Scan barcode
meyrathedreamer's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this book.
It is obvious from the title, that it is about cannibalism. (It is a mere coincidence for me to read this in the midst of my Hannibal hyperfixation) From time to time, it read like a textbook because there was so much cannibalism information in it from real-life events to stories to paintings, and I had to stop reading to check out the things more often than not. And I knew where this was going, obviously, but still, it left me with my mouth open, staring into the last line of the story because holy fuck. Congratulations to the author and the narrator because they certainly did a great job at pulling me out of Istanbul's crowdedness and traffic.
It is obvious from the title, that it is about cannibalism. (It is a mere coincidence for me to read this in the midst of my Hannibal hyperfixation) From time to time, it read like a textbook because there was so much cannibalism information in it from real-life events to stories to paintings, and I had to stop reading to check out the things more often than not. And I knew where this was going, obviously, but still, it left me with my mouth open, staring into the last line of the story because holy fuck. Congratulations to the author and the narrator because they certainly did a great job at pulling me out of Istanbul's crowdedness and traffic.
cluckingbell's review against another edition
3.0
This is like sitting next to someone on a long flight. At first you chat a little and she seems interesting, so you don’t mind when she starts talking about her life. And as she gets comfortable with you, she begins opening up more and more, until she seems to be censoring herself less and starts saying some slightly strange stuff, but she says it so off-hand or matter-of-fact that you think you must have misheard or misunderstood. But by the time the plane is beginning its descent, you’ve begun to suspect that everything you thought was a strange metaphor she meant literally, and so you just keep smiling and nodding as though you are totally cool with everything she’s said, and checking to make sure that all your personal identification is accounted for because you don’t want this woman knowing your full name, much less your address, and you sure as hell aren’t planning to share a cab with her when you land, and in fact you’re thinking of having your own cab perform some evasive maneuvers just in case she tries to follow you in hers. And later, when you get home, you install an alarm system and floodlights around your house and get several large dogs and/or handguns.
And yet, when all is said and done, you still kind of like that woman on the plane. She’s really not so different from other people. Wait, seriously? If she’s just like everyone else, does that mean everyone else is like her? So you think on that for a while and then install a razor-wire perimeter fence.
In other words, this book was interesting, a little creepy, and generally a kick in the pants.
And yet, when all is said and done, you still kind of like that woman on the plane. She’s really not so different from other people. Wait, seriously? If she’s just like everyone else, does that mean everyone else is like her? So you think on that for a while and then install a razor-wire perimeter fence.
In other words, this book was interesting, a little creepy, and generally a kick in the pants.
heathernj9's review against another edition
4.0
I like reading something creepy around Halloween and a literary friend recommended it. It was clear to me from the beginning what was going on so the story to me was really more about why. Great use of the unreliable narrator and literary works/art. It's also, for being the subject matter, not a gory read at all due to the way the narrator talks about the deaths (which I won't reveal to avoid spoilers).
trash_reader_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
1.0
For a book following a cannibalism-obsessed woman, this was one of the most boring books I've ever read.
umemmayes's review against another edition
3.0
"Were we not all cannibals dispensing with the defenseless, concerned only with our own survival?"
(Mild spoilers ahead)
A Carnivore's Inquiry follows Katherine, a woman obsessed with cannibalism, as she travels around the country. This book is packed with disturbing, interesting themes and implications; humans' capacity for violence and cruelty, the desperation that comes with survival, achieving freedom. The main narrative is threaded with famous stories of cannibalism and art depicting it, often spending large amounts of time exploring the history of these events.
My feelings on this book are...mixed. I certainly read it quickly and was interested throughout; however, the ending left me disappointed. Sabina Murray is a very confident writer who leaves a lot up to the imagination. She doesn't doubt her readers' intelligence, which is nice, but I wanted a little more closure in the resolution. The final pages of the novel leaves a lot to wonder about Katherine's motivations, her mother, her victims. I was left feeling unsatisfied, especially with everything the book was setting up.
Although Katherine (and the other characters) are not particularly likable, it did not inhibit my reading. Katherine is a highly flawed, unreliable narrator type protagonist, which may be hard for some people to get around. The supporting cast is unnoteworthy. Most of them just float around Katherine and don't act to challenge her in any way. This makes much of the conflict unbelievable, every time she is unable to get away with something, someone else takes the fall for her.
A Carnivore's Inquiry was an incredibly quick read for me, but if you are not interested in the aforementioned cannibalism stories, the narrative can drag a bit. Though the "twist" (if you can even call it that), is predictable, much of the narrative is engaging all the same. This book is unsettling and creepy but does not employ gore or explicit violence. While it did not impact me in a particularly notable way, I enjoyed this book.
(Mild spoilers ahead)
A Carnivore's Inquiry follows Katherine, a woman obsessed with cannibalism, as she travels around the country. This book is packed with disturbing, interesting themes and implications; humans' capacity for violence and cruelty, the desperation that comes with survival, achieving freedom. The main narrative is threaded with famous stories of cannibalism and art depicting it, often spending large amounts of time exploring the history of these events.
My feelings on this book are...mixed. I certainly read it quickly and was interested throughout; however, the ending left me disappointed. Sabina Murray is a very confident writer who leaves a lot up to the imagination. She doesn't doubt her readers' intelligence, which is nice, but I wanted a little more closure in the resolution. The final pages of the novel leaves a lot to wonder about Katherine's motivations, her mother, her victims. I was left feeling unsatisfied, especially with everything the book was setting up.
Although Katherine (and the other characters) are not particularly likable, it did not inhibit my reading. Katherine is a highly flawed, unreliable narrator type protagonist, which may be hard for some people to get around. The supporting cast is unnoteworthy. Most of them just float around Katherine and don't act to challenge her in any way. This makes much of the conflict unbelievable, every time she is unable to get away with something, someone else takes the fall for her.
A Carnivore's Inquiry was an incredibly quick read for me, but if you are not interested in the aforementioned cannibalism stories, the narrative can drag a bit. Though the "twist" (if you can even call it that), is predictable, much of the narrative is engaging all the same. This book is unsettling and creepy but does not employ gore or explicit violence. While it did not impact me in a particularly notable way, I enjoyed this book.
lazydream's review against another edition
4.0
I guess I am not twisted enough to give this book 5 stars. Twisted is the word. Yup. Last few pages of the book, my heartbeat was kind of low and loud, and I was afraid of the dark. I needed light. I am not a person who is easily scared but this books was scary in a unpredictable kinky kind of way.
The character is extremely interesting to anyone who meets her for the first time. Interesting point of views, frank and doom. She probably was pretty too and young. Oh, didn’t expect to like this book. Didn’t even think I will finish this one. I kept to it because of another interesting review. And it was worth it. I am glad I didn’t give up. This is one of those books That made super impression on me in a not very nice way. Still, I like it. Poor sods.
The character is extremely interesting to anyone who meets her for the first time. Interesting point of views, frank and doom. She probably was pretty too and young. Oh, didn’t expect to like this book. Didn’t even think I will finish this one. I kept to it because of another interesting review. And it was worth it. I am glad I didn’t give up. This is one of those books That made super impression on me in a not very nice way. Still, I like it. Poor sods.
venom's review against another edition
2.0
Gave up halfway through. The writing isn't bad itself but (personally) I just couldn't like the narrator no matter what. I get that to a certain point that's intentional and Katherine isn't meant to be a good person, but her superiority complex and the constant references to cannibalism in history just felt tiring and repetitive to me after a while.
It also came across as kind of strange how quickly Katherine was to trust random men she met in trains/bars/whatever but I guess it makes sense with her character so *shrug*.
Overall it didn't really feel like anything that interesting happened in the first half of the book. I realize the second half probably has more going on but Katherine unfortunately didn't reel me in enough for me to keep reading.
It also came across as kind of strange how quickly Katherine was to trust random men she met in trains/bars/whatever but I guess it makes sense with her character so *shrug*.
Overall it didn't really feel like anything that interesting happened in the first half of the book. I realize the second half probably has more going on but Katherine unfortunately didn't reel me in enough for me to keep reading.
typewrighter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75