My Review of "Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia" (via facebook)

by Erin Patricia on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 2:44pm

Okay...
I consider myself of semi-professional Eating Disorder Speciality- not counting the PhD., for the following reasons:

1- I have worked with very severe eating disorder patients

2- I have done extensive research in my undergraduate years on eating disorders.. one of these was presented at the Association for Psychological Science national convention :-)

3- I am a young white female who has been preoccupied with my own body weight.

So. I have A LOT to say about this one.
However, I just don't have the time to write it all. Throughout the entire book, I went back and forth between like and dislike.

For example, I LIKED how she put us in the mind of an eating disorder patient.

I DISLIKED that she made eating disorder professionals look like unsympathetic morons.
I mainly DISLIKED it towards the beginning. Her research data seemed inaccurate, and it sounded more like she was complaining about who she was, and wanted pity on herself.

Now, let's skip to the final review, since I have finished the whole book: I like it- somewhat....

Entertainment value: I think it was great- it kept me entertained, shocked, etc.

Medical standpoint: I DEFINITELY recommend it to medical professionals- it REALLY puts us in their mindset, and helps us understand why that one eating disorder patient hid razors in her underwear, stole condiments, stuffed food in "empty" mugs (true stories of my experience).

Patient standpoint: Not so much. There's a lot of negative connotations that the Marya refers to. I'm pretty sure that most eating disorder patients read this and relapse within the first chapter.

It doesn't have a positive ending.. the whole thing just isn't POSITIVE for someone suffering from this disorder.

Marya is a role model, FOR THE FACT THAT:
A- She survived (I don't know the fuck she did it)
B- She got the guts to speak the naked truth about everything revolving around her eating disorder, as well as the eating disorder itself.

HOWEVER: She is not cured. I'm not sure if any eating disorder patient- past or present- would ever consider themself "cured," as there is such a high rate of relapse. Even if you don't technically "relapse," that thought it always in your head.

I could STILL go on and on and on about so many things in this book, but I would probably just confuse everyone. I gave it an overall ***, and a half *

*** Oh, and if I tagged you, it's because I thought you may be interested in reading this.

Trust me, it can get worse :-(