Published in the 1890's, this is about the abject poverty and desperation in he life of a young writer struggling to stay alive in the freezing streets of Oslo. Absolutely stunning and descriptive writing, and a hidden classic that should be held in much higher regard than it is! This one's a bit bigger at 232 pages, but well worth the extra time.

It is not a sad book, yet it is one of the sad ones I read in my life.
A book about a broken man: hunger here is secondary, although there is no doubt that from a physiological point of view, such extreme hunger as described in the book can lead to such madness. But it's mainly a book about a broken man, and about childhood dreams that slowly die with him.
Hunger? Hunger is just an excuse. Hunger is purifying. Hunger kills. ( )

What a rollercoaster! Reading this book took a lot out of me. Not because it's hard to read, but because the main character's (unnamed) constant changes in mood. He'll be riding on clouds at first, then he's acting as if he's the scourge of the earth. You really get caught up in it, and that all points back to the author's ability. The ending was a little abiguous to me, though. I don't like leaving my characters to an uncertain future. ( )

He was just hungry for 120 pages. ( )

Desperate, grim and powerful. ( )