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zhzhang's review against another edition
5.0
My feeling towards this book is beyond words. When mental illness and physical sickness combine, the demon attack your beloved one brutally, and you cannot bear the heaviness because when you fight the demon, you are fighting the beloved one at the same time.
katieparz's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly, this is the best book about recovery from eating disorders (and mental health issues in general) I've ever read. I think a lot of things written in it can apply to other issues in life too. It was really inspiring. Definitely a book someone who suffers from an eating disorder should read, as well as family of someone with an eating disorder. A book anyone who suffers from some kind of mental health problem should read too, especially if they're looking for some motivation.
ajburg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
bigboop's review against another edition
2.5
As a social worker and someone with an ED I have problems with this book. The why's are never explored, the mother equates weight with recovery, and the whole book is about her.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Ms. Brown has written a mix of memoir and analysis of how to treat anorexia, based on the year(s) her family battled daughter Kitty's "demon". I've worked with students that have had eating disorders, and I've seen the toll it takes on families - it's definitely a disaster for everyone.
Kitty's descent at first appears normal: what girl doesn't watch her weight? Particularly a girl who is involved with some form of athletic activity (in this case, gymnastics)? Our society constantly bombards us with images of thin = in, and even the extreme cases (like, Calista Flockhart or Kate Moss) are somehow acceptable rather than shunned. So dieting, or 'restricting' appears normal to parents. At some point, however, you notice that this normal has become grossly abnormal, and by then your child is helpless in the grip of the disease.
How the Brown's cope with this - from treatment and therapy to battling the insurance companies - makes for interesting reading. It's clear that this is an on-going battle, that even three years (or five years) later Kitty is still in danger of allowing her demon to take over. The decision to go with FBT rather than the usual in-patient therapy is interesting, so their results aren't typical but it's an option families should consider. This is definitely going in our parenting collection.
ARC provided by publisher.
Kitty's descent at first appears normal: what girl doesn't watch her weight? Particularly a girl who is involved with some form of athletic activity (in this case, gymnastics)? Our society constantly bombards us with images of thin = in, and even the extreme cases (like, Calista Flockhart or Kate Moss) are somehow acceptable rather than shunned. So dieting, or 'restricting' appears normal to parents. At some point, however, you notice that this normal has become grossly abnormal, and by then your child is helpless in the grip of the disease.
How the Brown's cope with this - from treatment and therapy to battling the insurance companies - makes for interesting reading. It's clear that this is an on-going battle, that even three years (or five years) later Kitty is still in danger of allowing her demon to take over. The decision to go with FBT rather than the usual in-patient therapy is interesting, so their results aren't typical but it's an option families should consider. This is definitely going in our parenting collection.
ARC provided by publisher.
clellman's review against another edition
4.0
liked/agreed with some stuff, disliked/disagreed with other stuff
mick's review against another edition
5.0
Written from the mother's perspective of a daughter's battle with anorexia, this book encapsulates the way that it affects the entire family. They choose to pursue FBT (family based treatment), which is not commonly used, but generally has more success than residential programs. The book was engaging, insightful, emotional, and yet had lots of interesting scientific references.
marryallthepeople's review against another edition
2.0
Obviously a compelling true story that was easy to read, but it lacked depth.
nikod6e08's review against another edition
1.0
read this book in eighth grade to trigger my ed. remember it sometimes now to trigger my ed
candykay's review against another edition
5.0
Heart-wrenching, informative, real. Harriet Brown takes you on the harrowing journey through anorexia as seen from a mother's point of view. You learn as she learns, what works and what doesn't on the road to recovery. I definitely recommend this book.