Hungerstone

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the book’s blend of gothic horror, historical fiction, and psychological thriller work for you? Did any particular element stand out as especially effective or memorable?

2. The novel is a direct reimagining of J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 novella, Carmilla. Were you familiar with the original story? If so, how did that affect your reading experience? If not, how did you feel about the classic vampire tropes being used to explore modern themes of desire and liberation?

3. Think about Lenore’s final transformation and her brutal revenge on Henry. How did you react to the novel’s ending? Did you find her journey toward becoming a “monster” to be a triumphant or a tragic one, and why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. At the beginning of the novel, Lenore copes with her unhappy life by meticulously controlling her household and social standing. When you face difficult or uncertain situations, what helps you gain a sense of control? 

2. Carmilla tells Lenore that she’s “feeding the wrong hunger” (173). Within your own life, who helps you recognize and meet your needs?

3. Lenore’s upbringing with Aunt Daphne shapes her understanding of herself and the world. In what ways have past figures or experiences influenced the way you navigate the world?

4. For much of the novel, Lenore struggles to embrace Desire as Self-Actualization. Do you find it easy to act on your desires? Why or why not?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The narrative links Henry’s treatment of his wife and his exploitation of his factory workers. How does the book illustrate the connection between patriarchal control in the home and capitalist exploitation in the workplace? Where do you see parallels to this kind of systemic harm in today’s world?

2. Carmilla represents resistance against oppressive social norms. How does this reflect historical realities faced by women in the 19th century, and where do you see similar struggles today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What is Carmilla’s true function in the narrative? Do you see her as a supernatural predator, a dark mentor, a psychological projection of Lenore’s own desires, or something else entirely? How does her enigmatic and unchanging character serve to highlight Lenore’s dramatic development?

2. The arsenic pastilles are a central symbol in the novel. How did your understanding of them change from when Lenore used them for comfort, to her discovery of the poison, to her final act of blowing the powder in Henry’s face? What do they reveal about her marriage?

3. How does Kat Dunn use the various displays of hunger, from the farm girl eating a raw chicken to Lenore chewing on furniture, to chart Lenore’s psychological journey from repression to liberation?

4. Hungerstone is part of a literary tradition reclaiming the “female monster.” In what ways does Lenore’s story subvert the traditional gothic narrative where the monstrous woman is simply a villain? How does her violent rebellion become an act of self-actualization?

5. We experience the entire story through Lenore’s first-person perspective. How did this narrative choice affect your interpretation of key events, like Cora’s fall from the cliff? To what extent did you trust her account of what happened?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were tasked with designing the cover for a new edition of Hungerstone, what imagery would you choose? Would you focus on the gothic horror, the industrial setting, or Lenore’s psychological transformation, and how would you convey that visually?

2. Imagine you are Detective Inspector Lacey writing a final, private report on the deaths of Cora Lamb and Henry Crowther. What would he write about his suspicions, his observations of Lenore, and why he ultimately lets the case close?

3. Let’s imagine an epilogue for the novel. What kind of life do you picture for Lenore and Carmilla after they leave Nethershaw?