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She's Always Hungry
A teenager longs for perfect skin. A scientist tends to fragile alien flora. A young man takes the night into his own hands. Each of these characters has a desperate desire. Can any of them be sated?
Unsettling, revelatory, and laced with her signature dark humour, Eliza Clark's debut short story collection plumbs the depths of that most basic human feeling: hunger.
Unsettling, revelatory, and laced with her signature dark humour, Eliza Clark's debut short story collection plumbs the depths of that most basic human feeling: hunger.
Paperback
First published November 12, 2024
About the author
Eliza Clark
4 books2,148 followersEliza Clark has relocated from her native Newcastle back to London, where she previously attended Chelsea College of Art. She works in social media marketing, recently having worked for women’s creative writing magazine Mslexia. In 2018, she received a grant from New Writing North’s ‘Young Writers’ Talent Fund’. Clark’s short horror fiction has been published with Tales to Terrify, with an upcoming novelette from Gehenna and Hinnom expected this year. She hosts podcast You Just Don’t Get It, Do You? with her partner, where they discuss film and television which squanders its potential. Boy Parts is her first novel. You can find her @FancyEliza on both Twitter and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
August 30, 2024
though not as explicitly dark as her two published novels, eliza clark's first short story collection she's always hungry contains the usual absurdity and grossness clark has become known for.
there’s a range of different oddities to sink your teeth into here: in ‘build a body like mine’, a woman welcomes a parasite into her body to lose weight. ‘the shadow over little chitaly’ is written in the form of google reviews about the bizarre orders people receive from a italian-chinese fusion takeaway. there’s a teenager buying an acne treatment from the dark web, and an immortal female cannibal who rules over a new planet. this collection also showcases clark leaning into the sci-fi genre, with some apocalyptic-themed, speculative fiction scattered throughout. many stories also benefit from the inclusion of internet culture and humour, which was partly what made her previous novel penance so chillingly realistic.
it’s an unsettling if not outright weird collection, but if you’re an eliza clark fan, that’s what you’re here for!
rating: 3.75
thank you faber books for the advanced copy!!
there’s a range of different oddities to sink your teeth into here: in ‘build a body like mine’, a woman welcomes a parasite into her body to lose weight. ‘the shadow over little chitaly’ is written in the form of google reviews about the bizarre orders people receive from a italian-chinese fusion takeaway. there’s a teenager buying an acne treatment from the dark web, and an immortal female cannibal who rules over a new planet. this collection also showcases clark leaning into the sci-fi genre, with some apocalyptic-themed, speculative fiction scattered throughout. many stories also benefit from the inclusion of internet culture and humour, which was partly what made her previous novel penance so chillingly realistic.
it’s an unsettling if not outright weird collection, but if you’re an eliza clark fan, that’s what you’re here for!
rating: 3.75
thank you faber books for the advanced copy!!
Want to read
May 12, 2024Willing to put my hatred for short stories aside for Eliza Clark <3
October 17, 2024
I LOVE Eliza Clark and as much as these stories carried her usual uniqueness mixed with grotesqueness and often times dark humour, I don't think this entirely worked for me.
Hunger as a focus point in any work of fiction or non fiction is one of my favourite things and I adored the way this collection explored and experimented with different scenarios. Unfortunately though, despite its short length I frequently found myself simultaneously wanting more and waiting for the stories to wrap up.
(also ~ don't read this whilst eating...)
Hunger as a focus point in any work of fiction or non fiction is one of my favourite things and I adored the way this collection explored and experimented with different scenarios. Unfortunately though, despite its short length I frequently found myself simultaneously wanting more and waiting for the stories to wrap up.
(also ~ don't read this whilst eating...)
Want to read
September 23, 2024relatable
September 13, 2024
I was given access to a sample from Eliza Clark's upcoming short story collection, a piece entitled "The Shadow over Little Chitaly' - I loved it. Clark's inventive narrative's structured as a series of reviews of the takeaway service provided by 'Little Chitaly' restaurant. It's a deceptively-simple concept but, as you might expect from Clark, it features a series of delicious twists - gradually shifting into the territory of the surreal and the absurd. I thought it was incredibly funny and incredibly clever. I'm desperate to read the rest of her stories.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Faber for an ARC
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Faber for an ARC
November 10, 2024
I deal in sickness. My methods are a balm for the diseased, the unsatisfied, the covetous.
This was a slightly uneven read for me but that's probably because Clark has more writerly interests than I do as a reader. The stories dealing with gender, violence and body/beauty issues were absolutely in my zone while the space opera-style tale took more effort, though the way it circles back to body horror made it, er, palatable - though, really, best avoid these tales near meal times!
There's a dark humour here that Clark fans will recognise in the off the wall 'The Shadow Over Little Chitaly' and a deeply sardonic approach to bodily pressures in 'Build a Body Like Mine' and 'Shake Well', both underpinned by a kind of absurdist logic pushed to extremes. I loved the melancholic 'Extinction Event' and the almost gleeful humour in 'The King'.
All of these stories are freakily imaginative with a vague connecting theme of hunger/desire and an attention to power in all its manifestations - perhaps not quite as polished yet as Ottessa Moshfegh but playing in the same cynical, mordant, disruptive space.
September 15, 2024
4.5 stars
This was an absolutely amazing collection. I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it as I'm really fussy with short story collections but this has blown me away and Clark is a truly incredible modern writer. The stories all have a slight eerie, horror vibe to them and explore contemporary issues such as body dysmorphia, assault, isolation, internet addiction and more. The only stories I didn't like as much were the science fiction ones as I felt like they didn't work as well as the rest of the stories and they lost me a bit with how the information was relayed, which is why I knocked half a star off. But the rest of the book was absolutely perfect and I absolutely loved it.
This was an absolutely amazing collection. I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it as I'm really fussy with short story collections but this has blown me away and Clark is a truly incredible modern writer. The stories all have a slight eerie, horror vibe to them and explore contemporary issues such as body dysmorphia, assault, isolation, internet addiction and more. The only stories I didn't like as much were the science fiction ones as I felt like they didn't work as well as the rest of the stories and they lost me a bit with how the information was relayed, which is why I knocked half a star off. But the rest of the book was absolutely perfect and I absolutely loved it.
September 27, 2024
ARC for review. To be published November 12, 2024.
Clark’s PENANCE was one of my favorite reads from last year so I was very much looking forward to this short story collection. She does not disappoint with these eleven dark, often witty tales. Whether it’s life with a beloved tapeworm, one roommate standing up for another or a mysterious delivery plan
Ce called Chitaly (this one might be my favorite) there’s a lot to like here.
Clark’s PENANCE was one of my favorite reads from last year so I was very much looking forward to this short story collection. She does not disappoint with these eleven dark, often witty tales. Whether it’s life with a beloved tapeworm, one roommate standing up for another or a mysterious delivery plan
Ce called Chitaly (this one might be my favorite) there’s a lot to like here.
November 15, 2024
08/08/24 The Shadow Over Little Chitaly: Eliza Clark's debut short story collection promises to "plumb the depths of that most basic human feeling: hunger", and I think it's kind of genius that the first and only story granted to us lucky few successful ARC applicants is this short and sweet little nugget, composed entirely of increasingly surreal online reviews for a Chinese-Italian fusion restaurant which may or may not exist, . It's not as overtly dark as either of Clark's previous novels - both of which I've loved - but its absurdism and its ambiguity hint at darker things to come.
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19/04/24 Reasons to live: New Eliza Clark, expected publication November 2024
02/08/24 Additional reason to live: Approved for an ARC of one of the short stories in this collection (review to come). Thank you Faber & Faber!!!
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19/04/24 Reasons to live: New Eliza Clark, expected publication November 2024
02/08/24 Additional reason to live: Approved for an ARC of one of the short stories in this collection (review to come). Thank you Faber & Faber!!!
September 27, 2024
I really liked this collection! It gave me a new appreciation for Eliza Clark’s skill. I actually enjoyed this more than her two full-length novels I’ve read. There’s a very wide variety here. Eco horror, very visceral body horror, and a story or two that weren’t even horror at all. I will say that a couple of them had abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying endings, but the pieces that worked for me were really good. I will probably revisit them again at some point!
The collection starts off strong with a super gross first story. Clark does not hold back when it comes to dark or heavy subject matter. Not everything in this book is creepy or disturbing, but those were definitely my favorites.
The title story was a tad difficult for me to follow at first but once I got into the swing of things with the prose and tone I found it very fun and strange and a standout among the rest. (Strong A24’s “The Lighthouse” vibes!)
One of the oddest short pieces I’ve read in a while was essentially just a collection of online customer reviews for a terrible food delivery service. There wasn’t much to this one, but I guess I did admire Clark’s willingness to write with so many typos and terrible grammar for the sake of realism.
I loved the sci-fi horror story “Hollow Bones.”Scary and uncomfortable body horror, unique characters, and great world building within a short time. I would read an entire novel in this genre by Clark.
She is also good at writing from perspectives vastly different from her own and creating believable and well realized characters in general.
Another piece I really liked was “Shake Well,” a very gross story about a teenage girl who can’t stop popping the acne on her face, and it only gets more disturbing from there. (That one was a tough read for me!)
There’s a kind of ridiculous but entertaining story that I’m convinced had to be at least partly inspired by the Fallout franchise, called “The King.” (But also, take that statement with a grain of salt because everything reminds me of my favorite games.) In this one, Clark’s dark humor really shines.
But it’s not all fun and scares, as one story called “Company Man” is both devastating and bleak.
There’s a handy content guide at the end of the book that goes over any trigger warnings you may need to know about, but I’ll also mention a few here in my review. Please note that I read an early copy and the story titles could be subject to change.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
TW: Disordered Eating, Mention of Chronic Illness, Sexual Assault, Mention of Self-harm, Body Shaming, Child Death, Drug Use
The collection starts off strong with a super gross first story. Clark does not hold back when it comes to dark or heavy subject matter. Not everything in this book is creepy or disturbing, but those were definitely my favorites.
The title story was a tad difficult for me to follow at first but once I got into the swing of things with the prose and tone I found it very fun and strange and a standout among the rest. (Strong A24’s “The Lighthouse” vibes!)
One of the oddest short pieces I’ve read in a while was essentially just a collection of online customer reviews for a terrible food delivery service. There wasn’t much to this one, but I guess I did admire Clark’s willingness to write with so many typos and terrible grammar for the sake of realism.
I loved the sci-fi horror story “Hollow Bones.”Scary and uncomfortable body horror, unique characters, and great world building within a short time. I would read an entire novel in this genre by Clark.
She is also good at writing from perspectives vastly different from her own and creating believable and well realized characters in general.
Another piece I really liked was “Shake Well,” a very gross story about a teenage girl who can’t stop popping the acne on her face, and it only gets more disturbing from there. (That one was a tough read for me!)
There’s a kind of ridiculous but entertaining story that I’m convinced had to be at least partly inspired by the Fallout franchise, called “The King.” (But also, take that statement with a grain of salt because everything reminds me of my favorite games.) In this one, Clark’s dark humor really shines.
But it’s not all fun and scares, as one story called “Company Man” is both devastating and bleak.
There’s a handy content guide at the end of the book that goes over any trigger warnings you may need to know about, but I’ll also mention a few here in my review. Please note that I read an early copy and the story titles could be subject to change.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
TW: Disordered Eating, Mention of Chronic Illness, Sexual Assault, Mention of Self-harm, Body Shaming, Child Death, Drug Use
October 10, 2024
A very apt opening that shows how our generation has been induced by technology, the need to share, conspiracy theories, and of course weird food trends.
Story one is a combination of reviews posted about a takeaway that is half Chinese and half Italian with strange speciality dishes. Weirdly, it delivers unbelievably fast to all parts of the UK.
The reviews range from annoyed, derivative, classic British appreciation and ignorance, and reoccurring intrigued customers.
I did not realise this was a sampler when I received the arc, however this is a promising start. I wonder if there will be a theme throughout!
Sampler gifted by NetGalley.
Bookstagram
Story one is a combination of reviews posted about a takeaway that is half Chinese and half Italian with strange speciality dishes. Weirdly, it delivers unbelievably fast to all parts of the UK.
The reviews range from annoyed, derivative, classic British appreciation and ignorance, and reoccurring intrigued customers.
I did not realise this was a sampler when I received the arc, however this is a promising start. I wonder if there will be a theme throughout!
Sampler gifted by NetGalley.
Bookstagram
October 6, 2024
Sadly Eliza Clark has been a one hit wonder for me with Boy Parts. Short stories are just not for me but I decided to give this one a go since I loved Boy Parts and disliked Penance. This was full of sci-fi stories which are not my thing and the ones that weren’t I just didn’t find a point to a majority of them. Nothing actually gave me feeling or emotion the way I wanted them to.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2024
Very close to a five stars bur didn't enjoy al the stories. Each stories felt uniqe from eachother and ranging from diffrent topics and some felt more sci fi whole others where more contemporary. Listening to it very quickly and I enjoyed her rewriting even in short story format.
September 26, 2024
In the spirit of honesty, I thought this was alright. Short story collections can be tough to tackle!
The first story in here is an absolute knockout, and so I thought the rest would follow suit. And while I will say that the stories which worked, really, truly worked, the ones that didn’t were almost…boring. I skimmed through them.
I loved seeing EC step into speculative fiction (in fact, my favorite in this collection was within that genre)! I think she can offer so much more as an author than just “weird girl lit”, and this proves that!
Would I revisit the entire thing? No. But there is one story in here, in particular, which I will think about, often.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy, in exchange for an honest review!
The first story in here is an absolute knockout, and so I thought the rest would follow suit. And while I will say that the stories which worked, really, truly worked, the ones that didn’t were almost…boring. I skimmed through them.
I loved seeing EC step into speculative fiction (in fact, my favorite in this collection was within that genre)! I think she can offer so much more as an author than just “weird girl lit”, and this proves that!
Would I revisit the entire thing? No. But there is one story in here, in particular, which I will think about, often.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy, in exchange for an honest review!
November 7, 2024
HAPPY PUB DAY YOU BEAUTY!
I. Loved. This. Collection.
IMO this is thee perf collection for mood readers. I'd heard from others that there was an expectation of more commitment to horror with this one, but I was SO pleased to find out Eliza Clark didn't lose sight of her hilarity - AT ALL. One story had me literally LOL'ing 95% of the time I was reading it. I think the downfall will be that this collection doesn't stay steadily enough in one genre to appease those looking for something hardcore; there may be a sort of alienation for those readers from one story to another depending on if they're hoping for mainly unhinged & funny or mainly horror. But again, as a mood reader this was SUCH a nice change from the blatantly thematic collections I'm used to. Of course hunger is the star of the show throughout, but you don't feel like you're stuck in one "vibe" for very long.
Build a Body Like Mine 3.5/5
The Problem Solver 6/5 - the v last sentence is a mic drop, that's all I'm gunna say
She's Always Hungry 3.5/5 - close to 5/5 but the end lost me
The Shadow Over Little Chitaly 7/5
Hollow Bones 3/5 - ok, ew
Goth GF 4.5/5 - loveee all the pop culture refs
Night Stalkers 3/5
Shake Well 4/5 - loving this & BABLM's take on beauty and relationships
The King 7/5 - apparently loved this so much I didn't waste any time to write anything other than "pt 1 giving vamp satire"
Company Man 4.5/5 - losing yourself in a relationship to the point is it even "yourself" that you're losing anymore?
Side note, but I hope to eventually be able to throw out made up words like they're household names or kitchen staples like Eliza does. The liberties taken, I love it.
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Eliza Clark and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}
I. Loved. This. Collection.
IMO this is thee perf collection for mood readers. I'd heard from others that there was an expectation of more commitment to horror with this one, but I was SO pleased to find out Eliza Clark didn't lose sight of her hilarity - AT ALL. One story had me literally LOL'ing 95% of the time I was reading it. I think the downfall will be that this collection doesn't stay steadily enough in one genre to appease those looking for something hardcore; there may be a sort of alienation for those readers from one story to another depending on if they're hoping for mainly unhinged & funny or mainly horror. But again, as a mood reader this was SUCH a nice change from the blatantly thematic collections I'm used to. Of course hunger is the star of the show throughout, but you don't feel like you're stuck in one "vibe" for very long.
Build a Body Like Mine 3.5/5
The Problem Solver 6/5 - the v last sentence is a mic drop, that's all I'm gunna say
She's Always Hungry 3.5/5 - close to 5/5 but the end lost me
The Shadow Over Little Chitaly 7/5
Hollow Bones 3/5 - ok, ew
Goth GF 4.5/5 - loveee all the pop culture refs
Night Stalkers 3/5
Shake Well 4/5 - loving this & BABLM's take on beauty and relationships
The King 7/5 - apparently loved this so much I didn't waste any time to write anything other than "pt 1 giving vamp satire"
Company Man 4.5/5 - losing yourself in a relationship to the point is it even "yourself" that you're losing anymore?
Side note, but I hope to eventually be able to throw out made up words like they're household names or kitchen staples like Eliza does. The liberties taken, I love it.
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Eliza Clark and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}
September 21, 2024
the first chapter is very captivating and it was a surprise because of the way the story was written!
can’t wait to read more of this unique collection of stories when it will be released on november 7!
thank you NetGalley & Faber for providing me with a sampler of this book ahead of its release in exchange for an honest review!
can’t wait to read more of this unique collection of stories when it will be released on november 7!
thank you NetGalley & Faber for providing me with a sampler of this book ahead of its release in exchange for an honest review!
September 22, 2024
4.75 stars
An eclectic collection of vivid, imaginative work, if you have not yet read from Eliza Clark, this short stories collection is a great point of entry. I really enjoyed Boy Parts, but can acknowledge its literary 'edginess' might not be everyone's cup of tea. She's Always Hungry on the other hand feels more 'loose and fun' readable and less like the author is writing to win prestigious accolades. Overall highly recommend!
- - -
Build a Body Like Mine: 3.5 stars
A decent opener. While the reveal isn't particularly surprisingly, the buildup and overall execution really makes it tongue in cheek and darkly comedic.
The Problem Solver: 3 stars
There's a point to this, but overall a little stagnant due to it's very short length.
She's Always Hungry: 4.25 stars
An off-kilter, dark and imaginative folklore—I can see why this ends up being the marquee story for the collection. Vibe-wise reminiscent of Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh.
The Shadow Over Little Chitaly: 5 stars
A collection of food delivery reviews about a mystical Chinese-Italian restaurant. Did Eliza write this while she was high!? This is so silly (in a great way) and oddly mouth-watering, love it!
Hollow Bones: 5 stars
A sci-fi body horror fever dream packed with haunting, surrealist imagery. There's a surprising amount of world building here—now I need the full-length novel taking place in this universe!
Goth GF: 4 stars
A welcoming palette cleanser after a series of out-there, fantastical stories. A candid and grounded depiction of a submissive male, in style that is more reminiscent of the Eliza Clark I'm familiar with (reminds me of Boy Parts).
Extinction Event: 4.25 stars
An extremely effective eco-thriller, vividly envisioned and rightfully anxiety-inducing.
Nightstalkers: 4 stars
Another very nice change of pace with a slice of life teenage angst.
Shake Well: 4.5 stars
This feels like a great fusion of the two modes this collection is operating under so far: depiction of contemporary anxiety (towards beauty in this case) and potent dosage of grotesqueness.
The King: 5 stars
A satirical tale of barbaric power struggle between 2 Gods after global destruction — love the snarky humor in this one!
Company Man: 4 stars
A dream-like psychological suspense with a great setup, the reveal turns out to be a tad predictable.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
An eclectic collection of vivid, imaginative work, if you have not yet read from Eliza Clark, this short stories collection is a great point of entry. I really enjoyed Boy Parts, but can acknowledge its literary 'edginess' might not be everyone's cup of tea. She's Always Hungry on the other hand feels more 'loose and fun' readable and less like the author is writing to win prestigious accolades. Overall highly recommend!
- - -
Build a Body Like Mine: 3.5 stars
A decent opener. While the reveal isn't particularly surprisingly, the buildup and overall execution really makes it tongue in cheek and darkly comedic.
The Problem Solver: 3 stars
There's a point to this, but overall a little stagnant due to it's very short length.
She's Always Hungry: 4.25 stars
An off-kilter, dark and imaginative folklore—I can see why this ends up being the marquee story for the collection. Vibe-wise reminiscent of Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh.
The Shadow Over Little Chitaly: 5 stars
A collection of food delivery reviews about a mystical Chinese-Italian restaurant. Did Eliza write this while she was high!? This is so silly (in a great way) and oddly mouth-watering, love it!
Hollow Bones: 5 stars
A sci-fi body horror fever dream packed with haunting, surrealist imagery. There's a surprising amount of world building here—now I need the full-length novel taking place in this universe!
Goth GF: 4 stars
A welcoming palette cleanser after a series of out-there, fantastical stories. A candid and grounded depiction of a submissive male, in style that is more reminiscent of the Eliza Clark I'm familiar with (reminds me of Boy Parts).
Extinction Event: 4.25 stars
An extremely effective eco-thriller, vividly envisioned and rightfully anxiety-inducing.
Nightstalkers: 4 stars
Another very nice change of pace with a slice of life teenage angst.
Shake Well: 4.5 stars
This feels like a great fusion of the two modes this collection is operating under so far: depiction of contemporary anxiety (towards beauty in this case) and potent dosage of grotesqueness.
The King: 5 stars
A satirical tale of barbaric power struggle between 2 Gods after global destruction — love the snarky humor in this one!
Company Man: 4 stars
A dream-like psychological suspense with a great setup, the reveal turns out to be a tad predictable.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
September 19, 2024
wall to wall freaky shit with the tenderest gay little bildungsroman in the middle. eliza clark you will always be famous!
October 21, 2024
Probably the quickest I’ve read a short story collection. Probably one of my favorite short story collections. I finished the first story, thought ‘hell yeah’, and knew this was gonna be a good time.
I think Eliza Clark’s writing and creativity is very well suited to short story telling, and I hope she releases more.
I think Eliza Clark’s writing and creativity is very well suited to short story telling, and I hope she releases more.
November 5, 2024
eliza clark i’m begging you to never stop writing books
November 13, 2024
This was the most unhinged set of short stories I’ve read. I’ve never had so much fun reading them and truly never being able to guess what was going to come next.
Build a Body Like Mine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - gross but hilarious and honestly relatable
The Problem Solver ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I wish this one was longer I feel like I missed something based on the last sentence but I’m not sure what it was 😂
She’s Always Hungry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved the folklore vibes of this one.
The Shadow Over Little Chitaly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - definitely my favorite. I neeeed to know more!
Hollow Bones ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - sci fi is definitely not my genre so this one wasn’t for me.
Goth GF ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - love love love.
Extinction Event ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- even for not loving sci fi, this one was just really entertaining to see play out. Black Mirror vibes.
Nightstalkers ⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨- good! I just love the way Eliza Clark tells a story.
Shake Well ⭐️⭐️ - this one was just too gross for me. pimple popping makes me want to throw up.
The King ⭐️⭐️⭐️- not for me but still entertaining!
Company Man ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this story was so well drafted and fleshed out for being so short. Loved it!
4.5 ✨ overall for entertainment value. I’m going to NEED to go read more from Eliza Clark since this was my introduction to her.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
Build a Body Like Mine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - gross but hilarious and honestly relatable
The Problem Solver ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I wish this one was longer I feel like I missed something based on the last sentence but I’m not sure what it was 😂
She’s Always Hungry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved the folklore vibes of this one.
The Shadow Over Little Chitaly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - definitely my favorite. I neeeed to know more!
Hollow Bones ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - sci fi is definitely not my genre so this one wasn’t for me.
Goth GF ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - love love love.
Extinction Event ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- even for not loving sci fi, this one was just really entertaining to see play out. Black Mirror vibes.
Nightstalkers ⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨- good! I just love the way Eliza Clark tells a story.
Shake Well ⭐️⭐️ - this one was just too gross for me. pimple popping makes me want to throw up.
The King ⭐️⭐️⭐️- not for me but still entertaining!
Company Man ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this story was so well drafted and fleshed out for being so short. Loved it!
4.5 ✨ overall for entertainment value. I’m going to NEED to go read more from Eliza Clark since this was my introduction to her.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
October 21, 2024
In the late 2010s and early 2020s there has been a robust trend for short story collections by young women which explore issues relevant to modern life (particularly modern life as it is for women and girls) through a mixture of realist, speculative and horror fiction. I can list a number of them offhand: "You Will Never Be Forgotten," "Bliss Montage," "You Know You Want This," "Out There," "Life Ceremony," "Cursed Bunny." "She’s Always Hungry," by Eliza Clark, slots comfortably into this trend. The opening story is about eating disorders. There is body horror and light-touch speculative fiction. There are stories about bad relationships and sexual trauma. There is a story written in an unconventional format: this, "The Shadow Over Little Chitaly," written as a series of online restaurant reviews, is the best thing in the book by a country mile.
Although none of the stories are actually about life online, this, like Honor Levy’s "My First Book," is a book shaped by the Internet. Tumblr/Twitter-type Millennial humor and cultural references run all the way through it, and it feels like one needs to be somewhat "online" to understand some of it. The stories are hampered by what feels like a need to make them superficially edgy yet, in essence, deeply conformist. You can see the cogs turning in some of the stories (here’s a story about disordered eating, a subject so many Millennial and Generation Z women will relate to. But the narrator must emphasize her body positivity - because God forbid a character obsessed with losing weight might seem fatphobic!) And I am not against trigger warnings, but when a book comes with an exhaustive list of them, which includes such benign things as "extensive descriptions of food," it gives you a certain picture of the intended audience.
Lest these criticisms make me sound like an unhinged anti-woke Boomer, there are other problems. The sci-fi stories contain some truly terrible expositionary dialogue. "The Problem Solver" feels like a failed attempt to write a story that riffs on Roupenian’s "Cat Person." Once you figure out the premise of a story, it almost always plays out predictably. In "Build A Body Like Mine" for example the story cannot be building to anything *other* than a reveal of something weird. So when the reveal comes, there is no moment of shock or horror. Similarly, "She’s Always Hungry," the story, is precisely what you would expect from a story called "She’s Always Hungry" by a young female writer.
"She’s Always Hungry" seems designed to be read by teenagers making their first steps into adult fiction. I don't think that is a bad thing (better they read this than yet another toxic "spicy" romance), I’m sure it will sell well and be popular on "Booktok," but it doesn’t feel like a serious collection and represents a step backward in terms of quality. I think the author is very talented, and I loved her début "Boy Parts" which I thought was an excellent first novel showing a lot of promise, but I also think the unexpected success of "Boy Parts" has not been a good thing for her craft. This collection feels as though it has been rushed to publication before it was really ready. I feel for her - becoming a hot commodity in publishing at a young age must create a hell of a lot of pressure. As with many weak books I blame those involved in the editorial process - I think some editor should have had the guts to tell her this wasn’t good enough. I hope Clark can get out of this niche she’s written herself into and start working in some influences other than "I was on Tumblr in 2014," which can only engage a certain audience, and then only for so long.
Although none of the stories are actually about life online, this, like Honor Levy’s "My First Book," is a book shaped by the Internet. Tumblr/Twitter-type Millennial humor and cultural references run all the way through it, and it feels like one needs to be somewhat "online" to understand some of it. The stories are hampered by what feels like a need to make them superficially edgy yet, in essence, deeply conformist. You can see the cogs turning in some of the stories (here’s a story about disordered eating, a subject so many Millennial and Generation Z women will relate to. But the narrator must emphasize her body positivity - because God forbid a character obsessed with losing weight might seem fatphobic!) And I am not against trigger warnings, but when a book comes with an exhaustive list of them, which includes such benign things as "extensive descriptions of food," it gives you a certain picture of the intended audience.
Lest these criticisms make me sound like an unhinged anti-woke Boomer, there are other problems. The sci-fi stories contain some truly terrible expositionary dialogue. "The Problem Solver" feels like a failed attempt to write a story that riffs on Roupenian’s "Cat Person." Once you figure out the premise of a story, it almost always plays out predictably. In "Build A Body Like Mine" for example the story cannot be building to anything *other* than a reveal of something weird. So when the reveal comes, there is no moment of shock or horror. Similarly, "She’s Always Hungry," the story, is precisely what you would expect from a story called "She’s Always Hungry" by a young female writer.
"She’s Always Hungry" seems designed to be read by teenagers making their first steps into adult fiction. I don't think that is a bad thing (better they read this than yet another toxic "spicy" romance), I’m sure it will sell well and be popular on "Booktok," but it doesn’t feel like a serious collection and represents a step backward in terms of quality. I think the author is very talented, and I loved her début "Boy Parts" which I thought was an excellent first novel showing a lot of promise, but I also think the unexpected success of "Boy Parts" has not been a good thing for her craft. This collection feels as though it has been rushed to publication before it was really ready. I feel for her - becoming a hot commodity in publishing at a young age must create a hell of a lot of pressure. As with many weak books I blame those involved in the editorial process - I think some editor should have had the guts to tell her this wasn’t good enough. I hope Clark can get out of this niche she’s written herself into and start working in some influences other than "I was on Tumblr in 2014," which can only engage a certain audience, and then only for so long.
August 26, 2024
Disturbing content, consistently good writing.
Want to read
September 6, 2024girl dinner 🍿
Eliza Clark is back!!!
I am so incredibly excited for this short story collection, and as a person who is usually not a huge short story consumer, this says a LOT. I haven't encountered any author as compelling and dark and humorous as Eliza Clark, I have no doubts the full collection will be just as good as her other works.
I was lucky enough to get a little sampler of this book from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review, so let me get right to it.
"The Shadow Over Little Chitaly" follows online reviews for a Chinese-Italian fusion restaurant that served increasingly absurd dishes, and may or may not exist. While not as dark as Clark's previous works, it's just as compelling and humorous. If the rest of the collection is anything like this one, I am sure it will be brilliant.
Eliza Clark is back!!!
I am so incredibly excited for this short story collection, and as a person who is usually not a huge short story consumer, this says a LOT. I haven't encountered any author as compelling and dark and humorous as Eliza Clark, I have no doubts the full collection will be just as good as her other works.
I was lucky enough to get a little sampler of this book from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review, so let me get right to it.
"The Shadow Over Little Chitaly" follows online reviews for a Chinese-Italian fusion restaurant that served increasingly absurd dishes, and may or may not exist. While not as dark as Clark's previous works, it's just as compelling and humorous. If the rest of the collection is anything like this one, I am sure it will be brilliant.
October 20, 2024
In this genre-defying anthology of short stories, Eliza Clark proves she is really That Witch™️. Not exactly surprising when you consider the dark themes that run through her first two novels. But in her first short story collection, She’s Always Hungry, Clark shows us she has even more up her sleeve than the psychological horror of Boy Parts, or the foe-true crime novel, Penance. The stories in She’s Always Hungry traverse from body horror to science fiction territory, environmental existentialism, and apocalyptic settings, all preying on the central theme of female hunger.
A delectable serving of short stories, I gobbled up every last one and, on more than one occasion, wished for a full length novel – the highest compliment, I think, where short stories are concerned. Some of my favourites include: The Shadow Over Little Chitaly – a story compromising entirely of online reviews of a Chinese-meets-Italian takeaway with an odd menu and even more unnervingly prompt delivery service; The King begins at the end of the world, a human-flesh eating Apex Predator delighting on the feast she is about to gorge herself on and lording over the next evolution of humankind in the aftermath; Shake Well – the story of a girl who wishes to cure her acne-ridden skin and buys a product on the dark web that creates an eerie, porcelain shield that inevitably begins to crack.
Honestly, every single one of these stories were bangers. Matriarchal societies and cannibalism? Say less. Stories equally absurd as they are unnerving, yet scathing in their exploration of assault, eating disorders, climate change, and unobtainable beauty standards.
It goes without saying I am incredibly excited to see what Eliza Clark writes next. A sci-fi novel filled with body horror would be exquisite, I’ll take 10!! 🫦
A delectable serving of short stories, I gobbled up every last one and, on more than one occasion, wished for a full length novel – the highest compliment, I think, where short stories are concerned. Some of my favourites include: The Shadow Over Little Chitaly – a story compromising entirely of online reviews of a Chinese-meets-Italian takeaway with an odd menu and even more unnervingly prompt delivery service; The King begins at the end of the world, a human-flesh eating Apex Predator delighting on the feast she is about to gorge herself on and lording over the next evolution of humankind in the aftermath; Shake Well – the story of a girl who wishes to cure her acne-ridden skin and buys a product on the dark web that creates an eerie, porcelain shield that inevitably begins to crack.
Honestly, every single one of these stories were bangers. Matriarchal societies and cannibalism? Say less. Stories equally absurd as they are unnerving, yet scathing in their exploration of assault, eating disorders, climate change, and unobtainable beauty standards.
It goes without saying I am incredibly excited to see what Eliza Clark writes next. A sci-fi novel filled with body horror would be exquisite, I’ll take 10!! 🫦
November 7, 2024
hey so this is insane actually
August 19, 2024
4★ (For now, will be edited on release and changed based on the other stories in the collection)
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of the first story.
I’m very excited about this whole collection but I wanted to leave a review for the first story as of right now as well. This review will be edited once the book comes out - because I’m definitely reading it this year.
☆ The Shadow Over Little Chitaly
A very weird story about a very weird restaurant that nobody really knows much about. Written in Google review format. Pretty entertaining to read. I had a lot of fun and I enjoyed the writing a lot. Makes me look forward to the whole collection. 4★
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of the first story.
I’m very excited about this whole collection but I wanted to leave a review for the first story as of right now as well. This review will be edited once the book comes out - because I’m definitely reading it this year.
☆ The Shadow Over Little Chitaly
A very weird story about a very weird restaurant that nobody really knows much about. Written in Google review format. Pretty entertaining to read. I had a lot of fun and I enjoyed the writing a lot. Makes me look forward to the whole collection. 4★
Want to read
June 26, 2024HJBDSVGJKD!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!!! NEW BOOK ELIZA CLARK?!!!!!!
I DEMAND AND WANT TO EXPERIENCE HEART PALPITATION...NOW
ELIZA CLARK....GO GO GO!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!!! NEW BOOK ELIZA CLARK?!!!!!!
I DEMAND AND WANT TO EXPERIENCE HEART PALPITATION...NOW
ELIZA CLARK....GO GO GO!!!!!!!!!
August 18, 2024
It's very rare for me to find a short story collection where I enjoy every story.
But Eliza Clark has done it!
But Eliza Clark has done it!
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