Evil is invisible, and it is everywhere.
Tamsen Donner must be a witch. That is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the wagon train known as the Donner Party. Depleted rations, bitter quarrels, and the mysterious death of a little boy have driven the pioneers to the brink of madness. They cannot escape the feeling that someone–or something–is stalking them. Whether it was a curse from the beautiful Tamsen, the choice to follow a disastrous experimental route West, or just plain bad luck–the 90 men, women, and children of the Donner Party are at the brink of one of the deadliest and most disastrous western adventures in American history.
While the ill-fated group struggles to survive in the treacherous mountain conditions–searing heat that turns the sand into bubbling stew; snows that freeze the oxen where they stand–evil begins to grow around them, and within them. As members of the party begin to disappear, they must ask themselves “What if there is something waiting in the mountains? Something disturbing and diseased…and very hungry?”
My favourite horror always has a distinctly psychological flavour. What can I say? I am drawn to fiction that disturbs, The Hunger by Alma Katsu is a perfect example.
Travelling across America during the 19th century was fraught with danger. Vast swathes of the country were unmapped, and moving from one coast to another was filled with risk. From day one, just about everything that could possibly go wrong with the Donner-Reed wagon train does go wrong. Mismanaged stores and a host of ill-considered decisions ensure that the journey is beset by problems. Internal squabbling within the various families frequently escalates into the politics of the group causing more issues. Everyone is looking for someone to blame for their own problems. Families and friends turn against one another and all manner of pent up frustrations and repressions are exposed.
As far as characterisation is concerned, this is an ensemble piece. The moments when Tamsen Donner takes centre stage are particularly effective. Reputation and rumour generating all manner of scandal around her before the worst has even begun. James Reed and George Donner come across as proud but ultimately flawed men. Elsewhere, I enjoyed the relationship between Mary Graves and Charles Stanton. The way they view one another continually evolves, and leads to some of the novel’s most poignant moments.
I think there is something genuinely disquieting about The Hunger. Fiction that manages that tricky task of being unsettling is always compelling. Gore is all well and good, but I much prefer watching ordinary people unravel when faced with extraordinary circumstances*. The wagon train functions like its own self-contained society and watching it implode is terrifying and fascinating in equal measure. The conditions the families are forced to endure just keep getting worse, but there is no turning around. The further the group tries to travel, the more oppressive and claustrophobic the atmosphere becomes.
When they are finally halted by the Winter weather the situation becomes even more dire. Katsu continues to heighten tension by introducing elements that may be supernatural in nature. Things take a sinister turn as people lose all sense of reason. Is there a disease running rife, infecting and changing the settlers, or is there some dark force consuming the group one by one? By this stage you know that events are going to end badly, but the narrative manages to delay the inevitable just that little bit longer. The distrust and animosity between the remaining families reaches new levels and eventually we reach that tipping point where civility finally goes out the window. Trapped, starving and increasingly paranoid, violence quickly becomes the order of the day. It’s impressive that even though you know it is coming, the blood-letting and cannibalism still manage to be shocking when they arrive.
In tandem with the growing horror, there is an ever-growing sense of sadness. People start to realise that their journey is doomed. Every choice has become futile and each character starts to succumb to their own despair. For them all, finding a new reason to go on is all they have left.
When I really enjoy a historical fiction novel, as in this case, I find I am keen to seek out more information about the story’s origins. From what I’ve read online about the ill-fated Donner-Reed expedition, Katsu’s novel takes key elements of the historical fact and weaves a new narrative around it. The blending of fact and fiction is seamless and makes for a truly original and compelling work. Part travelogue, part horror, the Hunger defies simple categorisation. The good news is no matter how you wish to define it, the novel succeeds in every respect. If you enjoy fiction with a chilling tone, then I suggest you look no further. The Hunger is first rate writing that captivates from page one.
Regular readers of The Eloquent Page will know I like to recommend music to enhance your reading enjoyment. A quick search on Spotify came up trumps when it came to finding something appropriate to accompany The Hunger. The subtle and evocative soundtrack to The Donner Party movie by Eimear Noone is an ideal fit with this book. Suspenseful and eerily mournful throughout it hits the same emotive notes as the book. Not a massive surprise I suppose, seeing as they are both based around the exact same subject matter.
The Hunger is published by Bantam Press and is available now.
*I’m not sure what this says about. I don’t think I want to find out.
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