Because we all have a hunger we can't fully silence inside ourselves.
Song Vibe Check:
"Leeches" By: Melanie Martinez
"Cannibal" By: Kesha
"Animal" By: PVRIS
Does it ever happen when you find a curious cover at the library and you open the flap of the book, see some remotely interesting things in the summary and you read it because... why not?
Well, The Glutton is one of those reads and it turns out that I may need to do more of this picking up of library books with interesting covers if even to get surprised by what falls into my hands. I will warn that this book is not for the faint-hearted, and not for those that may get queasy by the grotesque and the grittiness (as well as Cannibalism because that's a factor in this book) also, if you're not a historical fiction person, you may have to pass unless you want to be shocked like I did in thinking this was purely fiction and then realize that there was indeed, a Glutton in 17th/18th century France.
Now, all trigger warnings aside, here we go.
Short Summary: A nun sits down to watch over a cannibal on his deathbed as he seeks for one last story to satiate his never-ending hunger as it turns out that perhaps the legend is not just a legend... but real life.
I finished this book and was completely shocked. Speechless. Surprised and saddened and disturbed, but also intrigued by what I had just read. This book will take you through all the sensory motions out there. It will stir your curiosity, it will surprise and disgust you, it will make you feel anger and sadness and pity and yes, even make you question your own beliefs about what it means to belong and what exactly we do with the hunger that runs inside all of us (not just the literal, but the metaphorical hunger) as well as what lengths are we willing to go to for that sense of belonging.
Reading and following Tarare's journey as he goes from boy to circus act to eventually, a monster and a cannibal shows the tragic story of a boy who wants to belong and who will do anything to get there. The never-ending hunger, while something literal a lot of times also felt largely metaphorical in the sense of wanting love and the craving of living a fulfilling life for someone who got treated as a freak for most of his life. It was sad to see his life end and while I forever believe that Laudanum was the cause of death, I also think it's just one of those books that while it weirds you out, it also makes you think about the world and how this culture is so obsessed with consumerism and just the general act of consuming.
From music, to books, to films and food and buying things and even the living of our own lives and our goals and ambitions, The Glutton sets out to make us question the hunger that lives inside us, what we choose to do with that hunger and whether we will starve ourselves to be complacent in society or to let our hunger and ambition run amok to stand out from society. This book vaguely reminded me of the Interview with a Vampire as in some ways, it has a similar plot of a story being told in a somewhat interview-like fashion. While The Glutton is more like "Hear me out this is my story.." it is definitely a riveting read and one that left me with plenty of things to think about, so if anyone else reads this one, you all know where to find me.
Overall: 5/5 stars