This book is hard. It's sad, there's a terrible sexual assault and then disordered eating but also covering all the difficulties involved with a body of size, plus the way society treats a person with that body. I have to say I learnt a lot in terms of being aware of careless words I might say (well meaningly) and maybe I need to reorder some of my thinking. I did also keep thinking of how Mia Freedman must not have even read the blurb of the book to write what she did. What a shocker that was!
I am finding this very hard to read also, to be honest. I'm very slow going as it's about a young person with depression. It is, indeed, quite the downer. In my mum mode, it just sort of breaks my heart. The comic form does lend itself though to literally show depression as a distortion of the mind or person's view of themselves and the world around them. So in that aspect, it's very clever.
I loved the play. I saw it in the theatre knowing nothing about it and it was so impactful. So bare that in mind, I felt the book didn't add anything. I think if you want to read it, get the script of the play (which is a monologue) or watch the film. Or see a production. However, if the novel is your chosen format, and you've not seen the play, then the book is worth a read. Very powerful and important topic. Lots to think about.
This is junk crime. It's interesting enough, about an author whose world comes undone with online haters targeting her book...that concept is interesting & fresh, so made for a good start. Overall, it's ok. Not a must read but you won't be too bored.
I actually read this for bookclub a month ago but forgot about it. It sort of sums up my feeling about it. Wasn't terrible, wasn't great - just got to the end and thought 'what was the point of that?'. To be fair, might have been my mood and perhaps I didn't give it the
I read this because I started listening to their podcast while working. Initially as a way to help support a friend of mine, and then just out of interest. I had a 5 month stint of not drinking for health reasons this year, so I guess it was also of interest. This book is a memoir and jumps from her childhood and early 20's to her parenthood and starting to become sober. Some of it is very interesting, especially her travels and the tsunami. It's interesting to see how we normalise so much drinking and stigmatize not drinking.
Obviously, I feel this is changing, especially with all the non alcohol options out there now.
The
podcast is here if you want to check it out.
My bookclub is reading The Bruny and I've read that already thus less fiction in this month's list....
That's been my month's reading. What about you?
I think your reaction to the Redhead by the Side of the Road would sum up the reaction from my book club, too.
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