Following the interesting, if not totally necessary, publishing trend of prequel, sequel, and mid-series novellas, The New Hunger is the 140-page prequel to the novel that takes a look at the newly-raised R, 12-year-old Julie, teenage Nora and others, six years before the events of Warm Bodies. It takes place not long after the whole thing fell apart – societal collapse and natural disasters have left people scrambling and corpses herding. We see this apocalyptic world from the perspective of the humans (and one tall man) who lived through its demise, and are trying to live to see its resurrection.
When I first heard about The New Hunger, I wanted to see R’s story: who he was before he lost himself. Well, don’t be disappointed like I was: we still don’t know more than R’s first initial, or why he died in his suit and tie, or even how. But we get all kinds of other good stuff.
A totally different tone.
Maybe it’s because it’s been almost two years since I read the novel. Maybe I’m just influenced by the more light-hearted tone of the movie. But this prequel feels like an altogether different genre. Borderline horror if I’m being honest. And I like it. There are some truly gruesome bits, and some shocking turns in the brief pages. Despite the characters being younger and less mature than they are in the novel, their pain seems more palpable. Heck, maybe that’s why.
A new point-of-view.
We’re introduced to Julie and Nora’s perspective in TNH, and I really enjoyed getting away from R for a bit. Marion does a great job of connecting the reader to these young girls with little strings of truth, bewilderment, strength and despair.
A double-edged sword.
Everyone I talk to about Warm Bodies wants to know more about how R became R. And while the opening scene still leaves room for plenty of mystery — knives and broken glass by the river? a gun in his hand? who is SHE? — it also creates that painful curiosity where you’re torn between wanting to know everything, and dying to go back to when you knew nothing.
A break-out star.
I would argue that Nora is the protagonist of this story. At 16, her parents have left her and her brother to fend for themselves. Died? No. Separated? Not really. Just done. And she has taken on the charge of keeping herself and her brother alive. Her story has the most narrative momentum: will they find food? Will they find others? Will she protect her brother’s innocence? I loved how real Nora felt. She doesn’t make perfect decisions. She’s not magically adept at finding her way in a post-apocalypse world with nothing but a backpack. I enjoyed learning more about the skeptical woman we meet in Warm Bodies.
A new hunger.
When I first read Warm Bodies I was satisfied with the ending. Satiated. But, the prequel raises questions that I’m suddenly REALLY in the mood to see answered. I need to know how some of these threads follow up. What becomes of Addis (Nora’s little brother)? Now that we’ve caught a glimpse of Julie’s mother (who’s completely awesome by the way) can we know more? Will the moments shared between a seemingly protective and cognizant M and a frightened but a bit cocky Nora come to play in their future?
I won’t get all literary criticism on you guys, but there are some poignant and sharp passages in The New Hunger that surprised me. It speaks to a lot of human conditions, and does so really beautifully.
“Nora knows better than most that nothing lasts forever. Life doesn’t, love doesn’t, hope doesn’t, so why would death, hate, or despair? Nothing is permanent. Not even the end of the world.”
Have you read or seen Warm Bodies? What do you think of the mid-series novella publishing trend?
