The Hungry Hundred Book Club

Country: Surinam/West Indies/British
Written in: 1688
Pages: 144

Well respected in her own time as a known playwright, prose writer, poet and translator, Aphra Behn was one of the first English women professional writers. She was noted among royalty and even ventured into becoming a spy- sounds like her own life would be a great subject to read about! As with nearly all early writings discussing race issues in the midst of colonialism and slavery, this book will be wrought with offensive opinions and heartbreaking inequality and the consequences of it.

From Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51190.Oroonoko
When Prince Oroonoko's passion for the virtuous Imoinda arouses the jealousy of his grandfather, the lovers are cast into slavery and transported from Africa to the colony of Surinam. Oroonoko's noble bearing soon wins the respect of his English captors, but his struggle for freedom brings about his destruction. Inspired by Aphra Behn's visit to Surinam, Oroonoko reflects the author's romantic views of native peoples as being in "the first state of innocence, before man knew how to sin." The novel also reveals Behn's ambiguous attitude toward slavery: while she favored it as a means to strengthen England's power, her powerful and moving work conveys its injustice and brutality.

*****
New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club? Here's what you need to know:

1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.)
2. Come to the meeting, usually (but not always!) on the last Sunday of every month.
3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort has been put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so please show your respect and support for the restaurant that's letting us use their space.
4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.

Country: Portugal
Written in: (sometime before the author's death in 1935)
Pages: 544

This book has many descriptions in reviews, from "the weirdest book I've ever read" to "unclassifiable genius" to the author's own description: "a factless autobiography". Intriguing...

From Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/45974
Fernando Pessoa was many writers in one. He attributed his prolific writings to a wide range of alternate selves, each of which had a distinct biography, ideology, and horoscope. When he died in 1935, Pessoa left behind a trunk filled with unfinished and unpublished writings, among which were the remarkable pages that make up his posthumous masterpiece, The Book of Disquiet, an astonishing work that, in George Steiner's words, "gives to Lisbon the haunting spell of Joyce's Dublin or Kafka's Prague." Published for the first time some fifty years after his death, this unique collection of short, aphoristic paragraphs comprises the "autobiography" of Bernardo Soares, one of Pessoa's alternate selves. Part intimate diary, part prose poetry, part descriptive narrative, captivatingly translated by Richard Zenith, The Book of Disquiet is one of the greatest works of the twentieth century.

*****
New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club? Here's what you need to know:

1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.)
2. Come to the meeting, usually (but not always!) on the last Sunday of every month.
3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort has been put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so please show your respect and support for the restaurant that's letting us use their space.
4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.

Country: France
Written in: 1837
Pages: 656

Regarded as one of the founders of realism in European literature, Balzac was said to have "invented the 19th century" by Oscar Wilde. While his collection of short stories in La Comedie Humaine is considered to be his magnum opus, we'll read the hefty Lost Illusions to give us a more focused discussion. But it's no joke when I say hefty; over 600 pages so get started early!

From Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25932.Lost_Illusions?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=EUP9u38epg&rank=1
Handsome would-be poet Lucien Chardon is poor and naive, but highly ambitious. Failing to make his name in his dull provincial hometown, he is taken up by a patroness, the captivating married woman Madame de Bargeton, and prepares to forge his way in the glamorous beau monde of Paris. But Lucien has entered a world far more dangerous than he realized, as Madame de Bargeton's reputation becomes compromised and the fickle, venomous denizens of the courts and salons conspire to keep him out of their ranks. Lucien eventually learns that, wherever he goes, talent counts for nothing in comparison to money, intrigue and unscrupulousness. Lost Illusions is one of the greatest novels in the rich procession of the Comedie humaine, Balzac's panoramic social and moral history of his times.

*****
New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club? Here's what you need to know:

1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.)
2. Come to the meeting, usually (but not always!) on the last Sunday of every month.
3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort has been put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so please show your respect and support for the restaurant that's letting us use their space.
4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.

Country: Japan
Written in: 1927
Pages: 192

With a title like that, how could you not be intrigued? Kenji Miyazawa died at the age of 37 before he ever saw fame, but now his works are considered classics among Japanese literature. A devout Buddhist, he used his children's writings to share ideals and morals.
*Note to the anime lovers out there- we'll be discussing the book, not the movie. It will be worth your while to read the book and join our discussion!

Here's a review: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-book-Night-on-the-Galactic-Railroad-about
"Night on the Galactic Railroad" (銀河鉄道の夜, "Ginga Tetsudō no Yoru") is a novel written by Japanese author Kenji Miyazawa. Published in 1934, it is a classic of Japanese literature and has been adapted into various forms of media, including anime films.
The story is set in a small Japanese town and revolves around a young boy named Giovanni, who lives with his mother and younger sister. Giovanni is often lonely and feels disconnected from his classmates and community. He is intrigued by the night sky and dreams of traveling to the stars.
One evening, Giovanni embarks on a mystical and surreal journey on the Galactic Railroad. He is joined by his classmate Campanella, and together, they ride a celestial train through the cosmos, visiting various planets, witnessing the lives of different beings, and encountering symbolic and allegorical scenes. The train journey serves as a metaphorical exploration of life, death, and the human condition.
As Giovanni and Campanella travel through the galaxy, they encounter both beauty and tragedy, and they engage in philosophical discussions about the nature of existence, the passage of time, and the interconnectedness of all living things. The story delves into themes of empathy, compassion, and the search for meaning in a sometimes harsh and indifferent world.
"Night on the Galactic Railroad" is celebrated for its poetic and philosophical prose, as well as its exploration of deep and existential themes. It is considered a masterpiece of Japanese literature and is often studied in schools and universities in Japan. The novel has been praised for its timeless and universal themes that resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
*****
New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club? Here's what you need to know:

1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.)
2. Come to the meeting, usually (but not always!) on the last Sunday of every month.
3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort has been put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so please show your respect and support for the restaurant that's letting us use their space.
4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.