I’m Not Hungry But I Could Eat – Christopher Gonzalez
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: [adapted from the dustjacket] Exploring the lives of bisexual and gay Puerto Rican men, these fifteen stories show a vulnerable, intimate world of yearning and desire. The stars of these narratives linger between living their truest selves and remaining in the wings, embarking on a journey of self-discovery to satisfy their hunger for companionship and belonging.
Expectation: A food-themed story collection.
Reality: Only a few stories missed the mark in this solid collection, introducing Christopher Gonzalez as a writer to watch.
Recommended For: Fans of short story collections and people looking for more diverse representation in the stories they read.
Why I Read It: The Google algorithm put this on my radar, and it was available at my library when I was in between books.
My Take:
The title and description of “I’m Not Hungry But I Could Eat” — also a personal life motto — is what prompted me to add this to my queue, and I’m glad I did.
Each of the 15 stories focuses on the lives of bisexual (and one gay) Puerto Rican cubs (gay slang for younger, chubby hirsute men) as they try to satisfy their cravings of the “stomach, heart and soul.”
While food or alcohol is a thread between each story, it’s the themes of sacrifice, belonging and coping that drew me in. Christopher Gonzalez applied sardonic humor to mundane situations — like happy hours, housewarmings and bachelor parties — but also gave each story an emotional center to make you care.
Oftentimes with themed collections, each story is a variation of the next, but that wasn’t the case here. Some tried to do a little too much, but all were satisfying and unique. I honestly could not tell where most were heading.
Gonzalez showed a measured restraint in his prose and keen sense for understanding when an idea had run its course. If only more writers were that self-aware.
The standouts:
“Better Than All That” — Four high school friends reconnect for a bachelor party in their hometown, where we learn one attendee has harbored a crush on the groom since childhood. As the alcohol flows, he shares a compromising photo of the groom-to-be before the tables are turned. Gonzalez packs a layered, complex story into only 20 or so pages.
“Enough For Two To Share” — Explores hidden desires, toxic masculinity, and self-hatred. I was convinced it was going to end differently than it did.
“I’m Not Hungry But I Could Eat” — The title story was also the most relatable. With themes of body image and emotional manipulation, it makes you think about the ways we give parts of ourselves to friends who don’t give anything in return.
“Here’s The Situation” — Plays with structure to provide the perspective of one roommate watching the other run through men and leave a trail of destruction behind for him to clean-up.
“Juan, Actually” — A story about mortality that takes place during the worst Lyft ride of all time. Compelling and strange, in the best ways.
Only a handful missed the mark for me. “What You Missed While I Was Watching Your Cat” and “Half-Hearted” were a little too avant-garde and metaphorical, but neither sold the ideas successfully. While “The Secret To Your Best Self,” “The Version of You” and “Tag-a-Long” focused on mid-20s problems I can’t relate to anymore.
Minor criticisms aside, the length of this collection makes it a must read for fans of the genre. Christopher Gonzalez showed a lot of promise with this debut, and I’m eager for him to write a full-length novel.
Rating (story): 4/5 stars
Rating (narration): N/A
Formats: eBook (library loan)
Dates read: June 30 – July 6, 2022
Multi-tasking: N/A
