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A Girl Called Tim
The younger of two daughters, June Alexander grew up with a seemingly idyllic childhood on a dairy farm in south-east Australia. She is her dad's shadow, helping him on the farm and exploring the outdoors. Eleven is a memorable age for June, it is the year she developed an obsession with food and her weight.
A lifetime of self-doubt and deception followed as she lived with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa - the illness which went undiagnosed for 21 years. As she developed a successful career in journalism she desperately clings to it as her only identity.
A lifetime of self-doubt and deception followed as she lived with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa - the illness which went undiagnosed for 21 years. As she developed a successful career in journalism she desperately clings to it as her only identity.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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381 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 17, 2021
Pretty interesting story, and decently written. Only its a little repetitive, the same problems keep arising in the author's path to recovery from bulimia. It's good she shares all this, but it makes for a long book with many the same things. It's more of a memoir of her life, with the disorder always present, but the stories are more focused on family life. Okay read, some points very relatable, other points totally not relatable.
April 14, 2013
Not Just Another Memoir:
Memoirs are in fashion. But ‘A Girl Called Tim’ is very different from the in-vogue ‘misery memoirs’. This well crafted autobiography offers hope, humour and strategies as well as insight into obsessive behaviours.
Ex-Weekly Times journalist & Miranda columnist June Alexander is a competent writer, familiar with rural, newspaper and farm issues . A keen observer, her portrayal of rural Gippsland of the period of her youth is deftly sketched and indicates how hard the farming families worked.
But it is the handling of living with an ‘eating disorder’ from age 11, and the candid analysis of anorexia nervosa , bulimia and food obsession as a means of control, via her crafted diaries that makes this genuine autobiography a ‘must-read’. You are ‘there’ . June’s writing skills enabled her to survive as an international exchange student, journalist, editor and columnist as well as the mother of four, and she now has a productive and fulfilling life, despite years of ED. ED means eating disorder, an unfamiliar abbreviation for many, but this book is not full of jargon.
I am in Sixth Grade at school and I am developing anorexia nervosa. Mum and Dad are worried sick about me. They think I won’t make it to my 12th birthday. No one understands me. I don’t understand, either. I only know that I have to lose weight. I am too scared to eat. Food makes me anxious.
Powerful thoughts drive me to eat less and exercise more every day. It is like something has taken over my brain, telling me what to do, and punishing me if I disobey.
If in reading this you recognize yourself or someone you love – keep reading. Even though I got worse: much, much worse, I want you to know that I got better
The leggy cover figure suggests a young girl, but eating disorders can be a lifelong challenge for some adults and why this memoir could be invaluable for mental health professionals and families seeking reassurance. That’s where the photographs of the author at various ages are important in this book.
The symbolic chapter written to grand- daughter Olivia Rose offers hope for future youth. So do the dot point strategies.
An individual story, well told, with personal anecdotes to which the reader can relate is more effective than statistics. But it takes courage to reveal incidents or attitudes which others may consider weaknesses. And this is a strength of ‘A Girl called Tim.’ enabling you to enter ‘that’ viewpoint and that world for the length of the book and maybe, beyond.
The dance scene in the country hall is real. So is the catering with cakes, scones and local hospitality. Keeping up appearances mattered. The importance of family support as part of the later therapy is also stressed. Within her family, June was affectionately known as ‘Tim’ when she was being helpful or conforming to expectations.
‘The title ‘A Girl Called Tim’ indicates the tomboyish desire for acceptance of a youthful, boy-like body and roles, and restricting food as a form of control, but the sub-title indicates the mature acceptance
The Appendices offer advice and links for parents, families and professionals.
A valuable extra resource is the author’s website , with articles, tips and links to related blogs, organisations and international professionals.
Alexander’s earlier book ‘My Kid is Back: Empowering Parents to beat Anorexia’ co-written with Professor Le Grange , explains how family-based treatment can greatly reduce the severity of anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents, allowing the sufferer to return to normal eating patterns, and their families to return to normal family life.
‘A Girl Called Tim’ is MORE than just another memoir. It takes courage to honestly reveal the gap between the ideal and the reality and raise awareness of the importance of family involvement and support in the treatment of eating disorders.
Highly recommended as a gift for young girls, their families, and those who do NOT have eating disorders but who can vicariously enjoy the quest of a courageous woman. ‘Mental Health’ is a turn-off label for some readers, but this book is about more than problems, it offers solutions.
‘Memoirs’ are only selections of a life.. In the autobiography “A Girl Called Tim: Escape from an Eating Disorder Hell’, ‘escape can be read as a ‘to-do’ verb.
Memoirs are in fashion. But ‘A Girl Called Tim’ is very different from the in-vogue ‘misery memoirs’. This well crafted autobiography offers hope, humour and strategies as well as insight into obsessive behaviours.
Ex-Weekly Times journalist & Miranda columnist June Alexander is a competent writer, familiar with rural, newspaper and farm issues . A keen observer, her portrayal of rural Gippsland of the period of her youth is deftly sketched and indicates how hard the farming families worked.
But it is the handling of living with an ‘eating disorder’ from age 11, and the candid analysis of anorexia nervosa , bulimia and food obsession as a means of control, via her crafted diaries that makes this genuine autobiography a ‘must-read’. You are ‘there’ . June’s writing skills enabled her to survive as an international exchange student, journalist, editor and columnist as well as the mother of four, and she now has a productive and fulfilling life, despite years of ED. ED means eating disorder, an unfamiliar abbreviation for many, but this book is not full of jargon.
I am in Sixth Grade at school and I am developing anorexia nervosa. Mum and Dad are worried sick about me. They think I won’t make it to my 12th birthday. No one understands me. I don’t understand, either. I only know that I have to lose weight. I am too scared to eat. Food makes me anxious.
Powerful thoughts drive me to eat less and exercise more every day. It is like something has taken over my brain, telling me what to do, and punishing me if I disobey.
If in reading this you recognize yourself or someone you love – keep reading. Even though I got worse: much, much worse, I want you to know that I got better
The leggy cover figure suggests a young girl, but eating disorders can be a lifelong challenge for some adults and why this memoir could be invaluable for mental health professionals and families seeking reassurance. That’s where the photographs of the author at various ages are important in this book.
The symbolic chapter written to grand- daughter Olivia Rose offers hope for future youth. So do the dot point strategies.
An individual story, well told, with personal anecdotes to which the reader can relate is more effective than statistics. But it takes courage to reveal incidents or attitudes which others may consider weaknesses. And this is a strength of ‘A Girl called Tim.’ enabling you to enter ‘that’ viewpoint and that world for the length of the book and maybe, beyond.
The dance scene in the country hall is real. So is the catering with cakes, scones and local hospitality. Keeping up appearances mattered. The importance of family support as part of the later therapy is also stressed. Within her family, June was affectionately known as ‘Tim’ when she was being helpful or conforming to expectations.
‘The title ‘A Girl Called Tim’ indicates the tomboyish desire for acceptance of a youthful, boy-like body and roles, and restricting food as a form of control, but the sub-title indicates the mature acceptance
The Appendices offer advice and links for parents, families and professionals.
A valuable extra resource is the author’s website , with articles, tips and links to related blogs, organisations and international professionals.
Alexander’s earlier book ‘My Kid is Back: Empowering Parents to beat Anorexia’ co-written with Professor Le Grange , explains how family-based treatment can greatly reduce the severity of anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents, allowing the sufferer to return to normal eating patterns, and their families to return to normal family life.
‘A Girl Called Tim’ is MORE than just another memoir. It takes courage to honestly reveal the gap between the ideal and the reality and raise awareness of the importance of family involvement and support in the treatment of eating disorders.
Highly recommended as a gift for young girls, their families, and those who do NOT have eating disorders but who can vicariously enjoy the quest of a courageous woman. ‘Mental Health’ is a turn-off label for some readers, but this book is about more than problems, it offers solutions.
‘Memoirs’ are only selections of a life.. In the autobiography “A Girl Called Tim: Escape from an Eating Disorder Hell’, ‘escape can be read as a ‘to-do’ verb.
March 25, 2014
Hoped for more from this book. It is too much the same over and over with too little discussion of healing
April 12, 2011
REVIEW: ‘A Girl Called Tim: Escape From an Eating Disorder Hell.’
June Alexander.
ISBN 97817425742570792
www.newholland.com.au
RRP: $29.95
ISBN: 9781742570792
Not Just Another Memoir:
Memoirs are in fashion. But ‘A Girl Called Tim’ is very different from the in-vogue ‘misery memoirs’. This well crafted autobiography offers hope, humour and strategies as well as insight into obsessive behaviours.
Ex-Weekly Times journalist & Miranda columnist, June Alexander is a competent writer familiar with rural, newspaper and farm issues . A keen observer, her portrayal of rural Gippsland of the period of her youth is deftly sketched and indicates how hard the farming families worked.
But it is the handling of living with an ‘eating disorder’ from age 11, and the candid analysis of anorexia nervosa , bulimia and food obsession as a means of control, via her crafted diaries that makes this genuine autobiography a ‘must-read’. You are ‘there’ . June’s writing skills enabled her to survive as an international exchange student, journalist, editor and columnist as well as the mother of four, and she now has a productive and fulfilling life, despite years of ED. ED means eating disorder, an unfamiliar abbreviation for many, but this book is not full of jargon.
I am in Sixth Grade at school and I am developing anorexia nervosa. Mum and Dad are worried sick about me. They think I won’t make it to my 12th birthday. No one understands me. I don’t understand, either. I only know that I have to lose weight. I am too scared to eat. Food makes me anxious.
Powerful thoughts drive me to eat less and exercise more every day. It is like something has taken over my brain, telling me what to do, and punishing me if I disobey.
If in reading this you recognize yourself or someone you love – keep reading. Even though I got worse: much, much worse, I want you to know that I got better
The leggy cover figure suggests a young girl, but eating disorders can be a lifelong challenge for some adults and why this memoir could be invaluable for mental health professionals and families seeking reassurance. That’s where the photographs of the author at various ages are important in this book.
The symbolic chapter written to grand- daughter Olivia Rose offers hope for future youth. So do the dot point strategies.
An individual story, well told, with personal anecdotes to which the reader can relate is more effective than statistics. But it takes courage to reveal incidents or attitudes which others may consider weaknesses. And this is a strength of ‘A Girl called Tim’ enabling you to enter ‘that’ viewpoint and that world for the length of the book and maybe, beyond.
The dance scene in the country hall is real. So is the catering with cakes, scones and local hospitality. Keeping up appearances mattered. The importance of family support as part of the later therapy is also stressed. Within her family, June was affectionately known as ‘Tim’ when she was being helpful or conforming to expectations.
‘The title ‘A Girl Called Tim’ indicates the tomboyish desire for acceptance of a youthful, boy-like body and roles, and restricting food as a form of control, but the sub-title indicates the mature acceptance
The Appendices offer advice and links for parents, families and professionals.
A valuable extra resource is the author’s website , (www.junealexander.com )with articles, tips and links to related blogs, organisations and international professionals.
Alexander’s earlier book ‘My Kid is Back: Empowering Parents to beat Anorexia’ co-written with Professor Le Grange , explains how family-based treatment can greatly reduce the severity of anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents, allowing the sufferer to return to normal eating patterns, and their families to return to normal family life.
‘A Girl Called Tim’ is MORE than just another memoir. It takes courage to honestly reveal the gap between the ideal and the reality and raise awareness of the importance of family involvement and support in the treatment of eating disorders.
Highly recommended as a gift for young girls, their families, and those who do NOT have eating disorders but who can vicariously enjoy the quest of a courageous woman. ‘Mental Health’ is a turn-off label for some readers, but this book is about more than problems, it offers solutions.
‘Memoirs’ are only selections of a life. In the autobiography “A Girl Called Tim: Escape from an Eating Disorder Hell’, ‘escape can be read as a ‘to-do’ verb.
June 20, 2019
I was excited to read this book. But I have to say, it didn't live up to my expectations. It was a slow read, and quite repetitive. Although this is an eating disorder memoir, a large percentage of the book elaborated on parts of the author's life that weren't directly connected to her eating disorder (ie excessive writing about family complications and dynamics, her time working at various jobs, etc). I would almost say this is more like an autobiography than a memoir, as it's written about the entirety of her life and in areas of her life not completely relevant to an 'eating disorder memoir'.
On a more positive note, the book gives a very intimate and in-depth look at what it is like to live with an eating disorder, and the kind of thought processes, emotions, and behaviours that come as a result of it. Another positive aspect is that the book ended with an emphasis on hope, recovery, and healing, which I think is vital in eating disorder memoirs to encourage getting better, a message very important to readers who live with eating disorders themselves.
Also, just to provide clarification, the author experienced anorexia only for a short time in her childhood, and for the rest of her life suffered from bulimia. This is just a note for a potential reader who might be looking for a book with a focus specifically on anorexia. Although, regardless of which particular diagnosis, the book does well to accurately describe the dynamics and workings of eating disorders, and provides a whole and complete picture of what it is like to live with one.
On a more positive note, the book gives a very intimate and in-depth look at what it is like to live with an eating disorder, and the kind of thought processes, emotions, and behaviours that come as a result of it. Another positive aspect is that the book ended with an emphasis on hope, recovery, and healing, which I think is vital in eating disorder memoirs to encourage getting better, a message very important to readers who live with eating disorders themselves.
Also, just to provide clarification, the author experienced anorexia only for a short time in her childhood, and for the rest of her life suffered from bulimia. This is just a note for a potential reader who might be looking for a book with a focus specifically on anorexia. Although, regardless of which particular diagnosis, the book does well to accurately describe the dynamics and workings of eating disorders, and provides a whole and complete picture of what it is like to live with one.
March 22, 2012
Whilst a good book, and extremely well written I did not connect to this book like I had hoped I would. I felt distant and unable to be let in... The style of writing whilst very open also seemed to be written from the sides and not allowing of the reader to fully engage.
December 12, 2012
amazing and interesting story
June 29, 2014
I loved this book so much, that I didn't want to return it to the library I just wanted to keep it forever and treasure it. It's the best book I've read so far this year!!
January 22, 2018
I wish I could re read this 1000 times
November 24, 2021
This was incredible to read.
Normally I would go for fantasy and those sorts of books but here I am at a school for student leadership branching out and reading a different genre, I walked into the schools library and found this book.
Not thinking much of it I picked it up and read the first page and was immediately intrigued by what was already going on. As I kept reading I felt a deep sense of empathy along with sympathy, to June Alexander for having the strength to pull herself along for 40 years with two eating disorders and depression all at the same time.
I thought to myself in some moments of the book "what if this was me?" And as soon as I had said that I realized that if it were me I wouldn't have coped as well as June had, and as a 15 year Olds point of view from this book, its amazing to know that some people have the will power to achieve great excellence in life, that when you put your mind to it and seek help that you can accomplish many things in life.
So I want to jump on here and let people know that after reading this memoir, it was fascinating to know what some people actually go through in life and how life isn't always perfect and there can be many challenges ahead. I just want to thank June for the bravery and self belief for publishing this raw, tragic, beautiful piece about her life story, it was truly one of the greatest books I have read in my life so far.
Normally I would go for fantasy and those sorts of books but here I am at a school for student leadership branching out and reading a different genre, I walked into the schools library and found this book.
Not thinking much of it I picked it up and read the first page and was immediately intrigued by what was already going on. As I kept reading I felt a deep sense of empathy along with sympathy, to June Alexander for having the strength to pull herself along for 40 years with two eating disorders and depression all at the same time.
I thought to myself in some moments of the book "what if this was me?" And as soon as I had said that I realized that if it were me I wouldn't have coped as well as June had, and as a 15 year Olds point of view from this book, its amazing to know that some people have the will power to achieve great excellence in life, that when you put your mind to it and seek help that you can accomplish many things in life.
So I want to jump on here and let people know that after reading this memoir, it was fascinating to know what some people actually go through in life and how life isn't always perfect and there can be many challenges ahead. I just want to thank June for the bravery and self belief for publishing this raw, tragic, beautiful piece about her life story, it was truly one of the greatest books I have read in my life so far.
December 28, 2022
A Girl Called Tim is June Alexander's story of a near lifetime of eating disorders, starting with anorexia when she was a child and then moving to bulimic habits as she grew older—habits that survived a year abroad, and marriage, and children, and much much more.
It's that long slog that's valuable here, I think. It's repetitious at times (over and over the same struggle, and the same 'solutions'), but this is so much a picture of a different time and place—Alexander was diagnosed with anorexia as a child, for example, but nobody really knew what to do with it; later, when she started to struggle with bulimia, she didn't have a word for it...and doctors kept encouraging her to count calories, to go on diets, etc. So often we see only the dramatic parts of eating disorder stories, in which the narrator is terribly underweight and on death's door, and none of the more drawn-out stasis where nothing is actually getting better but nobody sees it anymore.
I'll note that I'm glad the book has been given a new cover, because the mostly black-and-white version is rather incongruous with the story—far too contemporary for the time period in which the book takes place, and suggesting a long struggle with anorexia rather than Alexander's reality, which was a long struggle with...maybe not entirely invisible illness, but something more akin to it. I'd like to see a future edition take numbers out of the equation, because I don't think they add much to the vast majority of eating disorder stories, and vulnerable readers can find them damaging.
It's that long slog that's valuable here, I think. It's repetitious at times (over and over the same struggle, and the same 'solutions'), but this is so much a picture of a different time and place—Alexander was diagnosed with anorexia as a child, for example, but nobody really knew what to do with it; later, when she started to struggle with bulimia, she didn't have a word for it...and doctors kept encouraging her to count calories, to go on diets, etc. So often we see only the dramatic parts of eating disorder stories, in which the narrator is terribly underweight and on death's door, and none of the more drawn-out stasis where nothing is actually getting better but nobody sees it anymore.
I'll note that I'm glad the book has been given a new cover, because the mostly black-and-white version is rather incongruous with the story—far too contemporary for the time period in which the book takes place, and suggesting a long struggle with anorexia rather than Alexander's reality, which was a long struggle with...maybe not entirely invisible illness, but something more akin to it. I'd like to see a future edition take numbers out of the equation, because I don't think they add much to the vast majority of eating disorder stories, and vulnerable readers can find them damaging.
March 19, 2021
I loved June's story about her struggle with eating disorders and mental health challenges. This is a candid account of her life-long journey from turmoil to healing. I would recommend this book warmly to anyone that has, or suspects they might be, suffering from an eating disorder. The persistence of June will be a guiding light for many to follow.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews