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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dark
medium-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
I think Wasted does a good job on describing anorexia and bulimia, how it overtook Hornbacher's life and her struggle to conquer it. Thing is, I don't really like the way she writes, or the way the book works. hornbacher tends to go on and on about random issues, almost like a screaming diary. Emotional, yet painfully tedious and languid when it's contrasted with anything else. I skipped some paragraphs, because she just went on and on. But her struggle is strong, and it's a good novel to see what it's like to cope with anorexia and bulimia.
I was warned against reading this book due to its triggering content on eating disorders, specifically anorexia, but I was incredibly drawn Hornbacher's story and so, against advice, picked it up. I'm so happy that I did. I would consider this one of my all time favourite memoirs now. It's...a hard book. I wouldn't recommend it cheerily to anyone but it is a book that saved me. The writing is sublime, personal yet not overwhelming in its despair, which would have been so easy to do. There were echoes of my own experience with anorexia, and it was disturbing how many thought processes I had in common with Hornbacher, yet I never felt truly triggered by this book, but of course I would advise ED sufferers/survivors to proceed with caution when reading Wasted. Enlightening for those who have never struggled with ED's and comforting for those who have, this memoir is one I will return to numerous times throughout my life.
reflective
medium-paced
The title of this book clearly states what the content is about- eating disorders. I'm not sure how much more of a warning you need to know that it may trigger things if you have issues with eating disorders. If you are buying a memoir of eating disorders, it is a logical assumption that the author is going to talk about the experiences that they had while hiding it, dealing with it, etc. I bought this book because I have a friend who struggles with Bulimia. I found it very insightful and a great learning tool to get an idea of the things that my friend thought and felt. This wasn't my personal favorite book of the year or anything, but it was very informative.
This isn't really a young adult book but I put it on that shelf because it is a book that is most frequently read by young adults.
Before there was Livejournal and Pinterest and tumblr, there was this book. Although Hornbacher does not glamorize her eating disorder, she included so many details that young people used it as a "tricks of the trade" manual for anorexia. I agree with one of the reviews I read of this book that it might have been more powerful if Hornbacher waited longer to write it -- she was only 23 when it was published. It does not seem like the account of someone who is fully committed to her own health.
If someone doesn't have a healthy relationship with food, this book can definitely be triggering.
2.16.15 - Reread in early February. Giving it an extra star.
Before there was Livejournal and Pinterest and tumblr, there was this book. Although Hornbacher does not glamorize her eating disorder, she included so many details that young people used it as a "tricks of the trade" manual for anorexia. I agree with one of the reviews I read of this book that it might have been more powerful if Hornbacher waited longer to write it -- she was only 23 when it was published. It does not seem like the account of someone who is fully committed to her own health.
If someone doesn't have a healthy relationship with food, this book can definitely be triggering.
2.16.15 - Reread in early February. Giving it an extra star.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Fantastic—while her prose at times is flowery and not to my taste, it's hard to argue she doesn't tell her story well and perhaps in the best way for her.
Some parts were really breath taking, while some felt like they were dragging on. It was a good portrayal of the mind of an anorexic. Read this book for class, therefore without the class probably would never have came across it.