Memoirs are very touch and go with me, because if I feel that the author is not being truthful, that can turn me off and make me hate the book. Roxane Gay is a highly successful author and professor at a university in Indiana, but in Hunger, she talks about her childhood, her past and how it formed her into the woman she is today, and I was just awed by the sheer degree of honesty. One of my favorite books of 2017, hands down! Gay lays herself bare for the reader, all of her scars and wants and hopes and regrets, welcoming you into her mind. I read this book and came away with a feeling of inspiration and hope I feel like everyone should read this moving, wonderful memoir.
What I discovered is a deeply honest, painful, and poignant memoir that highlighted the pain of severe trauma, the deep love of family, both blood and not, and resilience of every kind. I've read short fiction and articles by her, and was so stoked to finally get my hands on her work, to gain some personal insight on one of my favorite authors of all time. Roxane Gay has become a household name in the arenas of both fiction and nonfiction, and when I heard that she had a new book coming out, a memoir about her body and her own personal experiences, I was really excited. I borrowed this book through my local library and reviewed it.