Woman, Eating

Name: Woman, Eating
SKU: 9780349015637
Availability: OutOfStock

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Book Summary

A young, mixed-race vampire must find a way to balance her deep-seated desire to live amongst humans with her incessant hunger in this stunning debut novel from a writer-to-watch. Lydia is hungry. She’s always wanted to try Japanese food. Sashimi, ramen, onigiri with sour plum stuffed inside – the food her Japanese father liked to eat. And then there is bubble tea and iced-coffee, ice cream and cake, and foraged herbs and plants, and the vegetables grown by the other young artists at the London studio space she is secretly squatting in. But, Lydia can’t eat any of these things. Her body doesn’t work like those of other people. The only thing she can digest is blood, and it turns out that sourcing fresh pigs’ blood in London – where she is living away from her vampire mother for the first time – is much more difficult than she’d anticipated. Then there are the humans – the other artists at the studio space, the people at the gallery she interns at, the strange men that follow her after dark, and Ben, a boyish, goofy-grinned artist she is developing feelings for. Lydia knows that they are her natural prey, but she can’t bring herself to feed on them. In her windowless studio, where she paints and studies the work of other artists, binge-watches Buffy the Vampire Slayer and videos of people eating food on YouTube and Instagram, Lydia considers her place in the world. She has many of the things humans wish for – perpetual youth, near-invulnerability, immortality – but she is miserable; she is lonely; and she is hungry – always hungry. As Lydia develops as a woman and an artist, she will learn that she must reconcile the conflicts within her – between her demon and human sides, her mixed ethnic heritage, and her relationship with food, and, in turn, humans – if she is to find a way to exist in the world. Before any of this, however, she must eat. “Absolutely brilliant – tragic, funny, eccentric and so perfectly suited to this particularly weird time. Claire Kohda takes the vampire trope and makes it her own in a way that feels fresh and original. Serious issues of race, disability, misogyny, body image, sexual abuse are handled with subtlety, insight, and a lightness of touch. The spell this novel casts is so complete I feel utterly, and happily, bitten.” — Ruth Ozeki, Booker-shortlisted author of A Tale for the Time Being

Language: English
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 9780349015637
ISBN-13: 9780349015637
Genre: Thrillers, Mysteries & Crime
Condition: New

Out of stock

SKU: 9780349015637 Categories: Books, English Books, Thrillers Author: Claire Kohda

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Woman, Eating

Woman, Eating Book Description

Lydia is a young, mixed‑race vampire who craves a life among humans while fighting a constant hunger. She dreams of tasting sushi, ramen, bubble tea, and the fresh herbs her friends grow in a London studio. However, her body only processes blood, and finding fresh pig’s blood in the city proves harder than she imagined. As she navigates a windowless studio, an art gallery internship, and a budding romance with the goofy‑grinned artist Ben, Lydia must decide whether to feed on the people she loves or find another way to survive. The novel blends humor, tragedy, and vivid cultural detail, inviting readers to explore identity, desire, and the limits of self‑control.

Throughout the story, Lydia watches Buffy the Vampire Slayer and endless food videos, longing for the sensory pleasures she cannot enjoy. She possesses typical vampire gifts—eternal youth, near‑invulnerability, and immortality—yet she feels isolated and perpetually starving. As she matures as an artist and a woman, she confronts the clash between her demon and human sides, her mixed heritage, and her relationship with food. By reconciling these conflicts, Lydia hopes to carve out a place in the world that does not require betrayal of her conscience.

Key Features of Woman, Eating

Fans of contemporary thrillers will appreciate the fresh take on vampire lore. The novel tackles serious themes such as race, disability, misogyny, body image, and sexual abuse with subtlety and insight. Additionally, the narrative mixes vivid culinary descriptions with gritty London street life, creating a sensory backdrop that feels both exotic and familiar.

Moreover, Claire Kohda’s debut is praised by Booker‑shortlisted author Ruth Ozeki, who calls it “absolutely brilliant – tragic, funny, eccentric.” The book balances dark humor with emotional depth, offering a reading experience that is both entertaining and thought‑provoking. Readers also enjoy the protagonist’s artistic journey, as Lydia paints, studies other artists, and discovers her own creative voice.

Why Read This Book?

Because it provides a unique perspective on the vampire myth, placing the creature in a modern, multicultural London setting. The story invites readers to empathize with a being who is both predator and victim. Therefore, it challenges conventional genre expectations and encourages reflection on what it means to belong.

Also, the novel’s pace is brisk, with short chapters that keep momentum high. Meanwhile, the prose remains lyrical, allowing readers to feel Lydia’s hunger and yearning without becoming overwhelmed. Consequently, the book appeals to both genre fans and those who seek literary depth.

About This Book

Language: English
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN‑10: 9780349015637
ISBN‑13: 9780349015637
Genre: Thrillers, Mysteries & Crime
Condition: New

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