Early Disorder

by Rebecca Josephs

Terrified of growing up and confronting her femininity and the prospect of independence, fifteen-year-old Willa Rahv, the sensitive daughter of an artistic, affluent Manhattan couple, embarks on a desperate course of self-starvation.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

186 pages

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis of this book might make it sound like it's centered on anorexia. Don't get me wrong, that disorder is a big part of this book, but there's much more to Willa than her anorexia. This story starts before she develops the eating disorder, and it's a very good book, especially in the light of what time this book was written.

It was the early eighties (but this story is actually set in the seventies - New Years 1975 is mentioned) AIDS hadn't exploded into the news yet. Teen pregnancy was still (for the most part) all hush hush. The Regan years (so far) were good. Eating disorders weren't generally known about. So I cannot help but wonder what made the author write this book. Not that I'm complaining, of course. I discovered this book quite by accident in my high school library, and it was very good. I wasn't disappointed, and actually enjoyed the dated feeling of it (vintage novels are fun to read) If you want a book about anorexia that is different, check this out.

[Haley Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely one of the best books I've read. A deep yet beautiful look into a mental, and physically diseased world. Extremely interesting and inspiring.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a complex book. Willa is 15, a middle child in a fairly perfect family. She doesn't become anorexic until about 1/3 of the way into the book. The beginning sets everything up - her depression and anxiety. It also relates multiple incidents that could be viewed as triggers for her delicate psyche. A peeping tom catches her a dressing room at Bloomingdales. A sexual encounter with a boy. The entire book feels like it's happening in very slow motion. I almost gave up on it, but it picks up when she actually starts becoming anorexic.

What I did not find very realistic is that Willa's parents never take her to the hospital, but rather keep her seeing a psychiatrist who urges her that she must "want" to get better and she can only do the work for herself. Eventually, Willa reaches her goal weight of 70 pounds, with everyone watching. At what point would her parents have hospitalized her if not by then? The family continues to let things go on, urging her to eat here and there. It gave me anxiety just reading it.

Toward the end, Willa's friend Ellen commits suicide (whose depression is hinted at only once by her alcohol abuse) and it is unclear how this really affects Willa. Was it supposed to be wake-up call? What was the point? Finally, her French teacher (who has not made an appearance since the very beginning of the book) invites her to visit with her family in France for the summer, and Willa has to make a "decision" to get better or not, and start eating. And it just ends.

I think this was probably a very personal book for the author, Rebecca Josephs. Unfortunately there is little biographical information available about her. This is probably one of the earliest young adult books written about anorexia, and for that I think it could be looked at a pioneer in the genre.

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Milestone: my 1000th book on my read shelf!

[Kathy Krieg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great description of how anorexia can not only destroy/damage the person who has it but also thier loved one. Disappointed with the end, I like it completed in writing, not left to the reader, thus the poor rating.