Reviews

Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy by Kelly Jensen

alittleoverdue's review

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5.0

I am a huge fan of Kelly Jensen's work and was eager to dive into her latest anthology. It did not disappoint! I'm always wary of body-oriented books that tend to just promote the "love your body" ethos and tend to center cis, able, white bodies. This book goes so beyond merely focusing on body size to offering a window into a diversity of bodies through the lived experience of its 37 contributors, including several popular young adult novelists, athletes, and activists. From living with a degenerative neurological condition to gender dysphoria to excessive facial hair, the collection addresses the realities of living in different kinds of bodies. Interspersed with the essays are short FAQ-like pages that provide accurate, and helpful information, breaking down terms like body positivity and disability terminology.

This book is a must-purchase for public and school libraries alike, and it's an outstanding to use as a springboard into discussions and to promote greater understanding and empathy for all bodies. Adults and teens alike can learn so much from this collection (as well as get inspired to dive into more work from its many talented contributors).

biglibraryenergy's review

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challenging inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

booksnbeanies's review

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5.0

From Scoliosis, eating disorders, cancer, and sexuality, Body Talk is a collection of essays, comics, and lists from actors, authors, models, and many more about our bodies and their uniqueness. We all have a body, but do we ever stop and think about the differences in our bodies and others. This book covers a variety of topics about different kinds of bodies and helps us realize the things we should be embracing or taking care of instead of being ashamed or leaving things untreated.

While I related to only a few of the stories in this wonderful book, I loved reading every story in it. From Rachael Lippincott talking about her horrible back brace because of her Scoliosis to Julie Murphy talking about the abundant amount of swimsuits she bought after accepting her body, I was, and still am, in love with this book.

This book is inspiring and also an eye opener. I feel like I’ve learned a lot by reading this book, even about things I thought I understood. Everyone’s story is different, in this book and in real life, and although not all of these stories were relatable to me, I still think they were all worth reading. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and learn something from all of these amazing people.

Thank you, Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

mehsi's review

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4.0

I received this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

A gorgeous book that I am delighted to have the pleasure to read. It features short stories about mental health, weight, muscles, scoliosis, braces, cancer, puberty, LGBT, and many more. All are honest and beautiful. These are the kind of stories I always tend to read first when I see them in magazines. I just love stories about people's lives, about something they experienced, well you get the idea. Some stories made me cry, others made me laugh, that all has to do with how the person wrote their story, some just wrote it with humour. I hope that explains it correctly, otherwise sorry. There are also illustrations added and I like the style of them. Next to short stories by various people we also have FAQs and some other things that fit the theme, I do like that they were added, though those were the ones the hardest to read due to what I will talk about in the next paragraph.

One of the things, and which is why it took me much longer to read than normal, was that the format just didn't work for my Kindle. While doing the blog tour for this book I went on Amazon to grab an excerpt and I found out why my Kindle just ate stuff up. Definitely not a book meant for Kindle, images here and there, borders, and more. So yeah, it wasn't always easy to read as words went missing or were in weird places, sentences broken. Random Body Talk throughout pages.

The other was that some of the stories could have been edited just a dash bit better. Now at times there were repetitions of sentences, jumping around which made me confused (like we would go from past > present and back again), and some other things. Again, the stories were great, honest and wonderful. Yes, I repeat this as people are very sensitive about things.

All in all, a collection I would highly recommend to all.

notinjersey's review

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5.0

I could not put this book down!⁣ I think everyone has something about their body that may not be considered “ideal” by the world we live in. For me, it’s hair. My curly hair becomes a complete frizz ball when brushed, and without knowing better, that’s how I wore it when I was young. Dark body hair was also an issue, and I would likely have a full face of it if I didn’t a) take medication and b) remove it often. I could completely relate to Kelly Jensen’s story about chin hair!⁣ Even the stories that have nothing to do with my body were stories I could learn from and empathize with. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a body!⁣ I really want to read the other books in this series about mental health and feminism now too!

kellen_green's review

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4.0

Some times we live in a bubble thinking we are the only person thinking, feeling and suffering though this situations. Turns out, there are many people like us, or even, people that go though more difficult or incredible situations. Taking about them might give us the perspective we need to see thing with a different light.

Body talk provides a clear insight on how bodies might play against us, but is up to us to keep a path of self acceptance and look for the help and support we need. At the end of the day, no human being is 100% perfect.

The collection of short essays (actually more of a get to know me text) present series of own voices insight of different individuals that have face body related issues (chronic disease, health conditions or physical disability), laying down a truthful picture of what its to live in their skin (taking limitations, self loath and purpose searching reactions), as well as how society needs to understand the wrong paths it has taken, building an acceptance of illogical and non real beauty and normality standards.

A book about understanding that inclusivity does not mean lowering standards but to give fair treatment and to create and awarenes of other's realities.

And amazing book to ponder on your self image and that deemed acceptable. A book to make changes, to start creating a real normality.

Excellent tool for classroom discussion and debate.

A copy of the book was acquired through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

danacoledares's review

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5.0

Clear, direct, and personal. I liked the way that they clarified that there are a wide variety of experiences, but gave specific, detailed examples of symptoms that are actually unhealthy. When your body does something weird it can be tempting to dismiss it as "quirky!" Sometimes that's the case. Sometimes it's not. It's helpful to know the difference!

rebeccazh's review

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4.0

Short and informative essays covering a range of topics about the body and society. I quite enjoyed this.

crystal_reading's review

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5.0

Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley

This is another great collection from editor Kelly Jensen. Jensen has compiled many different experiences here that share the complexities of our relationships to our bodies. There are some serious quite informational blurbs here and there, but the majority of the book is filled with narratives of very personal thoughts and feelings about bodies. As with any compilation, some of the pieces worked better for me than others, but this is a highly recommended purchase in my eyes. Young people, and older folks too if we're being honest, often struggle with how they see their own bodies and here they can many positive and healthy ways to relate to and celebrate our bodies.

Highly recommended.

angelicalomax's review

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funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0