GOOD GIRLS A Story and Study of Anorexia

Hadley Freeman's British accent and strong sense of pacing make for easy listening on the difficult subject of anorexia. Her transitions, both in writing and in narrating, are flawless as she merges 30 years of personal experiences, interviews with professionals and patients, research about treatment and causes, humor, horror, and heart. The views she presents are thoughtful, stereotype-busting, surprising pictures of what anorexia is and is not. She dispels the typical explanation--"it's the mother's fault"--instead focusing on quiet trigger moments when girls fear womanhood and the sexuality and performance issues that it portends. Descriptions of her experiences are studded with poignant imagery, and her meaning is often expressed with humorous disgust--for example, when she recounts the many reasons given by professionals for her anorexia. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]