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Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'
My Body. Was es heißt, eine Frau zu sein by Emily Ratajkowski
13 reviews
krissyyne's review against another edition
3.75
Emily Ratajkowski is not someone I knew well before reading this book. I had first heard of her when she chose to raise her (now son, as I understand) as someone with they/them pronouns. It was an interesting thing to hear, especially as she was the first major person I'd heard of doing something like that. Her status as a model, though, was what made me follow her. It's what made me follow Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and a slew of lesser known models whose posts I ate up while simultaneously wondering why I couldn't look like that.
I think her book is fascinating. In a world where models are both rewarded and villainized for their beauty, Emily seeks to explain the enigma behind being famous for her body. From her mother to friends to employers, being "beautiful" - a standard, palpable beautiful - was paramount. It gave Emily rewards in the form of validation and attention from older men and women. But it also came with unchecked pain as that attention devolved into (TW!!!) occurrences of stalking, rape, and sexual assault. It provided people with the ability to write her off, because her looks stereotyped her as dumb and unworldly.
I admire Emily. I admire her courage for writing what she did. It is no easy feat to bare yourself, physically and emotionally, on a public forum for people to encourage or disparage you as they wish. Her book, while maybe not the cleanest writing I've ever read, is brave and provides insight into the possible mindsights of models in a way I've never thought to think about before.
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Body shaming, Drug use, and Stalking
leduyhxxng's review against another edition
3.0
In the twelve very personal essays, we can begin to see Emily's stories and the power dynamics that shape modelling. Yet her writing feels rather erratic, sparse in some places and rushed in others, failing at times to connect the thematic thread that Emily herself set out. This is most unfortunate because there are unquestioningly a lot of details and images—beautifully brought out in the essay collection—that feel particularly powerful in the context of her story, but were never adequately explored.
I admire Emily's effort to love through the writing of My Body. My two favourite essays are 'Pamela' and 'Releases'. They were brilliantly written (especially 'Releases,' the final essay of the book), and feel vulnerable and honest. Other essays either feel like the honesty is somehow choking her, the writing indelicate and forced thus choking us as readers, or throwing suppressed anger at other people (which makes it quite awkward to read). But the vulnerability makes you stay, and love Emily Ratajkowski even more for taking the step.
I was fairly let down by both the writing and storytelling of the book. Then again, I greatly admire the effort to find love.
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Blood, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
missemilyn's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship