The chocolate went first, then the cheese, the fries, the ice cream. The bread was more difficult, but if she could just lose a little more weight, perhaps she would make the soloists’ list. Perhaps if she were lighter, danced better, tried harder, she would be good enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile, lost just one more pound.
Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears – imperfection, failure, loneliness – she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.
Every bite causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will require strength, endurance, and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street.
My Review:
5 Stars
This book was a really tough read for me. I struggle just like Anna. The only difference is that I am more in control. I've never gotten to the point that she has and by reading this book I really hope that never happens.
Anna and her husband have reached the point of no return where her health is concerned. The only option now is an inpatient type program. A program that will require Anna and her love to be apart for longer than they have been in awhile.
While Anna reflects on how she's gotten to where she is, she also has to cope with the various ways she's going to have to utilize in order to make herself better. The road ahead is a tough one, one that she is going to need help if she's ever going to make it to the end.
A heart wrenching look at the tole an eating disorder takes not only on the person, but on the family as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment