page-turning enjoyment of the book.
When Teal first said that you can teach through the medium of a novel, I was intrigued. Once I started reading this book, it started to make sense.
On the surface it is a story about one girls journey into the harshness of life and the many ways that it may not always work out instantly. The characters we meet along the way are all real, flawed and truly human. The love story is a cutesy addition, but was not the star of the show for me as much as the growth of the main character was.
And just below the surface, the book is oozing with Teal`s usual teachings about human nature, how we cope with emotions and situations and how things are simply not just black and white. It is a book that reminds you to have sympathy and genuine caring about one another (not just for Christmas!).
My main reason for not giving it a solid 5 stars is the editing (yes, nothing to do with the author herself) - someone seems to have abducted the editors space bar button and blocked the "space out text evenly" option so I found the flow of how the text was displayed all in one messy chunk in the book very vexing!
Grammar pet peeves aside - it was an amazing book. A bit on the heavy and tear-jerky side, but it was just as much heart-warming, entertaining and subtly educational.
I would definitively recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Teal`s works in the future.
When Teal first said that you can teach through the medium of a novel, I was intrigued. Once I started reading this book, it started to make sense.
On the surface it is a story about one girls journey into the harshness of life and the many ways that it may not always work out instantly. The characters we meet along the way are all real, flawed and truly human. The love story is a cutesy addition, but was not the star of the show for me as much as the growth of the main character was.
And just below the surface, the book is oozing with Teal`s usual teachings about human nature, how we cope with emotions and situations and how things are simply not just black and white. It is a book that reminds you to have sympathy and genuine caring about one another (not just for Christmas!).
My main reason for not giving it a solid 5 stars is the editing (yes, nothing to do with the author herself) - someone seems to have abducted the editors space bar button and blocked the "space out text evenly" option so I found the flow of how the text was displayed all in one messy chunk in the book very vexing!
Grammar pet peeves aside - it was an amazing book. A bit on the heavy and tear-jerky side, but it was just as much heart-warming, entertaining and subtly educational.
I would definitively recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Teal`s works in the future.
March 18, 2021
I received this book from a giveaway on good-reads.
The beginning dumps you into a world in which nothing good is happening. I felt it very hard to read the very descriptive parts in the beginning as Teal Swan has a great way to describe, but at times felt like a dump of descriptions not connecting to a plot. The topics in the beginning are also very heavy, and I know meant to mimic real life but made it hard to get into the story at first. As a teacher I could not help but feel for the main character and relate to all my students who feel with homelessness. This book gives a harsh eye opening reality to homelessness and how it’s not a choice but a way of life. I often put the book down and pondered life so Swan has a way with her writing. It leaves you feeling better off regardless of your situation. I will say I feel the plot got off track at times getting very wordy and in the end I believe making the book longer than it needed to be. The romantic aspect also seemed to be rushed and not quite fit with the rest of the story. It was a good story but I feel like it needed to pick a focus with the homeless nature ending with hope or a love story because her homelessness ending with true love to save her seemed unrealistic compared to the rest of the story line which seemed very real. A good read but prepare for a lot of descriptions and an end that may not be the most fulfilling.
The beginning dumps you into a world in which nothing good is happening. I felt it very hard to read the very descriptive parts in the beginning as Teal Swan has a great way to describe, but at times felt like a dump of descriptions not connecting to a plot. The topics in the beginning are also very heavy, and I know meant to mimic real life but made it hard to get into the story at first. As a teacher I could not help but feel for the main character and relate to all my students who feel with homelessness. This book gives a harsh eye opening reality to homelessness and how it’s not a choice but a way of life. I often put the book down and pondered life so Swan has a way with her writing. It leaves you feeling better off regardless of your situation. I will say I feel the plot got off track at times getting very wordy and in the end I believe making the book longer than it needed to be. The romantic aspect also seemed to be rushed and not quite fit with the rest of the story. It was a good story but I feel like it needed to pick a focus with the homeless nature ending with hope or a love story because her homelessness ending with true love to save her seemed unrealistic compared to the rest of the story line which seemed very real. A good read but prepare for a lot of descriptions and an end that may not be the most fulfilling.
February 19, 2021
Hunger of the Pine is beautifully written, eloquent and literary in style, but it feels like two different books spliced together.
The first half is heartbreaking, brutal, bleak, and captivating. We’re with young Aria as she reflects on life with a drug-addicted mother. We experience poverty, abandonment, life in foster care, and sexual abuse. The content is thought-provoking, heavy, and real.
At age seventeen, Aria connects with a network of homeless people, and this is where the story changes into something else. On the streets, she is surrounded by a United Nations cast of characters, including her gay male best friend, a Black woman, a Vietnam Vet, a Native American male, a Mexican family, and an Indian college student. Within the narrative and occasional long-winded speeches by assorted characters, we’re given history lessons about the evils of racism. It all feels forced and preachy.
I don’t want to give more details about what didn’t work for me in the second half because of spoilers, so I’ll just say it’s worthy of a Disney movie. Realism totally collapsed here.
It’s not that I disliked the second half of the book, but I couldn’t make the leap of plausibility from the harsh content within the first half to the Disneyesque feel of the second half.
*I received a review copy from Smith Publicity.*
The first half is heartbreaking, brutal, bleak, and captivating. We’re with young Aria as she reflects on life with a drug-addicted mother. We experience poverty, abandonment, life in foster care, and sexual abuse. The content is thought-provoking, heavy, and real.
At age seventeen, Aria connects with a network of homeless people, and this is where the story changes into something else. On the streets, she is surrounded by a United Nations cast of characters, including her gay male best friend, a Black woman, a Vietnam Vet, a Native American male, a Mexican family, and an Indian college student. Within the narrative and occasional long-winded speeches by assorted characters, we’re given history lessons about the evils of racism. It all feels forced and preachy.
I don’t want to give more details about what didn’t work for me in the second half because of spoilers, so I’ll just say it’s worthy of a Disney movie. Realism totally collapsed here.
It’s not that I disliked the second half of the book, but I couldn’t make the leap of plausibility from the harsh content within the first half to the Disneyesque feel of the second half.
*I received a review copy from Smith Publicity.*
April 2, 2022
The way that Teal Swan can portray many characters at once is a skill of a truly deeply compassionate writer. All the homeless characters and their backstories were multidimensional and a pleasure to learn about. Most authors write about one character or from the perspective of one character. This book had many layers and I genuinely enjoyed exploring them in the context of a world I know very little about, homelessness and the foster system. I have to say that end was a bit eh for me. I was hoping for more of a homeless to Harvard story and instead it rolled into a strangely ideal love story where omkar fell in love with her so quickly and then even had a bit of a rant about ownership of women being misconstrued and that he actually thought that sentiment came from a less patriarchally pathological history and he could write a different future with it.
I could have done with a different ending. Perhaps if the woman at the church found her some program for work and school and aria was able to do it all on her own. Or even go back to see the Johnson’s? Or find Lucy, her mother. The last 100 pages definitely fell flat and was more of a struggle.
I have been excited to read Teal Swans’ book since I have been following her on Facebook for some time and find her perspective very interesting. Her ability to understand people did not disappoint in this book. Hope she writes more!
I could have done with a different ending. Perhaps if the woman at the church found her some program for work and school and aria was able to do it all on her own. Or even go back to see the Johnson’s? Or find Lucy, her mother. The last 100 pages definitely fell flat and was more of a struggle.
I have been excited to read Teal Swans’ book since I have been following her on Facebook for some time and find her perspective very interesting. Her ability to understand people did not disappoint in this book. Hope she writes more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2020
Trigger warning for sexual assault and trauma
***I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.***
Aria is a 17 year old foster child who has had a hard life. Aria was separated from her mom who had a drug addiction and struggled with domestic abuse. Aria lived in a group home until a family decided to foster her until they could adopt her. The family appears to be a happy normal family and later adopts two other children. The book covers Aria's struggles of living with her foster family including being raped and molested by her foster father. Aria decides it is best for her to leave home and live on the streets. Aria first struggles with finding food and caring for the family cat who she took with her on the run. Aria ends up returning the cat home to her foster family without being caught.
Later in the story Aria meets and becomes friends with a gay teen named Taylor. Taylor offers Aria the opportunity to travel with him to LA. Once in LA Taylor and Aria meet many individual who they begin staying with in an empty lot. It is interesting to hear the stories of the many homeless individuals they meet along the way. One day while visiting a church who gives homeless food Aria wonders into an Indian store. The Indian man instantly feels a connection to Aria and after her second time coming to the store he follows her.
As a Human Service major and assistant teacher who has dealt with teens Aria age this book speaks volumes about the foster care system. Many times the foster families are far more dangerous then the biological families. I enjoyed the story of Aria's experiences through foster care and homelessness I even enjoyed the story of two young adults falling in love. The only problem is that these stories do not mesh. This book needed to be one or the other and then it would have been perfect.
3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
The author literally stole the title of this book from an alt-J song from 2014. Look it up, alt-J has a song from 2014 titled "Hunger Of The Pine". They even have a music video for it too, it's the first thing that pops up when you Google "hunger of the pine". I saw a video of her talking about how she named this book and nowhere in that video did she credit the band for the title of their song or at the very least said she got inspiration from the band. The author even has this song in one of her Spotify playlists and it clearly says she added it in September of 2019 which was a little over a full year before the book was published in October of 2020. She could have easily changed the title or credited the band. It's not a big deal to take inspiration from others but to literally steal something and then claim you came up with it completely on your own is really shady. Artists shouldn't steal from other artists, it's not very sportsmanlike. While the book does have some interesting parts in it, I can't say that I like it knowing the author is a serial plagiarist (she apparently has done this a lot from just another quick Google search).
April 3, 2021
I am familiar with Teal Swan's nonfiction work and YouTube channel, and have benefitted from it personally. I am more of a nonfiction reader than fiction, but found this work to be a sensitive, character-driven story that touched my heart so much, I found myself thinking of it between the times I was reading it. I really cared about the characters and their complex emotional lives, I cried at the bleakness of the beginning of the book, and loved the eventual gorgeous love story. Also love how Americans from non white backgrounds feature as major characters and the book deals with race and culture issues without making the book about that.
Also, btw the woman who delivers the audiobook is So Good! Highly recommended to listen on audiobook if that is your thing. The characters she voices are each unique, and she is a good singer! :)
Bravo, Teal Swan, look forward to reading more stories from you!!
Also, btw the woman who delivers the audiobook is So Good! Highly recommended to listen on audiobook if that is your thing. The characters she voices are each unique, and she is a good singer! :)
Bravo, Teal Swan, look forward to reading more stories from you!!
November 3, 2020
I received this free book for honest review.
5 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
What a beautiful wonderful amazing read.
This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beatting so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
5 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
What a beautiful wonderful amazing read.
This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beatting so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
August 28, 2022
A melancholy, meditative book that depicts life's ironies and vicissitudes with subtle frankness and tremendous insight. It delves into the themes of poverty, drug addiction, domestic abuse, racial violence, and homelessness and explores the significance of home, belonging, and the need for dignity for the wretched and the dispossessed. I adored this book for its graceful tone and its memorable characters, whose cultural backgrounds are balanced well with their individual selves, preventing them from being reduced to token characters or bland and unconvincing stereotypes. It is satisfactory in every conceivable aspect and deserves the highest rating. It is a heartbreaking yet uplifting and will appeal to mature readers who enjoy heart-warming stories with a dash of found family and romance interspersed with insightful and thought-provoking social commentary.
January 15, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I love how real it is, how empathetic towards all characters, and also very interesting. It definitely made me feel compassion towards the homeless.
That being said, the love story didn't feel realistic, and at times I had trouble connecting with the main character. There was also a lot of "telling", instead of "showing", which made the book feel more like self-help or a psychology book than a novel, at times. But actually in some places, there was really beautiful descriptive, poetic and emotional writing too!
I have always thought that the best part of Teal's website is her blog and I hope she'll write more novels!
I thought this book was very good for a sensitive person to read, because instead of shocking twists that make you recoil, there was just this sad and tragic undertone to everything. I really appreciate the absence of "shock value".
That being said, the love story didn't feel realistic, and at times I had trouble connecting with the main character. There was also a lot of "telling", instead of "showing", which made the book feel more like self-help or a psychology book than a novel, at times. But actually in some places, there was really beautiful descriptive, poetic and emotional writing too!
I have always thought that the best part of Teal's website is her blog and I hope she'll write more novels!
I thought this book was very good for a sensitive person to read, because instead of shocking twists that make you recoil, there was just this sad and tragic undertone to everything. I really appreciate the absence of "shock value".
November 13, 2020
The first novel of Teal Swan. Omg, how I was looking forward to this! It is written so beautifully, you'll be surprised how it will change your view on people and the world. It will make you feel super close to every character. You will feel the broad spectrum of emotions that comes with it. And you'll start to understand A LOT. Honestly, this book has the capacity to gain (self-)awareness in a big way. We really need to look at the world differently and Teal Swan provides these different perspectives. You'll love it!
January 3, 2021
I won this book on Goodreads.
As I was reading this book, I knew it had an authentic voice and was an unflinching look at abuse and homelessness. The story focuses on a 16 year old girl, Aria, and how she tries to make her way in a world full of known, and unexpected, dangers. This story feels so real that after finishing the story, I read about the author. Her childhood trauma is obviously the basis of this story. This book is a powerful read - and sometimes a very hard one. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
As I was reading this book, I knew it had an authentic voice and was an unflinching look at abuse and homelessness. The story focuses on a 16 year old girl, Aria, and how she tries to make her way in a world full of known, and unexpected, dangers. This story feels so real that after finishing the story, I read about the author. Her childhood trauma is obviously the basis of this story. This book is a powerful read - and sometimes a very hard one. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
March 19, 2021
Thank you to Teal Swan and Watkins Publishing for a copy of Hunger of the Pine. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
I liked the main character, Aria, from the beginning. I felt sorry for her throughout the whole book, as well as sympathizing with many of the characters. I liked seeing her grow throughout the book and in the story and liked the ending.
I also really liked Taylor and loved his ending - I thought it fit the character perfectly.
It's a story that has so many feelings in it - from sadness to anger to fear to joy.
I also loved the colors used on the cover.
I liked the main character, Aria, from the beginning. I felt sorry for her throughout the whole book, as well as sympathizing with many of the characters. I liked seeing her grow throughout the book and in the story and liked the ending.
I also really liked Taylor and loved his ending - I thought it fit the character perfectly.
It's a story that has so many feelings in it - from sadness to anger to fear to joy.
I also loved the colors used on the cover.
February 13, 2021
An intelligent and compassionate debut novel, and the knowledge and care the author has for homelessness and the human condition is undeniable. I think it would make an excellent movie as the high drama and caricatures of the story lend itself well to the world of film. However, I felt at times it was written in a cliched way especially towards the end - but perhaps this was necessary in order to be so informative and educational. It is a very gripping story and I definitely couldn’t put it down!
January 7, 2022
This took me longer to read than most books because I wanted to give it my full attention and try to understand the characters. It felt like I was reading about a real girl (Aria) and her search for belonging in a world with failed systems. I have a deeper understanding for why some people end up homeless.
I was not expecting to fall inlove with Omkar ❤️ he is the perfect example of masculinity
I was not expecting to fall inlove with Omkar ❤️ he is the perfect example of masculinity
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2020
This powerful new fiction novel about youth homelessness follows Aria Abbott who has drifted through the foster care system most of her life until one day she runs away after putting up with abuse from her foster dad for far too long. This is a heartbreaking and real novel about why so many people, especially youth end up living on the streets.
October 21, 2020
This book is a masterpiece novel that will draw you in right away. The level of intimacy that you develop with each character will take you on an emotional journey. I loved every moment of reading it on each page. I couldn’t put this book down for one second. It’s a must-read, and it will be my go-to Christmas gift for 2020.
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