Scan barcode
A review by inkdrinkers
My Body by Emily Ratajkowski
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I saw someone say "the girls that get it, get it, and the girls that don't, don't" and that sums up My Body in such a wonderfully round about way.
When I heard about this book I was interested in it for multiple reasons: Emily Ratajkowski is a well known model and actress, often looked at as a sex symbol and heralded as a dream woman for a lot of men. I remember, distinctly, a frat guy that I knew in college telling me once that she was the ultimate girl.
What's important about this is that this set of essays is specifically about the author and her experiences in her own body. She clarifies this up front and from the beginning, she's not setting out to comment on anyone else's experiences but her own. Yes, her lifestyle isn't something many people can relate to, but there's a raw, frenetic energy to the way she writes and slices specific moments from her life - just to lay them out on the page for others to consume.
I really enjoyed all the essays in this book. Though raw and unflinching, and sometimes surface level, they were so interesting and intense to read. She doesn't shy away from moments that others might gloss over or omit entirely and I really loved the anger and fierceness in her voice as the essays transformed towards the end to show a stronger, angrier view.
I will say that this book contains a lot of triggering material. At the heart its about the consent that was often ripped away from Emily as her body was used as an object in various forms and fashions. Assault is discussed openly and without frills, sometimes nauseating to read about how commonplace it became for her to expect that someone would try to take advantage.
When I heard about this book I was interested in it for multiple reasons: Emily Ratajkowski is a well known model and actress, often looked at as a sex symbol and heralded as a dream woman for a lot of men. I remember, distinctly, a frat guy that I knew in college telling me once that she was the ultimate girl.
What's important about this is that this set of essays is specifically about the author and her experiences in her own body. She clarifies this up front and from the beginning, she's not setting out to comment on anyone else's experiences but her own. Yes, her lifestyle isn't something many people can relate to, but there's a raw, frenetic energy to the way she writes and slices specific moments from her life - just to lay them out on the page for others to consume.
I really enjoyed all the essays in this book. Though raw and unflinching, and sometimes surface level, they were so interesting and intense to read. She doesn't shy away from moments that others might gloss over or omit entirely and I really loved the anger and fierceness in her voice as the essays transformed towards the end to show a stronger, angrier view.
I will say that this book contains a lot of triggering material. At the heart its about the consent that was often ripped away from Emily as her body was used as an object in various forms and fashions. Assault is discussed openly and without frills, sometimes nauseating to read about how commonplace it became for her to expect that someone would try to take advantage.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Sexism
This book details multiple times the author was raped or assaulted. The events are discussed on page in a reflective manner. Some happened as a child and others happened as a young adult.
Disordered eating and commentary about bodies is present as the author discusses her experience in the modeling and film industry.
Sexism and misogyny towards women are rampant in many instances of the author's past.