Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

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

4 reviews

alexiasophii's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.75

"We’re afraid that if we show these ugly, unpalatable parts of ourselves, it will be too much for others; that nobody will love and accept us, and we’ll be left alone with only the worst parts of ourselves for company."

"And I decide, now, in this moment, that I want it; I want this body. I want to inhabit her, enjoy her, care for her, and defend her in this world. And I no longer want to be yet another voice telling her she’s disgusting or embarrassing or inadequate or too much. I want to be one of those arresting voices of love and compassion, to offer her a space where she can go to restore, to feel safe, to grow."

WOW.
This book is profound, gut-wrenching, and transformative. Evanna's warning at the beginning of the book is true, the book focused about 80 or 90% of it on the eating disorder aspects. It is very graphic what Evanna went through. A good part of the book, and that I enjoyed, is that Evanna does not mention weights or calories or any of those things. As she says, eating disorders feed on the "achievements" and on measuring against other people. Learning how much other people weigh, especially at the lowest point of their battle, is not empathic, it is competitive. And it is not helpful to anyone. I particularly enjoyed how Evanna explains her journey and shows that healing is not linear, but a series of battles and fights, up and downs, wins and losses. 

This book is definitely not good for people who struggle with eating disorders, especially anorexia or bulimia. Be careful of Evanna's first Author's Note, she is being very sincere and direct in her warnings. 

Overall, I loved this book. I truly did. And I think it sparked something transformative in me and I will come back to it several times in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Vomit, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Gaslighting, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Addiction, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical content, Body horror, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Mental illness, Bullying, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Medical trauma

azebrareads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Fatphobia, Addiction, Confinement, Drug use, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Bullying, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship

burnyayhayley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This book is incredibly well written. Every chapter is imbued with empathy and forethought for the circumstance of the reader, a deep desire to not upset anyone for the sake of proclaiming details of a disorder. I found this to be consistently apparent in the writing, and even though I am not vulnerable in the way Lynch imagines I might be, I appreciated only knowing what I needed to. Her writing was genuinely sweet and often funny— there were many points I laughed aloud or which filled me with delight— not exactly expected from an eating disorder memoir. 
My favourite part is how much of the recovery journey is detailed. It remains always imperfect, but she is so honest about what she was feeling when she was expected to be something else, and she includes the perspectives of doctors and her beloved psychotherapist, which lends a more nuanced understanding of both the disorder and the flawed treatments in place for it. I feel, now I have finished reading this book, that I not only know Evanna Lynch (and even her HP counterpart) better, but that I am more equipped with language and knowledge to understand the way an eating disorder impacts the psyche. I wish I could have read this book ten years ago, really, as it could have done my perspective a lot of good. But I am very glad to have read it now. 
I highly recommend this book to anyone. Of course bear in mind the CW, but Lynch is careful to care for you throughout, so I don't feel scared to say: I think you can read this book and be assured she is right there with you, and not intending to bring anyone harm. I feel it provides a lot more healing than it does harm. Truly, Bravo. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Eating disorder, Outing, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Confinement, Body shaming, Self harm, Fatphobia, and Medical content