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Hungers
Hungers reads like an irresistible cluster of want ads, the bemused wanters themselves not entirely sure what they're wanting. Vancouver writer Genni Gunn's collection of stories, her second, is also a dogged pursuit of that treacherousprefix 're.' Gunn sends her characters chasing after reunion, revision, regreat and fumbled gestures at reconciliation. Spurred by enticing premises, these stories twang with the sadness of tawdry lives, yet they are not sad stories. You feel for Gunn's people and can't help but find admirable their ability to bounce, even in questionable directions.
The pieces in Hungers run the gamut from snappy, almost surreal interludes on fear and love to the brilliant title story, which perhaps would have been better served published as a novella, unencumbered by its sister hits . . . Gunn, a musician, translator and poet, and author of two previous novels, including last year's much praised Tracing Iris, brings her full bag of tricks to bear on each story, with varied results.
... Gunn's wonderfully quirky and rigorous imagination, her unquenchable curiosity, her poet-passion for the plasticity of language, her knack for twinning grit and intelligence, are alive and kicking in Hungers.
--- The Globe & Mail
The pieces in Hungers run the gamut from snappy, almost surreal interludes on fear and love to the brilliant title story, which perhaps would have been better served published as a novella, unencumbered by its sister hits . . . Gunn, a musician, translator and poet, and author of two previous novels, including last year's much praised Tracing Iris, brings her full bag of tricks to bear on each story, with varied results.
... Gunn's wonderfully quirky and rigorous imagination, her unquenchable curiosity, her poet-passion for the plasticity of language, her knack for twinning grit and intelligence, are alive and kicking in Hungers.
--- The Globe & Mail
- GenresShort Stories
235 pages
First published January 1, 2002
13 people want to read
About the author
Genni Gunn
20 books20 followersAuthor of six works of fiction (3 novels and 3 short story collections), 1 book of creative nonfiction, 2 books of poetry, 3 collections of poetry translated from Italian, and an opera libretto -- the opera (music by John Oliver) was produced by Chants Libres in Montreal, 2007.
Her work has been translated into Italian, Dutch and Chinese. Her novel Tracing Iris was made into a film The Riverbank. Her last novel, Solitaria was longlisted for the Giller prize and published in Dutch and Italian. Her newest book, Permanent Tourists a collection of short stories, came out in October 2020.
Her work has been translated into Italian, Dutch and Chinese. Her novel Tracing Iris was made into a film The Riverbank. Her last novel, Solitaria was longlisted for the Giller prize and published in Dutch and Italian. Her newest book, Permanent Tourists a collection of short stories, came out in October 2020.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 2, 2015
A decent set of literary short stories, Models being the standout story by far. To me they had a very feminine feel. Most of the stories have a haunting air to them and will linger in your mind. Gunn puts her characters' relationships under the microscope and she does a good job of introducing a wide range of characters with a wide range of their afflictions to each story.
Displaying 1 of 1 review