The Hunger
Ratings38
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings38
Average rating3.6
"Deeply, deeply disturbing, hard to put down, not recommended reading after dark." - Stephen KingAfter having travelled west for weeks, the party of pioneers comes to a crossroads. It is time for their leader, George Donner, to make a choice. They face two diverging paths which lead to the same destination. One is well-documented - the other untested, but rumoured to be shorter.Donner?s decision will shape the lives of everyone travelling with him. The searing heat of the desert gives way to biting winds and a bitter cold that freezes the cattle where they stand. Driven to the brink of madness, the ill-fated group struggles to survive and minor disagreements turn into violent confrontations. Then the children begin to disappear. As the survivors turn against each other, a few begin to realise that the threat they face reaches beyond the fury of the natural elements, to something more primal and far more deadly.Based on the true story of The Donner Party, The Hungeris an eerie, shiver-inducing exploration of human nature, pushed to its breaking point.
Reviews with the most likes.
Wow. What a page turner. I'd read this again even if it were 2000 pages long.
Well written, an interesting take on a historical event. It was a little slow in
some places, and there are some POVs I probably could have done without . I also found the end a bit abrupt, especially for such a slow burn book. Over all a pretty good book though and the characters I did like were enjoyable to read. I think anyone who loves horror and historical retellings would greatly enjoy it.
I really appreciate horror that has a grounding in reality. The psychological element is key for me. The Hunger ticks all these boxes, being firmly based on a real story. The Donner Party is very much part of the American mythos, but is a bit less known elsewhere. The story of a group of pioneers who had a disastrous attempt to cross to California in the early years of westward expansion in the US. The reality of what happened to the is truly horrific - the rumours of cannibalism in order to survive and the shear number of them who died on the trip. Katsu adds an intriguing hint of supernatural - some mysterious tribe influenced by a spirit that drives people to acts of extreme violence. The reality of how real this supernatural thing is is left entirely up to the reader - and I love that type of ambiguity.
This was a brutal read, fitting for such a brutal event. Thoroughly enjoyed!
