Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body in Our Shared Shelf

Dec 31, 2017 Alexa Hamilton rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, audio, adult

I really love the opportunity to listen to an author reading their work. Roxane Gay does a lovely job, her reading is clear and the emotion is there, but not overwhelming. Even though the subject matter of this book is emotional, Gay writes with a clear head, though the repetitiveness of how she tells pieces of her story is meditative and emotional, without leaning on anything besides a clear retelling and potentially some anger which is well-deserved.

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Feb 01, 2018 Natalie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, plch, 2018

This book was a lot more accessible than I thought it would be. Frank discussion of mental health as it pertains to YOUR HUMAN BODY is virtually non-existent, so this book feels powerful in its honesty and vulnerability. Parts made me sad, made me laugh, made me cringe, made me jealous, but mostly just made me nod or shake my head in deep commiseration and think.... yeah, me too.

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Mar 20, 2019 Alien rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really like the short and simple sentences - and the short, simple, but bold and extremely deep chapters. It's like her speaking to me directly. I immensely enjoyed the book and I wish to have as much wisdom as Roxane Gay. More importantly, I wish I can and will arrive at the same peaceful relationship with my own body. ...more

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Oct 18, 2017 Alicia rated it liked it

This book troubled me. I really like Roxane Gay as a writer and a personality, so I stuck with this book even though I don’t think it was speaking to me. There are some powerful and eye-opening parts that describe what it's like existing in the world in a large body. But two major issues with this book bothered me throughout: One, it's hard for Gay to make a point about treating large people differently when she doesn't actually seem to know how she wants to be treated. She complains about being ...more

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Sep 10, 2017 Denise Cormaney rated it it was amazing

This book broke my heart. The chapters about how our culture deals with obese people, particularly obese women, were smart social commentary. Even women who aren't obese aren't immune: every culture around the globe is invested in controlling women's bodies in some way. There are obvious examples (think burkas and honor killings), but there's also the strict rules in the West about what is acceptable. A billion-dollar diet industry exists because virtually every woman has been taught to hate her ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Miss Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbtqia, poc-author, memoir

roxane gay is incredibly brave. i don't think i could ever bear to be as honest as she is in this book. it is a painful and piercing work of art and i hope she enjoys peace and kindness in all her future endeavors

4 stars ...more

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