Sometimes a classic romance novel with a tragic edge to it is all you want to feel worse about your day, and that is where Ross Raisin’s A Hunger comes in.
The story follows the increasingly stressful life of Anita, a talented sous-chef working in a high-end restaurant in London, trying to balance her promising career against the duties of caring for her husband, Patrick, and his losing battle against dementia. Compound into this the fact that Patrick has asked her to be merciful with him, plus the allure of a growing bond between Anita and another man called Pater, which offers a ship to jump to.
What I think is most interesting about this story is the focus on being placed in a carer position, particularly caring for someone whose condition will only worsen with time, whether slowly or rapidly, until they forget almost all that they, you, or what your life together was. Readers feel inclined to pick a moral side for what Anita should do, long before they watch the story unfold, because there is neither a definitive right or wrong answer for what to do when isolated in the exhausting position of being a carer—Patrick will forget more and more, perhaps even die, yet there is the potential he won’t die… not to mention Anita’s emotions for him, expected dedication to him as a wife, and ability to remember him as the man he (unwillingly) no longer is.
It sounds like an intense and emotional read, which I am fascinated to dive into. Definitely worth looking into if you love seemingly miserable, divisive stories.
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