#greedy

"'What use is dying skinny and hungry? When i join Lucifer I shall be plump and happy, and I can't bring myself to give a damn what anyone thinks about it...'" (pg. 63)

I adore a good cannibalism book (shoutout to my faves The Eyes are the Best Part and Feast While You Can). There's something about the hunger, the body, the intimacy of it that has me always prowling around for my next hit, lurking around the book recommendation underbelly of Reddit and the like. I was thrilled to come across Greedy while perusing the Goodreads' seasonal reading challenges, and I had a lot of fun with it.

The mystery in the book doesn't take too much sleuthing to piece together, but it's still interesting to see the way in which Ed ends up digging his own grave. The writing style is punchy and direct, and while that kind of direction isn't my cup of tea, it kept me hooked for what it was worth. Ed is a super interesting character too; making him a hypocrite and yet someone you still want to root for goes to show how layered he is as a man, as a father, and as an employee.

Greedy has a fascinating premise, and Hazeline is such a delight to poke and prod at as the novel progresses. I don't think this book is a roof-piercing stand-out as far as my tastes in cannibalism novels are concerned, but I still found it to be a clever gem—I'm sure there's someone out there who'll be more than happy to devour their fill.

Quotes I marked: "'The only thing stopping you being a great husband, a great father, is your own self-doubt. If you start believing in yourself, appreciating what you have day-to-day, you won't need the rush of gambling.'" (pgs. 266-267)

"True wealth, Ed is learning, is not flaunted. It is discreet, tasteful, and proud. To the untrained eye, the setup might look simple and affordable. To those with wealth, who know the price tags of the decorative wine bottles, the quality of the mats, the light scent of the soy candles—well, to them, it is exquisite and tasteful." (pgs. 284-285)

"'It is cheaper to eat the poor than to feed them.'" (pg. 367)

"'But a love of life. Or money. Or opportunity. Everyone is blinded by something they love.'" (pg. 371)