Review of Hunger of the Pine

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Thanks Stephen for reading my review. Eagerly waiting for your review!

Hi Priya, like you I just adored this book. My review is pending publishing, hopefully it'll be up in a day or two. What an incredible book 5/5 stars indeed.

That's great, Stephen!

Yay, published!

[Priya Murugesan]

"Hunger of the Pine by Teal Swan is a poignant exploration of resilience and survival amidst homelessness, centering on Aria Abbot's journey from foster care to the unforgiving streets of LA. The characters are vividly portrayed, each adding depth and emotion to Aria's turbulent life. Despite mature themes like drug use and sexual references, Swan weaves them seamlessly into the narrative, creating a realistic portrayal of life on the margins. The book's message about kindness, gratitude, and the transformative power of human connection resonates deeply. Swan's writing style is both elegant and impactful, leaving a lasting impression. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars for its emotional depth and recommend it to readers who appreciate thought-provoking stories about the human experience."

Thanks for sharing your views!

[Rajaee R]

I agree with you; the book cover and the title are very attractive. Stories like this remind me to be grateful for having a home and loving and caring parents. I can't even think of getting in a situation like Aria.
Thanks for the review.

[Priya Murugesan]

I agree with you; the book cover and the title are very attractive. Stories like this remind me to be grateful for having a home and loving and caring parents. I can't even think of getting in a situation like Aria.
Thanks for the review.

I too felt the same way!

[Chi Chiu Michael Mak]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Hunger of the Pine" by Teal Swan.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Hunger of the Pine by Teal Swan

This novel follows the soul-stirring journey of a young woman, Aria Abbot, as she struggles to survive a homeless life. At the tender age of 7, Aria was taken by the state and put in a group home, as her mother was deemed unfit to take care of her. From that point on, she drifted through various foster homes. When the story begins, we see Aria in despair with her current foster family. Due to unavoidable conditions, she is forced to run away. Not having any place to go, she is compelled to live on the streets. She experiences the cruel world of homelessness, in which even acquiring the basic necessities of life becomes a serious predicament. The fact that she is a woman elevates the hurdles she encounters. Her life turns when she meets Taylor, a cheery vagrant who dreams of becoming an actor. Filled with bright hopes of a better future, they board a bus to LA and embark on a long journey with great anticipation. The rest of the story shows how they endure on the streets of LA and how their lives change.

The first thing that attracted me was the book cover. I loved the colors, the font style, and the artwork depicting a young woman. It was very captivating. The title is also an eye-catcher. After reading the blurb, my desire to read this book strengthened. I was pleased that I chose this book to read. It was a roller-coaster journey from start to finish. In her life, Aria meets many characters like Taylor, Luke, Mike, Ciarra, Aston, Omkar, Imani, Robert, Darren, EJ, Wolf, Anthony, and Pedro. Each has an interesting story intricately woven to sprinkle magic in our hearts. All the characters are well-developed, and you can easily empathize with their emotions. 

There are many drug and sexual references in the story. I normally don't like them. But they blended well with the story so that it didn't feel odd to me. The story also deals with mature topics like self-injury and molestation. You can also see a lot of profane words. However, they added a realistic touch to the novel.

I was gently surprised to note Indian culture as part of the story. As an Indian, it was heartwarming to me. The author portrays the feelings of Native Americans through Wolf.

The quote, 'You can learn something from everyone you meet', found in the book, is quite true.

This book stresses how drugs affect one's life and also their family. Even though the book shows the struggle of the homeless, there is a ray of hope and sunshine throughout the book. It was uplifting to read Aria encountering kindness on the streets. When life throws lemons at her, she tries to make lemonade. We can see how life carves her and transforms her into a strong young woman. Her metamorphosis is well shown. The author has shown the brutal world of homeless people, and it was shocking to read. It makes me feel grateful for the life God has given me. We take our lives for granted when we should have been more thankful for all the things we have in our lives. Anything can happen to anyone at any time. We have to be kind to each other and love our lives. I now see the people living on the street differently. The novel made me ponder these values of life.

I loved the author's style of writing. It is simple yet elegant. The book leaves a lasting imprint on our minds and touches us emotionally. The editing is exceptional. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars, as I have no complaints. I recommend this book to mature readers who love emotional books that showcase the reality of human lives. 

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Hunger of the Pine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Aria sounds like such a resilient character. Her transformation through hardship is something I’d definitely want to follow. I like that the story doesn’t shy away from real-life struggles but still manages to offer hope.

[Priya Murugesan]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Hunger of the Pine" by Teal Swan.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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Hunger of the Pine by Teal Swan

This novel follows the soul-stirring journey of a young woman, Aria Abbot, as she struggles to survive a homeless life. At the tender age of 7, Aria was taken by the state and put in a group home, as her mother was deemed unfit to take care of her. From that point on, she drifted through various foster homes. When the story begins, we see Aria in despair with her current foster family. Due to unavoidable conditions, she is forced to run away. Not having any place to go, she is compelled to live on the streets. She experiences the cruel world of homelessness, in which even acquiring the basic necessities of life becomes a serious predicament. The fact that she is a woman elevates the hurdles she encounters. Her life turns when she meets Taylor, a cheery vagrant who dreams of becoming an actor. Filled with bright hopes of a better future, they board a bus to LA and embark on a long journey with great anticipation. The rest of the story shows how they endure on the streets of LA and how their lives change.

The first thing that attracted me was the book cover. I loved the colors, the font style, and the artwork depicting a young woman. It was very captivating. The title is also an eye-catcher. After reading the blurb, my desire to read this book strengthened. I was pleased that I chose this book to read. It was a roller-coaster journey from start to finish. In her life, Aria meets many characters like Taylor, Luke, Mike, Ciarra, Aston, Omkar, Imani, Robert, Darren, EJ, Wolf, Anthony, and Pedro. Each has an interesting story intricately woven to sprinkle magic in our hearts. All the characters are well-developed, and you can easily empathize with their emotions. 

There are many drug and sexual references in the story. I normally don't like them. But they blended well with the story so that it didn't feel odd to me. The story also deals with mature topics like self-injury and molestation. You can also see a lot of profane words. However, they added a realistic touch to the novel.

I was gently surprised to note Indian culture as part of the story. As an Indian, it was heartwarming to me. The author portrays the feelings of Native Americans through Wolf.

The quote, 'You can learn something from everyone you meet', found in the book, is quite true.

This book stresses how drugs affect one's life and also their family. Even though the book shows the struggle of the homeless, there is a ray of hope and sunshine throughout the book. It was uplifting to read Aria encountering kindness on the streets. When life throws lemons at her, she tries to make lemonade. We can see how life carves her and transforms her into a strong young woman. Her metamorphosis is well shown. The author has shown the brutal world of homeless people, and it was shocking to read. It makes me feel grateful for the life God has given me. We take our lives for granted when we should have been more thankful for all the things we have in our lives. Anything can happen to anyone at any time. We have to be kind to each other and love our lives. I now see the people living on the street differently. The novel made me ponder these values of life.

I loved the author's style of writing. It is simple yet elegant. The book leaves a lasting imprint on our minds and touches us emotionally. The editing is exceptional. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars, as I have no complaints. I recommend this book to mature readers who love emotional books that showcase the reality of human lives. 

******
Hunger of the Pine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Aria sounds like such a resilient character. Her transformation through hardship is something I’d definitely want to follow. I like that the story doesn’t shy away from real-life struggles but still manages to offer hope.

Try this book. You might enjoy it!

[Seetha E]

This is certainly the story of many. Abortion, under mainly faiths and laws, is not acceptable, but who truly walks the innocent kids through 'life.' This calls for a societal change, a focus on more meaningful aspects of life. Certainly a book that I would want to read. I hope it comes up on my list.

[Priya Murugesan]

This is certainly the story of many. Abortion, under mainly faiths and laws, is not acceptable, but who truly walks the innocent kids through 'life.' This calls for a societal change, a focus on more meaningful aspects of life. Certainly a book that I would want to read. I hope it comes up on my list.

I am sure you will like this book!