Oh dear

What disappointed you about Hunger?

The reader

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hunger?

The reader put me off so much that I really did not enjoy any of it

What didn’t you like about Rachael Louise Miller’s performance?

It was meant to be a scary book but I just couldn't take it seriously with the reader (sorry)

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Hunger?

I didn't even get the whole way through so I can't answer that

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The best opening but story sadly doesn't deliver

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Style is childish and plot is lacking. The plot does develop but in a very rambling way that gets tedious after a while.

What a fantastic opening! But unfortunately I became disappointed with the way that the story went on. I only finished it because I'd paid money for it. There's more than a touch of Twilight about it, with some monster top-trumps thrown in (does this one drink blood? Eat flesh? Can he be killed at all or does he also have to be buried with a brick in his mouth? Are we allowed to have sex if you're about to 'turn'?) I did like the character Alghol and the mythology around him, at least to start with. It went too far, less would have been more.

What could Melvin Burgess have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

While I was listening I guessed that this was an inexperienced young writer, writing for other teenagers. It turns out that Melvin Burgess isn't young himself but he does write for younger people. I'd have said that the book was written for an audience younger than teens if the characters hadn't constantly had sex on their minds.

There are thrilling moments but sometimes the battles get a little bit silly. (spending 20 minutes trying various woodworking tools to get through to the vampire's heart... really?)

Do teenagers want to hear a story told in the way that they speak? (I don't think so - when I was a teenager myself this is why I couldn't finish Catcher in the Rye. And unlike CITR, this chatty style isn't the voice of any particular one of the characters.)

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was perfect for the style. If the author's intention was a 'chatty teenager' style then the reader may have nailed it (I can't be sure, I don't spend time with teenagers). I mean that as a compliment to her, she did a great job. It was the author's style that made listening grate after a while.

What character would you cut from Hunger?

The vampire ex-librarian might have been unnecessary. If Alghol needed a sidekick after Beth learned how to shut him out, he had Ivan by then. I thought the group of 4 teenagers worked well when they were a group. Maybe they could have managed without Ivan - they didn't seem to care for him very much - his death seemed to bother them very little, even Beth, his love interest and murderer ("Oh, well. It wasn't me, I was possessed at the time").

Any additional comments?

I wish it had been made clear that this is aimed at a younger audience. It's enjoyable at times but doesn't live up to the initial promise.

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