21 May 2009

AP

Inspired by G. Samsa's post, I thought I would no longer call the books I've been reading 'ED books' and heretofore address them, per her suggestion, as "Ana Porn". :)

I have read the following in the last few weeks:

Wasted – Marya Horbacher
The Best Little Girl In the World - Steven Levenkron
Going Hungry: Writers on Desire, Self-Denial, and Overcoming Anorexia - Kate M. Taylor
Purge: Rehab Diaries - Nicole Johns
Stick Figure - Lori Gottlieb
Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson

Wasted, as I'm sure you all know, is a classic. I would also strongly suggest Wintergirls, which I just finished yesterday. It was powerful. The Best Little Girl In The World was good but I could never forget that it was written by a male ED doctor. The essays in Going Hungry were interesting mostly because of the variety of voices; young,old, black, white, rich, poor. Some of the essays stuck with me and some were dreadful. Take what you will from it. As for Purge by Nichole Johns, I have mixed feelings about it. The ending left me wanting but I suppose that's how life is with an ED. Stick Figure was a surprisingly enjoyable read. The author's smart-ass personality appealed to me.

I am currently reading Running on Empty by Carrie Arnold. She's a heady combination of depression, OCD, and ana. Very self-aware and very self destructive. So far I like her a lot.

I also bought the book Thin by Lauren Greenfield. Greenfield did a documentary of the same name for HBO. I've never seen the film but the book is amazing. She is a photographer and the pictures she took of the women and girls at Renfrew just have to be seen. The book lays out their stories in their own words and although they are some of the most gut wrenching accounts of lives come undone, I find myself gazing over the images and feeling thinspired. How sick am I?

In addition I have Perfect: Anorexia & Me by Emily Halban and Fasting Girls: The History of Anorexia Nervosa by Joan Jacobs Brumberg sitting on my shelf waiting for me to read next.

I have been a bit overcome with all of the AP I'm indulging in but it absolutely enthralls me.

No way can this be normal.

Anywho - I am enjoying it and doing my part to keep Border's Books in business.

Please feel free to suggest any other good reads I should purchase or tell me if you liked/hated any of the books already listed.

As for my intake, yesterday was a successful fast day and today is a fasting day as well. So far, only water and some kombucha. There will be green tea and more water for lunch.

Starve on!

7 comments:

  1. Congrats on your fast day :)
    I havent read any of these books but I'm glad you suggested some of them. Now I know which ones could be interesting for me, so thank you!

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  2. oh - and the THIN documentary was just ok for me, I guess I didn't relate to them well enough for it to hit any chords.

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  3. wow...i need to go to barnes and nobless.....hope all is well!

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  4. sounds like you are happy. stay happy :)

    i love reading

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  5. hi Africana!
    several years ago i read some books that were particularly triggering for me. not sure if you've read them but i thought i would suggest them nonetheless...

    Bronte's Story: this is a book written by an Australian girl named Bronte Cullis about her very public battle with anorexia. it contains her actual journal. also, if you can get your hands on it, there is a documentary series about her struggle and a follow-up during her recovery. she was "treated" at the infamous Montreux clinic in Victoria BC.

    Anorexia's Fallen Angel: this is about Peggy Claude-Pierre and the Montreux clinic. it includes a lot of stories about patients there. so triggering. i don't know why but anything to do with Montreux does it for me.

    happy reading! oh, and i love reading about EDs, so please continue to update us on the books you're reading!

    xo

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  6. i read thin a few months ago and i loved it.

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  7. thank you for posting about the ed books! i am really looking forward to getting my grubby paws on some good stick reads very soon. much appreciated!!!
    love, kk

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