An insightful, intellectual memoir about, among other things, dealing with anorexia from girlhood through middle age. I loved the first section, in which the author views her childhood through the lens of what she was reading at the time, with thoughtful feminist analysis of classic books from Beatrix Potter and Laura Ingalls Wilder to Jane Eyre and The Bell Jar; I was gripped by the later sections that describe the author’s struggles with life-threatening anorectic episodes that she just can’t get the better of through her formidable intelligence and penchant for self-analysis. Something that really elevated this one for me was the author’s ability to engage throughout with her own whiteness and axes of privilege. It’s not a book about race but it’s a book that doesn’t ignore race, and I honor it for that. Also appreciated is the bibliography with sources for coping with disordered eating. Some books that deal with anorexia can be triggering, and this one might best be read with caution depending on your personal issues, but I found it beautifully honest and sadly brave in its willingness to stare down and embrace the wolf.

I love memoirs! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title by Sarah Moss. I wasn't familiar with Moss, but this story was fascinating. The writing is a bit more sophisticated than what I'm used to. Overall, I applaud Moss for her words and for sharing deeply personal accounts of her life.