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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Ahh, another book I purchased while reeling from my surgery and on a lot of painkillers - hence another book that's been on my Goodreads 'to read' list for over ten years. How exciting.
I hesitate to say I loved this, as it's a rough topic. But I did fall in love with Hornbacher's writing, as difficult as what she put herself through was. I wish there had been more of a psychological breakdown about her recovery, but given the timing in which she wrote this and how she was still within the grasps of her eating disorder even at the time of publishing, I can see what that wasn't the case. Besides, eating disorder treatment was still a work in progress in the mid-90s, as it is today.
A lot of reviewers mention here about how this book gives tips for those suffering with eating disorders, and that's true. It does. But I don't believe this is a reason to ban this book, to censor it or age restrict it, especially in today's culture when a lot of these tips and tricks are easily accessible with a simple Google search.
One thing... God, I wanted to shake her parents. Your child is literally killing herself, she is DYING, and you keep sending her around the country alone and leaving her by herself for vast stretches of the time? Every time you send her away, she comes back and she's worse. What the fuck is wrong with her parents?
I hesitate to say I loved this, as it's a rough topic. But I did fall in love with Hornbacher's writing, as difficult as what she put herself through was. I wish there had been more of a psychological breakdown about her recovery, but given the timing in which she wrote this and how she was still within the grasps of her eating disorder even at the time of publishing, I can see what that wasn't the case. Besides, eating disorder treatment was still a work in progress in the mid-90s, as it is today.
A lot of reviewers mention here about how this book gives tips for those suffering with eating disorders, and that's true. It does. But I don't believe this is a reason to ban this book, to censor it or age restrict it, especially in today's culture when a lot of these tips and tricks are easily accessible with a simple Google search.
One thing... God, I wanted to shake her parents. Your child is literally killing herself, she is DYING, and you keep sending her around the country alone and leaving her by herself for vast stretches of the time? Every time you send her away, she comes back and she's worse. What the fuck is wrong with her parents?
"I fell for the great American dream, female version, hook, line, and sinker. I, as many young women do, honest-to-god believed that once I Just Lost a Few Pounds, somehow I would suddenly be a New You, I would have Ken-doll men chasing my thin legs down with bouquets of flowers on the street, I would become rich and famous and glamorous and lose my freckles and become blond and five foot ten." (91)
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Vomit
Other reviews say that reading this book may be a very bad idea for someone who is struggling with eating issues. Being a person with no such struggle, I found the book to be powerful and eye-opening. The world needs to work on not calling "thinness" a virtue. It's pretty horrifying what girls (not to be sexist, but it's mainly an issue for girls) will go through to try to crowbar themselves into society's image of perfection. I also give this book big writing points; Ms. Hornbacher's prose is magnificent.
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
I can see how this book would be very triggering
I love Marya, I've watched every possible interview of her online. She is a very articulate and intelligent woman. Now I know that she writes as well as she talks if not better.
Wasted is a very interesting memoir, a tough one. There is no doubt that she mastered her subject (and by that I of course don't mean herself but her mental illnesses) not only from the point of view of the sufferer but in a more scientific, academic way as well.
The author is brave enough to expose herself but also her family very openly to the public and I think a lot of people will relate to her experience.
Nonetheless, I didn't give it a five star rating because I think it lacks something, more on her recovery. She details her life with anorexia and bulimia greatly and only tackles healing in a mere 10 pages at the end. While I understand that it is hard to pinpoint exactly to what helped you recover, as much as it is hard to get why you got sick in the first place, I believe that it is an important thing to discuss. I would have enjoyed a larger section on how much brighter life became for her, especially when she herself (I am paraphrasing) says that recovery is more interesting than being ill.
I guess the main thing here, is that I think she wrote this book too early on. I'm sure that she had the best intentions but she wasn't -and she says it herself- quite well yet, and it shows in many ways.
I wouldn't recommend this book to someone still struggling with any sort of eating disorder because it is incredibly triggering. However it is not to say that you shouldn't read it but please if you do, just do so with caution. On another hand, if you are looking for a proof that you are not alone and that someone actually understands what you have gone through as a sufferer, I say with certainty that you will find it in those pages.
Despite what was said above,I think it is a great book if you wish to understand more about EDs, and it is quite simply just a fantastic memoir, as honest and unbiased as can be. It is hard to believe that she was just 22 (? 23?) when she wrote it.
I certainly will go back to it, and have cornered MANY pages. She gives some really great perspectives on these illnesses that you don't hear so often. Very interesting..
Wasted is a very interesting memoir, a tough one. There is no doubt that she mastered her subject (and by that I of course don't mean herself but her mental illnesses) not only from the point of view of the sufferer but in a more scientific, academic way as well.
The author is brave enough to expose herself but also her family very openly to the public and I think a lot of people will relate to her experience.
Nonetheless, I didn't give it a five star rating because I think it lacks something, more on her recovery. She details her life with anorexia and bulimia greatly and only tackles healing in a mere 10 pages at the end. While I understand that it is hard to pinpoint exactly to what helped you recover, as much as it is hard to get why you got sick in the first place, I believe that it is an important thing to discuss. I would have enjoyed a larger section on how much brighter life became for her, especially when she herself (I am paraphrasing) says that recovery is more interesting than being ill.
I guess the main thing here, is that I think she wrote this book too early on. I'm sure that she had the best intentions but she wasn't -and she says it herself- quite well yet, and it shows in many ways.
I wouldn't recommend this book to someone still struggling with any sort of eating disorder because it is incredibly triggering. However it is not to say that you shouldn't read it but please if you do, just do so with caution. On another hand, if you are looking for a proof that you are not alone and that someone actually understands what you have gone through as a sufferer, I say with certainty that you will find it in those pages.
Despite what was said above,I think it is a great book if you wish to understand more about EDs, and it is quite simply just a fantastic memoir, as honest and unbiased as can be. It is hard to believe that she was just 22 (? 23?) when she wrote it.
I certainly will go back to it, and have cornered MANY pages. She gives some really great perspectives on these illnesses that you don't hear so often. Very interesting..
This was good but I wasnt as sucked into it as I thought I would be.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Hornbacher’s writing style absolutely made me love this book. She blends information about EDs, her memories and literary references beautifully. It has strong dark academia vibes. I took my time reading it so I could luxuriate in the experience. I immediately picked up Madness, her other memoir. The only reason this isn’t a five star is the incredibly dark topic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship