KathrynTheCat
01-19-2007, 03:12 AM
Hey all,
I've read so many books that I don't remember all their names, but a certain amount have stayed ingrained in my memory, and many on my bookshelf. These are books that affected me and a summary of how. Some may help you or not, this is just my experience of them. Please note that some books may share the name with other books, if so please forgive me as I do not have the authors with me to write up.
'Slim to None' - This was amazing and was compiled by the father of a girl who died due to Anorexia. At times this was shocking, however I was in recovery at the time and needed a booster. Not only did this help me to realise how severely this (ED) can affect the person going through it, it also helped me see some of what it can do to those who care for the person. This may definately trigger some people so be cautious. It really helped me.
'Mirror, Mirror', by Diana someone (I think) - I know there is another book with the same title, but that is different. With this edition the author is not focusing on just one thing and it is not 'about ED' as such. In the layout she goes through different things that can affect up, including issues such as abuse, body image, etc. She talks about a 'mirror of truth', among other things. This is the kind of book that you can skip to the areas relating to you, and although it is possible it could trigger, I do not consider it to be a 'danger' book. I found a lot of it helpful, and some of it just something to read.
'Dying Not To Eat', by Kathryn De Bruin - This was amazing, but could very possibly trigger. It is basically about a teacher who has been struggling on and off with ED for over a decade. She is in her thirties and seems to be finally coming out of it (or has just come out of it), and she is describing her experiences. The author is an English teacher and thus this isn't one of those books that everyone would be able to read. It is very literary and thus if not a big reader then I wouldn't suggest it. I swore that I wouldn't be battling ED for me life when I got into my thirties, especially after reading this book, and so far so good for me. Amazing woman.
'Real Gorgeous', by Kaz Cooke - This is one of my favourite authors of all time. I have just been reading her book on pregnancy 'Up The Duff' and I laugh myself stupid. Anyway, basically Kaz writes about real things, with decent information, but in a light and humourous way. This book isn't just about ED, and infact hardly goes on about it (very welcome when everyone around you is talking about Your ED). She makes light about the female body and many other things. This is a girl's book more than anything, sorry guys, but I found it really great in helping me to start accepting myself and my body, and more than anything, to not be so serious about every detail. It helped me to laugh again. An absolute fav of mine.
'Bronte's Story' - Most Australians would have hearn of this book, and many in other countries also. I found some bits triggering, some just shocking, and others interesting. For me it wasn't so much helpful, but more an interesting read. There is a lot of talk of family and other things, and as my family was dysfunctional to begin with that was hard on me as they are a true family. (By dysfunctional I mean separate houses somehow squeezed under one roof, but with fences and security around each.) Tangent, but either way it's a great book, just didn't do much for me.
'Alice in the Looking Glass' - This was co-written by a girl and her mother. It is separated into the mother's story and the daughter's story. I found this really interesting as it showed the side that we don't see, it shows what people who love us go through, in this case the mother. I had been so harsh on my mother and things happened, but I started to see that she was struggling and at a loss of what to do. I became compassionate towards her and now we get on rather well, but that has taken a lot of time and work. Along with willingness from us both. There are possible triggers, however I found everything so amazing that I just got lost in the book or my thoughts and I wasn't triggered negatively.
There are three books that I have read numerous times and regardless what my struggle at the time I found something in them that helped me through. These are not about ED or anything like that, but are more basic life books that are just amazing.
Two are by the author Pema Chodron, who is actually a Buddhist nun and teacher.
The first is 'Start Where You Are' - I have friends who keep this on their shelf and just go to it and open it at a page, any page, and read where they were drawn to. I have read it right through, and at other times have simply opened it and read a lesson or that for the day. Usually that page or paragraph is just what I need to get me through that day, or to chance that day from ordinary to wonderful. It works on mid-sets for a large part, but not in an 'in-you-face' sort of way. Amazing and very low-risk of triggering.
The second is 'When Things Fall Apart' - I was first recommended this book by my Buddhist teacher at a time where I'd just lost a close friend, and father figure, to suicide within months of my own attempt. I was a mess and going through I don't know what. That was a very challenging year due to external events directly impacting me, and my ingrained reactions to those. To be honest I barely read any of this book at that time, even though I had gone out to buy it straight away, and instead I sunk into a deep depression and basically an emotional hibernation. Had I read it then things would have most likely happened differently, as it was I picked it up and read it cover to cover after I lost my boyfriend to cancer. I took bits in then, enough to get me through at least. Finally when I was almost at my lowest weight and was bordering on being admitted into hosp I picked it up for some reason and slowly things started to change. I didn't rush through the book this time but would pick it up and read a bit and then sit with it before reading further. Sometimes that would be a paragraph, sometimes over a chapter. I found that I got the most out of this when I allowed my body and mind to process it, without all the intellect getting in the way. One of the best books I have ever read. It is written in simple terms, as with all her books, and is so powerful and can be life-altering in a very positive way. I would recommend both these books to anyone, ED or not, and any stage of the ED journey.
The third book is not everyone's taste, however has had a profound effect on me.
'The Red Tent', by Anita Diamant - This is close to, if not the, favourite books of mine ever to date. Some people may not like it for it is kind of the female side of the bible, for the story about Jacob and his twelve sons, including Joseph. To me this book describes the female journey and rites and traditions that many cultures once held firm to. The rites of passage, the respect men held for women, the woman's trust in her body, and the connections between people. It is narated by Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, and the sister of Joseph. It tracks the journey of her mother and aunts, her own childhood, and then her journey into motherhood and beyond. This may not be suitable for some in early recovery, however for those who are able, it is a reminder of the gifts of womanhood and femaleness. I have been struggling with gaining as I am pregnant, though I have been in recovery for a time now, and this 'story' has helped me cherish every moment I have with this precious developing life inside me. It has not 'solved' my issues, however has helped me see them in a different light. This may trigger some, and is probably not something males would really want to read. This is a god-send for me and I am grateful to the wisdom of women, ancestors, and the wisdom in this novel.
There are many more books, but these are the main I can think of. Sorry for writing so much. Happy Reading.
Kath
I've read so many books that I don't remember all their names, but a certain amount have stayed ingrained in my memory, and many on my bookshelf. These are books that affected me and a summary of how. Some may help you or not, this is just my experience of them. Please note that some books may share the name with other books, if so please forgive me as I do not have the authors with me to write up.
'Slim to None' - This was amazing and was compiled by the father of a girl who died due to Anorexia. At times this was shocking, however I was in recovery at the time and needed a booster. Not only did this help me to realise how severely this (ED) can affect the person going through it, it also helped me see some of what it can do to those who care for the person. This may definately trigger some people so be cautious. It really helped me.
'Mirror, Mirror', by Diana someone (I think) - I know there is another book with the same title, but that is different. With this edition the author is not focusing on just one thing and it is not 'about ED' as such. In the layout she goes through different things that can affect up, including issues such as abuse, body image, etc. She talks about a 'mirror of truth', among other things. This is the kind of book that you can skip to the areas relating to you, and although it is possible it could trigger, I do not consider it to be a 'danger' book. I found a lot of it helpful, and some of it just something to read.
'Dying Not To Eat', by Kathryn De Bruin - This was amazing, but could very possibly trigger. It is basically about a teacher who has been struggling on and off with ED for over a decade. She is in her thirties and seems to be finally coming out of it (or has just come out of it), and she is describing her experiences. The author is an English teacher and thus this isn't one of those books that everyone would be able to read. It is very literary and thus if not a big reader then I wouldn't suggest it. I swore that I wouldn't be battling ED for me life when I got into my thirties, especially after reading this book, and so far so good for me. Amazing woman.
'Real Gorgeous', by Kaz Cooke - This is one of my favourite authors of all time. I have just been reading her book on pregnancy 'Up The Duff' and I laugh myself stupid. Anyway, basically Kaz writes about real things, with decent information, but in a light and humourous way. This book isn't just about ED, and infact hardly goes on about it (very welcome when everyone around you is talking about Your ED). She makes light about the female body and many other things. This is a girl's book more than anything, sorry guys, but I found it really great in helping me to start accepting myself and my body, and more than anything, to not be so serious about every detail. It helped me to laugh again. An absolute fav of mine.
'Bronte's Story' - Most Australians would have hearn of this book, and many in other countries also. I found some bits triggering, some just shocking, and others interesting. For me it wasn't so much helpful, but more an interesting read. There is a lot of talk of family and other things, and as my family was dysfunctional to begin with that was hard on me as they are a true family. (By dysfunctional I mean separate houses somehow squeezed under one roof, but with fences and security around each.) Tangent, but either way it's a great book, just didn't do much for me.
'Alice in the Looking Glass' - This was co-written by a girl and her mother. It is separated into the mother's story and the daughter's story. I found this really interesting as it showed the side that we don't see, it shows what people who love us go through, in this case the mother. I had been so harsh on my mother and things happened, but I started to see that she was struggling and at a loss of what to do. I became compassionate towards her and now we get on rather well, but that has taken a lot of time and work. Along with willingness from us both. There are possible triggers, however I found everything so amazing that I just got lost in the book or my thoughts and I wasn't triggered negatively.
There are three books that I have read numerous times and regardless what my struggle at the time I found something in them that helped me through. These are not about ED or anything like that, but are more basic life books that are just amazing.
Two are by the author Pema Chodron, who is actually a Buddhist nun and teacher.
The first is 'Start Where You Are' - I have friends who keep this on their shelf and just go to it and open it at a page, any page, and read where they were drawn to. I have read it right through, and at other times have simply opened it and read a lesson or that for the day. Usually that page or paragraph is just what I need to get me through that day, or to chance that day from ordinary to wonderful. It works on mid-sets for a large part, but not in an 'in-you-face' sort of way. Amazing and very low-risk of triggering.
The second is 'When Things Fall Apart' - I was first recommended this book by my Buddhist teacher at a time where I'd just lost a close friend, and father figure, to suicide within months of my own attempt. I was a mess and going through I don't know what. That was a very challenging year due to external events directly impacting me, and my ingrained reactions to those. To be honest I barely read any of this book at that time, even though I had gone out to buy it straight away, and instead I sunk into a deep depression and basically an emotional hibernation. Had I read it then things would have most likely happened differently, as it was I picked it up and read it cover to cover after I lost my boyfriend to cancer. I took bits in then, enough to get me through at least. Finally when I was almost at my lowest weight and was bordering on being admitted into hosp I picked it up for some reason and slowly things started to change. I didn't rush through the book this time but would pick it up and read a bit and then sit with it before reading further. Sometimes that would be a paragraph, sometimes over a chapter. I found that I got the most out of this when I allowed my body and mind to process it, without all the intellect getting in the way. One of the best books I have ever read. It is written in simple terms, as with all her books, and is so powerful and can be life-altering in a very positive way. I would recommend both these books to anyone, ED or not, and any stage of the ED journey.
The third book is not everyone's taste, however has had a profound effect on me.
'The Red Tent', by Anita Diamant - This is close to, if not the, favourite books of mine ever to date. Some people may not like it for it is kind of the female side of the bible, for the story about Jacob and his twelve sons, including Joseph. To me this book describes the female journey and rites and traditions that many cultures once held firm to. The rites of passage, the respect men held for women, the woman's trust in her body, and the connections between people. It is narated by Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, and the sister of Joseph. It tracks the journey of her mother and aunts, her own childhood, and then her journey into motherhood and beyond. This may not be suitable for some in early recovery, however for those who are able, it is a reminder of the gifts of womanhood and femaleness. I have been struggling with gaining as I am pregnant, though I have been in recovery for a time now, and this 'story' has helped me cherish every moment I have with this precious developing life inside me. It has not 'solved' my issues, however has helped me see them in a different light. This may trigger some, and is probably not something males would really want to read. This is a god-send for me and I am grateful to the wisdom of women, ancestors, and the wisdom in this novel.
There are many more books, but these are the main I can think of. Sorry for writing so much. Happy Reading.
Kath