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| Plot Summary of Hunger |
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Little, Brown, 2003, 16.95, 133 pp.
ISBN: 0316738956
In the 1930s and early 1940s biologist and geneticist Nikolai Vavilov traveled the world as a highly regarded scientist seeking rare plants. He worked out of an experimental Leningrad botanical "institute" when he wasn't searching the world for specimens. He cherished his wife, but enjoyed making love to other women too. In other words he enjoyed life.
In 1942, the Hitlerite Nazis surround the city leading to dramatic food shortages. Though starving and ailing, the scientists vow to protect their rare specimens of seed, grains, and tubers. While seemingly all adhere to the pact including Nikolai's wife Alena, he breaks the pledge. Nikolai nibbles at the specimens, which saves his life. Those who kept the pledge, including Alena, die. He wonders if cowardice saved his life or if he even should be classified a coward.
Readers will feel 1942 Stalingrad as the story line provides a powerful look at the impact of the siege as much as it furbishes depth to genetic botany. Nikolai is an interesting character when he admits he failed his peers. When he rationalizes his behavior, the novel loses some momentum towards fulfilling its basic theme of surviving at any cost. Still this is an intriguing historical biographical fiction.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Hunger |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 1930's-1950's
Internal struggle/realization?
Yes
Struggle over
- conduct in war
War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians
Yes
Conflict:
- War, general
- War, WW II
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- scientist
Age:
- 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Russian
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 4 ()
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Russia
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style:
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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