Customer Reviews

Hunger: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you read the first story then the conclusion will keep you engaged. It's very well written. You should read both books; A Love Noire first to appreciate Hunger.

Erica Simone Turnipseed proves the sophomore flop did not befall her. Her acclaimed debut, A Love Noire, three years ago is complimented by her admirable follow-up, Hunger:A Novel, a heartfelt story with many of the same elements of global sensibilities, the Black Diaspora, a cosmopolitan flair and intriguing writing. Many of the same characters return and others enter to make this a satisfying novel.

So why rehash characters that you may have thought settled things in the first novel? That is the question I asked myself when I heard there was a "sequel." Rewind back to the year 2001 and the month of September and all the emotions and angst that brings upon all of us; more so to those who lived in New York City at the time. Noire and Innocent run into each other one year before 9/11 at JFK Airport; she on her way to Haiti for a fellowship appointment and he, with his mother, on their way to France. When they see each other again, it is at the funeral service for a mutual friend; a victim of the attack on the Twin Towers. In that year's time, Noire has been involved with Peter, a journalist from Port-au-Prince and Innocent has visited his home, Cote d'Ivore in Africa where he has a fling with Chi Chi. Both Noire and Innocent are floundering, with scattered emotions and feelings of being on hold; in suspense, so when they reunite it is a superficial coupling, riding on emotions brought by the 9/11 tragedy. Then news Innocent receives from home is life-altering and everything comes to a head.

Has everyone gone crazy as a result of 9/11? That is how it appears to Noire. Her parents have made a declaration that throws Noire into a tailspin. She questions her being a true friend when she feels awkward consoling a widow of the tragedy. When her mentor is killed in a plane crash, she feels her life has spun out of control. Meanwhile Innocent is trying to cope with his new status, struggling with what it means to be a man in his father's eyes and begins to question the meaning of home. Suddenly no one is immune, not from their innermost emotions, not from the constant suspicions at airports, not even from death. A world tragedy resonates inward as people try to come to grips with the frailty of splintered lives. On opposite ends of the world, Noire and Innocent are better able to analyze their respective situations.

This novel dealt more so with the internal effects of the couple, their families and loved ones. The cast of supporting characters both complimented and enhanced the story as we got a peek into their lives and their interactions with the protagonists. This is a must-read for those who have read ALN. I use "sequel" sparingly as the author informed APOOO BookClub that the publishers' phrase is "series". I think Noire and Innocent's story is finally finished and was done in a grand fashion.

Dera R. Williams
APOOOO BookClub
www.apooo.org

Just as she did in "A Love Noire," Erica Simone Turnipseed has written a novel that is smart, entertaining, and thought-provoking. However, Turnipseed has upped the ante with "Hunger," showing remarkable growth as a writer in the three years since her debut. This growth is reflected in the development of the characters and the growth that they experience in their own lives (though not always willingly) as they grapple with major life issues, including the personal and global impact of 9/11. This time, the stakes are higher for everyone and Ms. Turnipseed deftly shows that she is up to the challenge.

Also, a note to the fellas: Do not deprive yourself by assuming that this book is not for you. One of the things I most appreciate about "A Love Noire" and "Hunger" is that, unlike many other books, the men are fully developed characters - not caricatures - whose perspectives are given equal weight, care and respect. Take it from me, every guy should buy a copy and read it with his significant other (or someone you want to be significant). Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

I'm looking forward to Erica Simone Turnipseed's next book, as I have a feeling the best is yet to come!

The author's first book was so captivating. I could relate to the characters; it felt like a life that I could have been living--(not all of us black folk are living the thugged out life). I'd waited so long for a follow up novel from this author, but I felt so frustrated while I read this story. This book fell flat somehow. I couldn't muster any empathy for Noire, Innocent or any of the other characters. I hope she will be able to weave a more engaging story in her next effort.

SELF. THIS IS A FABOULOUS BOOK. An exercise is self-reflection and reminder that "RIGHT" doesn't always come in the package that we expect it.

I read A Love Noire probably two years ago and at the time the author told me she was writing a sequel. It was worth the wait. If you haven't met Noire Demain, translation, BLACK TOMORROW, it's OK. You'll love her when you do. This book is a delightful course in AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, SOCIOLOGY, THEOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, ECONOMICS, ANTHROPOLOGY, WORLD HISTORY AND CULTURAL STUDIES. You meet all of them in some way through the course of the book and its delightful characters. It's a smart novel, that any woman will appreciate who has had to grappel with the question of LOVE, SECURITY, INDEPENDENCE, SUCCESS, AMBITION, FRIENDSHIP, LOSS and FUTURE. Any brother will appreciate it as well because guess what Innocent Pokou has to deal with those same questions too. The author is masterful in how she explains the DIASPORA in a modern context through the lineage of the elders and the watchful eyes of their children as they pay attention. GREAT JOB ERICA! GO BUY THIS BOOK.

"Do not deny that you must buy". Run do not walk (metaphorically speaking, as you are online now) to purchase this book. Turnipseed's much anticipated follow up to her blockbuster debut novel, A Love Noire is just what the MD ordered. Passionate, resolute, and as attentive to accuracy in her research detail as she is to her characters continued development, Turnipseed has turned out another winner. Buy. This. Book. Now.

Against the backdrop of 9-11, this continuation of "A Love Noire" is a down-to-earth tale of love's challenges and of its survival in a world that teaches us not to trust love. I absolutely love this tale of Innocent and Noire--their real life love affair which may not be happily ever after together! For those of us who yearn for true love with our soul mate, this is a novel worth reading. For those of us who question our place or purpose in this insane world, this is a novel worth reading.

I give Hunger a 2.5. The reason is I simply did not like the book. However, I realized how much effort it takes to write a book. So sistah girl deserves encouragement and respect.

Noire and Innocent got on my last nerve again, especially Innocent. The story did not flow well from chapter to chapter. There were some sections that I thought could have been left out because it did not move the story along. There were some situations that I thought were just too silly to be believable.

However, the books did have some good points. My favorite part of the book was with Innocent deciding to go home and alluding to his double consciousness. Noire admitted to herself that is the same way she felt while in Haita. I could relate to that.

Also the truths about African women and the pressure their society puts on them to follow the script, I know a few women like that.

I just found myself skipping pages and being highly annoyed.

The thing is that I did not enjoy A LOVE NOIRE very much. I liked the story, but really did not enjoy the telling of it -- it felt rushed and forced. But I could not help but to like Noire, Innocent, Arike, etc. And I thought that Ms. Turnipseed had come up with a really good story, so I felt compelled to finish their tale.

And I really enjoyed HUNGER. I finished it in two days, reading obsessively. It was the opposite of A LOVE NOIRE -- not at all rushed, giving the characteres sufficient motivation and background, and less cliched writing and conversation. The only fault of this book -- it was too short. I could have used another 100 pages, watching them love in the new way that they had learned.

HUNGER, Erica Simone Turnipseed's follow-up to A Love Noire, explores the effects of terrorism, classism, and grief while expertly depicting the emotions of souls who hunger for love.

Noire and Innocent have broken the threshold of their thirties. Their careers and familial responsibilities have them reeling, but the aftermath of 9/11 reaches into their lives and shakes them up even more. Innocent is faced with a responsibility he never imagined, while Noire continues to try to find her purpose. Their hearts, once again, cross paths, but are the barriers that prevented them from flourishing together still too high to surmount?

Erica Simone Turnipseed is a writer whose characters bear their innermost selves, allowing the reader to actually feel the emotions they present. As a character-driven novel as opposed to a lightning-paced, plot-driven novel, HUNGER propelled me to look beneath the surface and delve into what matters most.

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers