Hungry Ghosts

Reedsy.com (Guest Review) - 05 Apr, 2024

Hungry Ghosts is a story from history. But it is also an exploration of trauma and conflict, of the effects of emotional scars left by terrible sufferings, and of the powerful bonds of love and family. Powerful themes will resonate with readers, and the messages this story conveys will prove a strong influence on the thinking of many readers. Ultimately, that is what great stories do. They shine a light in dark corners. They influence thinking, and by doing so, they often help drive beneficial social change. C. J. Barker’s Hungry Ghosts is a masterpiece of great historical fiction and just a fantastic read.

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Emma Ashley
I flew through this book. The author's attention to detail of the time period is spot on. I was interested in history at school and the book re sparked my interest. I found Ruth a very strong character and she knew what she wanted in life and wasn't afraid to go after it. I found Vic a little selfish and felt that he didn't deserve Ruth. Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend.

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Paul Wagenbreth
War’s horrendous toll evidences itself early on in life for Vic Woods and his wife, Ruth, the two principal characters of C.J. Barker’s “Hungry Ghosts,” with Vic’s mother presumed dead in a Luftwaffe bombing of Liverpool and Ruth’s sailor brother Jim turning up missing in action. But the war's toll on the two will make itself felt even more up close and personal with the devastation that Vic sees as a bombardier over Dresden, with the images from it and thoughts of what it must have been like for people on the ground so devastating that they will haunt him for the rest of his life and factor into his constant abuse of Ruth.

A way he’ll find to cope, though, will be through photography, with his career taking off after the war with an image he captures of a veteran throwing himself off London Bridge and then later, during Vietnam, with a photo of a nun immolating herself in protest of the war.
So celebrated will his pictures become that they’ll be the stuff of an autobiographical book, “World On Fire,” though his son will be less than enthusiastic about the acclaim, wondering in particular why Vic didn’t put down the camera to help the nun.

A legitimate question about journalism in general, whether an observer should intervene in particularly horrendous situations, and one of particular interest to me as a retired journalist, even if in the case of the nun, as in certain other horrific occasions (the famous picture of the Vietnamese general shooting a Viet Cong prisoner, for instance), the possibility or desirability of intervention is debatable (would you really have wanted to save the nun a minute or two after she went up in flames?). Still, Barker's novel is a worthy consideration of the issue, along with the auxiliary question of what draws some people to war journalism – or in the parlance of the book, what makes Vic a “hungry ghost,” always “chasing after something, anything to fill the void.”

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Melanie Robertson-King
England during WWII. Ruth joins the WAAF, and Vic joins the RAF. The book wasn't quite what I expected, but the premise intrigued me. It was an enjoyable read nonetheless. Ruth is a strong and likeable character, although she does have a soft spot for Vic. Even Vic, despite his quirks, was likeable. It was his quirks that made his character come to life.

This is the first book I've read by C J Barker, but I'll be watching for more.

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Pauline Render
Vic and Ruth meet in the midst of World War 2. He’s in the RAF and she’s part of the WAAF. Both have their own challenges, as Ruth doesn’t believe a woman’s place is just in the home and Vic, after being discharged from the airforce suffers from horrific flashbacks of his life during the war. They are both really strong characters and my sense of how life was like for them is brought vividly to life, especially with Vic, who now would have been classed as suffering from PTSD, but then it would have been difficult to put a label on what he was going through. His spiralling behaviour was very sad to read, as was Ruth’s attempts to help him, but I did love her strength and determination in the face of everything. Whilst reading this book, I also witnessed how Vic and Ruth’s son finds a new sense of self as he becomes involved in the joy of 1960’s America but also the revolt against the Vietnam war, finding out more about himself and the man he calls his father.
Hungry Ghosts is a wonderfully written book which I was unable to put down, bringing to the fore the horrors of war and how it can almost destroy families. I hadn’t heard of the term hungry ghosts until I’d read this book, but it is a fitting phrase both in the book and real life. But it is also a story about love and family. A thought provoking read I would highly recommend.

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Claire Sullivan

This novel contains many of the elements that draw in the reader like me: a historical setting, strong characters, interesting psychology, social commentary and elements of romance. Hungry Ghosts is the story of a family that begins in World War II and covers life in England from the 1950s to the 1970s, with fascinating side glimpses into the Vietnam War, the brief period of delight and liberation experienced by the hippies of San Francisco, and the student rebellion in Paris in 1968.

James, one of the central characters, is the son of Ruth and Vic Woods, both of them damaged by their experiences growing up in England during World War II. James’s father, Vic, is an alcoholic and a talented photographer who pursues the ultimate shot against all odds, regardless of the consequences. The title Hungry Ghosts refers to his restless search for success, which destroys his marriage and his relationship with his son. James grows up without a father figure and is rudderless in his adult life. A romance with a hippie from San Francisco brings brief joy to his life, but Frankie is impossible to pin down and the loss is hard for James to bear.

Ruth is a very likeable character. Unlike her husband, as a woman she is denied the chance to develop a career. During the war she was drafted into the RAF and into an interesting role in aerial reconnaissance, but after the war her pregnancy puts a firm stop to any further career plans. When she throws her husband out of the house, she takes on the management of a guesthouse in order to make a living. She never complains, she never gives up on her errant husband, and when Vic returns from Vietnam sick with cancer, she urges James to forgive him. The movement in James from bitter resentment to reconciliation with the father who has always loved him, despite his abandonment of the family, is one of the most moving aspects of the novel.

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Review by Sharon-beyond -the books

Historical fiction is a go-to genre for me anyway, so when I read the blurb, I knew I had to read this. Set against the second world war and the 1960s, it’s a story of two lives and the journeys they take throughout the decades as individuals and as a family.

I was enthralled with Vic and Ruth’s time during the war years. Both have different views from different branches of the armed forces. Vic really tugged on my heartstrings so easily. The way the war affected him was heartbreaking for both of them as a couple.

C J Barker brought the war to life for me. Such vivid imagery had me glued in place while I flipped the pages so fast. Alongside the short chapters, this was such an immersive story.

As the years unfold, we see how they grow as a family. This isn’t just about the ravages of war. it’s about family and connections. Its about children really discovering who their parents really are, as individuals, not just their caregivers.

I found Hungry Ghosts a novel that uplifted me, made me feel so warm inside, and at times brought tears to my eyes also. It is a novel that brings family into the forefront alongside identity and the history that binds. It’s a historical fiction novel I won’t forget in a hurry. A highly recommended read.

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Review by Book-a-holic

This is one of those books that I would say is not my usual go-to genre - historical fiction - but with it being set between world war 2 period and the 1960's, I was completely intrigued by how this one would play out.

What I love the most, is when I come across a book that I almost definitely would not have grabbed off the shelves - but that turns out to be a most fantastic read! And this was one of those books!

All of the characters jumped right off the page. So realistic, believable and relatable.
It was so easy to become immersed in their stories and lives and this in turn made this such an emotional read for me.
I can't say that the characters were all lovable, some were definitely flawed - but I think that this mirrors true real life and that often makes the story much more poignent.

As I said, I'm not big on wartime themes and history, but I found that this was more focussed on the story beyond the war and a study on how it affected so many - not only those who were present, but reaching far beyond this into the relationships that come afterwards.

The writing style was wonderful and had me gripped from the start.
I loved the short chapters which had me reaching for this every spare minute, knowing that I could grab a chapter or two when often I wouldn't have time - but it was the longer stretches, where I could really immerse myself in the storyline that made this such a joy.
The descriptive writing was perfectly paced and I finished this in just a couple of sittings!

Not only would I recommend this book, but I'd also love to explore more books by this author too!

C J Barker - 05 Apr, 2024

Review by 'The bookish hermit'

C.J. Barker does a masterful job of weaving together the personal struggles of Vic and Ruth with the broader historical context of World War II and the societal changes of the 1960s. The characters are deeply fleshed out and their emotional journeys feel authentic and raw.

The theme of “hungry ghosts” is powerfully evoked throughout the narrative, as the characters grapple with their own inner demons and the lingering effects of the war. The title itself is haunting and sets the tone for the poignant and thought-provoking story that unfolds.

This novel is a thought-provoking exploration of the lasting impact of war on individuals and families, and how love and resilience can transcend even the deepest wounds. Barker’s prose is vivid and immersive, drawing readers deep into the lives of Vic, Ruth, and James as they navigate the complexities of their past and present.

Overall, I found Hungry Ghosts to be a compelling and emotional read which lingered in my mind long after finishing it. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and poignant family dramas.

5 stars

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The Historical Fiction Company (Guest Review) - 02 Mar, 2024

The Indelible Scars Left by War - an Editorial Review of "Hungry Ghosts"

Editorial Review:

James strolled past the rows of brightly lit photographs mounted on the crisp, white walls of The Barracks Gallery. The floorboards shone like cut glass, reflecting each image back onto itself like a hall of mirrors. It’s all here, he thought, twenty-five years of photography: “Vic Woods – World on Fire”, the full catastrophe of his father’s life.

CJ Barker takes us back to 1968 London in the prologue to begin our story. We are introduced to James as he strolls along rows of lit photographs in The Barracks Gallery, and even if you’re not that family with the late 60s, you’ll feel as if you have been transported back in time. Through the conversation between James and his mother, we also learn more about their family, for better or worse. This is foreshadowing of what is to come.

Part 1 takes us further back in time to a “world on fire”. This is when we really get to the meat of the story. We are introduced to Vic’s father, Frank, a man who could lose himself in his work for hours on end. And then, we are introduced to a heartbreaking story of domestic violence, through the eyes of a son.

Vic’s father, Frank Woods, was a quiet, reserved man who kept himself to himself. He worked hard as a mechanic in a local garage where he would spend hour upon hour setting a carburettor just right or listening for that strange thump thump reported by the vehicle’s owner, much like a poet’s search for the precise word, or a photographer’s pursuit of the just-right light and shade.

Immersed in his work, Frank would frequently lose all sense of time and place, making him late home for tea. The intense concentration that he brought to bear on a mechanical problem, or a physical chore, allowed him to forget himself for a few hours, and Frank was at his best when he could forget. His wife, Emily, who didn’t understand Frank’s bloody ridiculous commitment to working all the hours God sent, would throw up her hands in frustration.

We witness one of the types of events that change a family’s course for the future and change a person’s life forever. We follow Vic through his youth, his teens, and then, at the tender age of 16, we experience the tragedy of war through his eyes. Barker writes in a straight-forward but almost poetic way that is captivating and keeps you wanting to turn the pages and see what happens next.

It’s May 1941, and air raids sound over Liverpool, England. It’s War World II and the German Luftwaffle are bombing Liverpool. This would be the most heavily bombed area of the country, outside London, due to the city having the largest port on the west coast.

Many stories have been written about WWII from many different angles, and stories have been written about the Liverpool Blitz, but this one blends history with fiction in a creative and unique way, showing us the tragedy through the eyes of a young man who’d already seen his fair share of tough times.

‘Help me carry this girl,’ she said. ‘We need to get her to an ambulance.’

‘I’m looking for my mother,’ he said.

‘This girl needs help, and she needs it now,’ said the nurse, forcefully.

Though he longed to find his mother, Vic couldn’t turn his back on a child. They found a damaged chair nearby and transformed its back and one pair of legs into a makeshift stretcher onto which they lifted the weeping girl. Vic grasped one end of the chair legs while the nurse took hold of the other, and they edged down the dustfilled corridor and into the night air, where they handed the child over to a Red Cross volunteer.

‘Come on, young man, there’s more inside,’ said the nurse.

‘My mother,’ said Vic.

‘If she’s here, and if she’s alive, you’ve as good a chance of finding her with me as you would wandering around aimlessly,’ she said. ‘We have to do what we can for the wounded right now.’

The dialogue is well done and works well to tell us more about the characters, their thoughts, and their motivations. Our main character was desperate to find his mother, but Vic did what he needed to do in the moment to help others. History tells us that this May 1941 air assault would last seven-nights and completely devastated the city. We experience the human toll of that devastation through Vic’s experiences.

From there, we are introduced to another character, Ruth. Through her eyes, we also learn a lot about how history treated young women of the time. Forced out of school at fourteen, it wasn’t seen as important for females to continue past then. It didn’t matter if they loved to study.

And we also see the unique challenges facing women at the time – some who were happy to maintain the status quo and cook and clean and sew… and others, like Ruth, who wanted more from life and felt the misogynistic culture was stifling. Through Ruth, we are reminded again of just how different things were in the not-so-distant past. Then, Ruth experiences the Blitz as well.

There is well-organized structure, making it easier to follow along and keep up with what’s happening, even though the story is set in the past and there are some jumps between characters. It’s really important to have it set up this way so that we can understand the childhoods and backgrounds of our characters and all the things that happened with them leading up to the Blitz as well.

The book is free of spelling and grammatical errors that might pull you out of the story. It carefully and seamlessly weaves history of WWII into the personal stories of these young adults growing up, in the middle of a war.

She showed her appointment letter and security pass to an imposing soldier at the guard post and waited in line behind Joan to report to the reception desk. Joan was soon whipped away by a WAAF officer, leaving Ruth to introduce herself to the receptionist with a sharp salute.

‘Aircraftswoman Wolfe, reporting for duty.’

‘Welcome to RAF Medmenham. Someone will be along soon to show you around,’ said the receptionist, a young, blonde-haired woman whose WAAF uniform bore no insignia, signifying to Ruth her lowly rank.

‘You’ll be assisting K section, I believe.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Someone will explain all that to you in due course. The unit is organised into sections which have specific responsibilities. K is bomb damage assessment. But really, it’s not for me to say what you’ll be doing. I shouldn’t really say anything. Official secrets and all that.’

‘I ain’t a German spy.

And through the lives of these remarkably human individuals, we see a heartwarming and sometimes heart-wrenching story of love, life, the toll war takes on generations, and the ghosts it leaves behind. It has a satisfying, if bittersweet, ending that brings the entire story full circle. Barker has told a beautiful story of love, tenacity, strength, and family.

The character building is the real treasure of this story, and you’ll feel a whole range of emotions as you move through this often-challenging life with them. This is a story that you will continue thinking about long after you put it down.

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“Hungry Ghosts” by CJ Barker receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/ipGqM

Award:

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Historical fiction editorial reviews highly recommended awardWWII2024 Editorial Reviews2024 HFC Book Awards