Triggering

What did you love best about An Apple a Day?

How honest the author is. I enjoyed her voice as well, though it does have a "sticky" quality that grates after a while.

What other book might you compare An Apple a Day to and why?

Biting Anorexia - they are both candid diary type stories about the struggle back to health.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she was describing her own fascination with Posh spice. Who wouldn't identify with her thoughts on the glamorous supermom persona Posh has adopted. Also, how she describes her and Tom's trip across the western states of the US. To see America from the point of view of an an eating disordered English woman was interesting.

Any additional comments?

It is obvious from the author's point of view that she was still firmly in the grips of anorexia while writing this. Some of her interpretations of situations or other people's advise show a deep need to hang on to her disease. I came to really root for her though, and will surely listen to it again.

4 people found this helpful

A memoir of a silver spoon, maybe.

The book is blah. The author is a columnist for some UK newspaper. She is related to Virginia Woolf, which she continually alludes to, and I think is trying to make you believe that writing talent is hereditary. Newsflash: it isn't.

The book focuses primarily on Emma's desire to have a baby. In order to do so, she must gain enough weight, but she just whines about having to eat, and her infinitely patient boyfriend who takes her to fancy hotels every weekend. I did not feel much of anything, and when I realized I had gotten practically to the end without any character arc or development, just more whining, I quit.

3 people found this helpful

Loved this

I am an eating disorder therapist who has heard and read multiple accounts of people suffering with eating disorders. This is certainly my favorite and will be my go to when helping parents understand their child's eating disorder, and helping the anorexic verbalized their struggle. Loved this book.

1 person found this helpful

Can relate in many ways and yet lucky I couldn't

Would you consider the audio edition of An Apple a Day to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print, but did find it refreshing to have it read by the actual author.

What was one of the most memorable moments of An Apple a Day?

Having the points in the story where I knew just what certain feelings felt like or just how the brain works when having a ED.

Have you listened to any of Emma Woolf’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The Idea of not being able to just have a baby because of an illness that needs to be fixed was moving. Luckily for myself I never had issues with getting pregnant, or not able to because of my on and off ED issues.

1 person found this helpful

Didn’t feel finished

I was engaged reading her own struggles as it related to fertility since I’ve read many memoirs about eating disorders and this was a feature I haven’t seen discussed. However it seems like I’m missing the other half of her story. Spoiler but the book ends with her body being “normal” for fertility and packing to move in with her partner. I was interested in hearing how the move went since we heard how difficult she assumed it would be. I’m not sure how her life really unfolded but maybe hearing about trying to conceive would be nice.

enjoyed

I liked this memoir. There are people who seem upset that this author is introduced as recovered from anorexia on a show she is on I think called super big and super thin--or something along that lines. Because it is obvious that she is not "recovered" and is still very thin. however in this book she never claims to be recovered and admits to continued struggles that I think most "recovered" from anorexia often face their entire lives. I feel as though she described other mental health issues that those with eating disorders can relate to--even those without eating disorders but who have other mental health issues.

A phenomenal read

This story was captivating, interesting, relatable, and raw (WITHOUT evoking any feelings of a how-to guide on anorexia). I appreciated when Emma detailed how the extremely painful breakup with Laurie affected her; I related to that experience. I personally do not suffer from an eating disorder, but I do tend to restrict my eating and obsess over maintaining thinness. Emma’s story helped me see how dangerous it would be for me
to lean into those obsessions. This gave me the insight to chill out on my restrictive eating. I really just want to say thank you to Emma for an amazing piece. I loved every minute of it. The relationship she shares with Tom is aspirational to say the least! I will be googling to see how everything ended up!

Inspiring and artistic

This book is inspiring and artistically written and performed. Beautiful imagery, not triggering, and great to really munch on and meditate on.

excellent and so precise

great book .. no angst or drama .. just a real account of living and functioning with this eating disorder. so honest and addressed a lot questions i am too embarrassed to ask. thank you

decent but not incredible

interesting insight into mind of an anorexic. a bit depressing and overlap in ideas. fair