Going Hungry
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5.0 • 5 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Here, collected for the first time, 19 writers describe their eating disorders from the distance of recovery, exposing as never before the anorexic's self-enclosed world.
“This anthology lends remarkable texture to a subject that has been too often sensationalized and oversimplified.” —The New York Times
Taking up issues including depression, genetics, sexuality, sports, religion, fashion and family, these essays examine the role anorexia plays in a young person's search for direction. Powerful and immensely informative, this collection makes accessible the mindset of a disease that has long been misunderstood.
With essays by Priscilla Becker, Francesca Lia Block, Maya Browne, Jennifer Egan, Clara Elliot, Amanda Fortini, Louise Glück, Latria Graham, Francine du Plessix Gray, Trisha Gura, Sarah Haight, Lisa Halliday, Elizabeth Kadetsky, Maura Kelly, Ilana Kurshan, Joyce Maynard, John Nolan, Rudy Ruiz, and Kate Taylor.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Shedding light on anorexia and other eating disorders, Taylor gathers the personal stories of a range of writers, producing an occasionally inspiring but repetitive collection. Though gifted contributors (Jennifer Egan, Louise Gluck, Joyce Maynard) offer honest, occasionally insightful accounts, many are is a strikingly similar; most can remember day they began their dark journey into anorexia and/or bulimia with striking clarity. Most see anorexia as a chronic affliction, shaping their relationships with food and loved ones, but in no way precluding happy, fulfilling lives. Powerful moments come from Amanda Fortini, medical writer Trisha Gura (who meshes her story with insight into the latest theories on anorexia) and John Nolan, but Taylor's collection is decidedly WASP-heavy: tales of ivy league schools, living abroad in Italy, auditioning for prominent ballet schools and living up to the expectations of glamorous, high-profile parents do little to deflect the stereotype of anorexia as an affliction of affluence. Still, those struggling with an eating disorder are sure to find among these personal essay at least one that will help them better understand their own condition, and provide company and hope (if not necessarily a plan for recovery).
