Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up by Evanna Lynch

49 reviews

oldmanbookworm's review

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is a book about fighting demons, about courage, about defeat and succumbing to the demons over and over again. This book is a deep look into the mental anguished of anorexia, the justification one makes to stay that way and the willpower it takes to “recover” from it. This is a journey to recovery that was only possible because of the love Evanna is surrounded with from family and her dad that never gave up on her. This is a emotional book that will drain you through most of it as you travel through live with her, but end with empowerment as you join her during her moment of finally finding sel-love. This was one of the best books I have ever read.

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alexiasophii's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.75

"We’re afraid that if we show these ugly, unpalatable parts of ourselves, it will be too much for others; that nobody will love and accept us, and we’ll be left alone with only the worst parts of ourselves for company."

"And I decide, now, in this moment, that I want it; I want this body. I want to inhabit her, enjoy her, care for her, and defend her in this world. And I no longer want to be yet another voice telling her she’s disgusting or embarrassing or inadequate or too much. I want to be one of those arresting voices of love and compassion, to offer her a space where she can go to restore, to feel safe, to grow."

WOW.
This book is profound, gut-wrenching, and transformative. Evanna's warning at the beginning of the book is true, the book focused about 80 or 90% of it on the eating disorder aspects. It is very graphic what Evanna went through. A good part of the book, and that I enjoyed, is that Evanna does not mention weights or calories or any of those things. As she says, eating disorders feed on the "achievements" and on measuring against other people. Learning how much other people weigh, especially at the lowest point of their battle, is not empathic, it is competitive. And it is not helpful to anyone. I particularly enjoyed how Evanna explains her journey and shows that healing is not linear, but a series of battles and fights, up and downs, wins and losses.

This book is definitely not good for people who struggle with eating disorders, especially anorexia or bulimia. Be careful of Evanna's first Author's Note, she is being very sincere and direct in her warnings.

Overall, I loved this book. I truly did. And I think it sparked something transformative in me and I will come back to it several times in the future.

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sharleight's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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jennac1126's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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lauren_miller's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

this is a very hard review to write.

I absolutely adore Evanna's writing—it is visceral, evocative, creative, whimsical, playful, and honest. and because I love her voice, I found the material, as rough and heart-wrenching as it was, bearable and even at times amusing.

there is nothing amusing about the subject matter in this book. it is written by someone formerly defined by and forever to be associated with anorexia. it is not written lightly, which i think should be appreciated. it does not shy away at all; the mind of someone with an eating disorder is exactly as this book portrays—angry, ashamed, depressed, manic, obsessive, cruel, yet at the same time incredibly passionate, playful, mischievous, lively, thoughtful, sensitive, and even kind. this book is not necessarily for the disordered eaters, but for the outsiders—the parents, family, friends, colleagues, bystanders, and general public that will never truly understand what it means to be in or out of control of one's body. it is a messy and poignant look at the thought patterns, buried far beneath one's physical appearance, that dictate every aspect of a disordered eater's life with such seductive and dark finesse...

...and the reality that these thoughts never go away. an eating disorder can be treated (ethically, I pray) and the recovery label "achieved," but just like any chronic illness, will never truly leave the person.

and that's ok.

Evanna is proof that choosing recovery—making those hundreds of small decisions every day to choose health and happiness over control and "peace of mind"—is hard but possible. I respect and admire that immensely.

I admire this book a lot and hope this is not the last we've seen of Evanna as a storyteller.
5 out of 5 stars.

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puckeverlasting's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

This was an insightful and enjoyable listen. Evanna's voice is charming and a pleasure to listen to, and the narrative and language used flowed well. She didn't attempt to sugar coat nor did she sensationalize. This is a must read for anyone who has struggled with an eating disorder. Excellent overall, and a beautifully done memoir.

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