Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up by Evanna Lynch

39 reviews

ckreads28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Although I went into this book blind not knowing the context of Evanna expressing her mental health and eating disorder journey. I was excited to get my "hands" (ears) on learning more on another actor I loves journey.

She was open and raw in the best way taking what she learned from other books that didn't help in them, and making what she thought would help in hers. It was a bit slow but it was going through her young life to her current(at the time it was published) so it is a bit of a slow read.

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lauren_miller's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

this is a very hard review to write.

I absolutely adore Evanna's writing—it is visceral, evocative, creative, whimsical, playful, and honest. and because I love her voice, I found the material, as rough and heart-wrenching as it was, bearable and even at times amusing.

there is nothing amusing about the subject matter in this book. it is written by someone formerly defined by and forever to be associated with anorexia. it is not written lightly, which i think should be appreciated. it does not shy away at all; the mind of someone with an eating disorder is exactly as this book portrays—angry, ashamed, depressed, manic, obsessive, cruel, yet at the same time incredibly passionate, playful, mischievous, lively, thoughtful, sensitive, and even kind. this book is not necessarily for the disordered eaters, but for the outsiders—the parents, family, friends, colleagues, bystanders, and general public that will never truly understand what it means to be in or out of control of one's body. it is a messy and poignant look at the thought patterns, buried far beneath one's physical appearance, that dictate every aspect of a disordered eater's life with such seductive and dark finesse...

...and the reality that these thoughts never go away. an eating disorder can be treated (ethically, I pray) and the recovery label "achieved," but just like any chronic illness, will never truly leave the person.

and that's ok.

Evanna is proof that choosing recovery—making those hundreds of small decisions every day to choose health and happiness over control and "peace of mind"—is hard but possible. I respect and admire that immensely.

I admire this book a lot and hope this is not the last we've seen of Evanna as a storyteller.
5 out of 5 stars.

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puckeverlasting's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

This was an insightful and enjoyable listen. Evanna's voice is charming and a pleasure to listen to, and the narrative and language used flowed well. She didn't attempt to sugar coat nor did she sensationalize. This is a must read for anyone who has struggled with an eating disorder. Excellent overall, and a beautifully done memoir.

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