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Hunger for Life
On the day of his graduation, James says goodbye to the future and moves back to his parents’ house in Myreton, the sleepy village of his childhood. He’s not happy, but the thought of continuing his life anywhere else seems unthinkable while his sister, Emma, continues to suffer with the illness that’s plagued her since she was a child.
For six months, James’s life spirals further and further out of control as the walls of small-town life – and of his sister’s devastating disease – close in on him. But then he meets Hannah, a free-spirited and fun-loving Austrian student, and suddenly it seems there might be more to his existence than a sense of fear and trepidation.
Hunger for Life is the story of a young man’s struggle to find the courage and humour to live through life's hazards – and to find his place in an uncertain and fractious modern world.
‘A remarkable novel, with vibrant and deeply developed characters, taut and nuanced relationships, and simply lovely prose. Tightly paced and psychologically complex, Marr’s exquisite debut is a life-affirming and powerful read.’
Marya Hornbacher, bestselling author of Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia.
For six months, James’s life spirals further and further out of control as the walls of small-town life – and of his sister’s devastating disease – close in on him. But then he meets Hannah, a free-spirited and fun-loving Austrian student, and suddenly it seems there might be more to his existence than a sense of fear and trepidation.
Hunger for Life is the story of a young man’s struggle to find the courage and humour to live through life's hazards – and to find his place in an uncertain and fractious modern world.
‘A remarkable novel, with vibrant and deeply developed characters, taut and nuanced relationships, and simply lovely prose. Tightly paced and psychologically complex, Marr’s exquisite debut is a life-affirming and powerful read.’
Marya Hornbacher, bestselling author of Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia.
294 pages, ebook
First published September 17, 2019
86 people are currently reading
1261 people want to read
About the author
Andy Marr
4 books1,145 followersAndy Marr was born and raised on the east coast of Scotland. After finishing a degree in History at the University of Edinburgh, he took a job in a bank, but he hated it, so he stopped and became a writer instead. He is the author of two acclaimed coming-of-age novels, the top-10 bestselling 'Hunger for Life' and the international bestseller 'A Matter of Life and Death', as well as 'Not MY Birthday!', a picture book for young children. His new novel, 'The Howdie's Apprentice', will be released in November 2025.
When he is not writing in his favourite coffee shop, Andy enjoys reading, spending time with his wife and daughters, and writing short biographies about himself in the third person. Visit him online at www.andymarr.org and www.facebook.com/AndyTheActualAuthor
Praise for 'Hunger for Life' -
'A remarkable novel, with vibrant and deeply developed characters, taut and nuanced relationships, and simply lovely prose... A life-affirming and powerful read.'
Marya Hornbacher, Pulitzer-nominated author of 'Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia'
Praise for 'A Matter of Life and Death' -
'The funniest book about death, loss, and angry peacocks you’ll read all year.'
David Sodergren, bestselling author of 'Maggie's Grave' and 'The Haar'.
When he is not writing in his favourite coffee shop, Andy enjoys reading, spending time with his wife and daughters, and writing short biographies about himself in the third person. Visit him online at www.andymarr.org and www.facebook.com/AndyTheActualAuthor
Praise for 'Hunger for Life' -
'A remarkable novel, with vibrant and deeply developed characters, taut and nuanced relationships, and simply lovely prose... A life-affirming and powerful read.'
Marya Hornbacher, Pulitzer-nominated author of 'Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia'
Praise for 'A Matter of Life and Death' -
'The funniest book about death, loss, and angry peacocks you’ll read all year.'
David Sodergren, bestselling author of 'Maggie's Grave' and 'The Haar'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 27, 2025
Probably the greatest debut novel I've ever written.
And now, reissued with 51% less swearing.
And now, reissued with 51% less swearing.
February 16, 2020
Though fictional, this is an intimate, raw, and heartbreaking look at the effect that the eating disorder anorexia has on a family - yes on the entire family, as this terrible illness doesn’t just affect the sufferer, it devours the entire family, plunging them into a deep and bottomless pit from which it seems impossible to escape.
James has always loved his little sister Emma unconditionally - even though he was a quiet child, nobody would pick on Emma and get away with it. But Emma now suffers from anorexia, and this is one battle that James can’t fight for her.
He’s just graduated from University, and what should be a fresh and exciting time in life, proves to be anything but, as Emma’s illness and the worry and pain of it takes over his waking hours, causing him to seek solace in alcohol. There are moments of humour amidst the sadness too though, mainly from James’s escapades at the local pub, and he does eventually begin to form romantic relationships, particularly with Hannah, but Emma’s illness is still at the forefront, and it continues to affect his behaviour, and therefore his relationships. His father has all but retreated into his own world, causing distance between him and the rest of the family. James’s mother fights to get the best treatment for her daughter but it’s not all that easy.
Emma doesn’t really want their kind of help anyway - doctors want her to gain weight - Emma wants to lose it - she feels fat and worthless, and nothing anyone says will change that. We have to remember that Emma can’t help how she feels, anorexia distorts the way one sees and feels about oneself.
Author Andy Marr has given an enlightening account of how this eating disorder destroys a family unit. I actually know a family who had a daughter with this dreadful illness, and I thought I knew quite a bit about the effects it has on a family, but of course I wasn’t involved 24 hours a day. I now feel as if I’ve been on the inside looking out, and can only assume that the author has an intimate knowledge of anorexia, to produce such a truly emotional and well written book.
James has always loved his little sister Emma unconditionally - even though he was a quiet child, nobody would pick on Emma and get away with it. But Emma now suffers from anorexia, and this is one battle that James can’t fight for her.
He’s just graduated from University, and what should be a fresh and exciting time in life, proves to be anything but, as Emma’s illness and the worry and pain of it takes over his waking hours, causing him to seek solace in alcohol. There are moments of humour amidst the sadness too though, mainly from James’s escapades at the local pub, and he does eventually begin to form romantic relationships, particularly with Hannah, but Emma’s illness is still at the forefront, and it continues to affect his behaviour, and therefore his relationships. His father has all but retreated into his own world, causing distance between him and the rest of the family. James’s mother fights to get the best treatment for her daughter but it’s not all that easy.
Emma doesn’t really want their kind of help anyway - doctors want her to gain weight - Emma wants to lose it - she feels fat and worthless, and nothing anyone says will change that. We have to remember that Emma can’t help how she feels, anorexia distorts the way one sees and feels about oneself.
Author Andy Marr has given an enlightening account of how this eating disorder destroys a family unit. I actually know a family who had a daughter with this dreadful illness, and I thought I knew quite a bit about the effects it has on a family, but of course I wasn’t involved 24 hours a day. I now feel as if I’ve been on the inside looking out, and can only assume that the author has an intimate knowledge of anorexia, to produce such a truly emotional and well written book.
October 17, 2022
Oh boy, things you love the most, hurt you the most. I truly enjoyed this book but the story deeply hurt me, too.
I think I barely open my eyes. They’re red, itchy and fitting so well with my blotchy face. It’s obvious to have a face looks like probable winner of the most terrifying Halloween mask after crying so long. But interestingly, I’m feeling like okay even though my heart is aching so bad, having a quiet big record of sobbing and sighing million times. But as a result I just finished an incredible book and I’m so happy to enjoy every moment of this amazing, heart wrenching, poignant, well-crafted family, a fantastic brother and sister story.
The book hit me from two places: Eating disorder and sister and brother’s closeness, being each other’s real best friends.
I was so little when I first watched a movie on television about Karen Carpenter’s story and I was introduced the mental illness: bulimia, watching a young singer’s fight against her eating disorder and her self-hatred about her appearance and ill feeling about not being good enough defeated her at the final round.
I know that when we are so young, we’re raised with wrong thought patterns which force us to be in ideal, thin shape. If you are not looking fit, everyone can laugh at you and your image is the most important thing to gain the power at your social circle. So you may stick with all those stereotype thoughts that you’re injected by the society, sentencing yourself to stay hungry, trying different kinds of nonsense diet lists, exercising excessively because being a little over-weighted or chubby will be worst crime that can be punished with scrutinizing and judging looks of the people.
When I read Emma’s story, I remembered my teenage years, witnessing one of my friend’s changing in front of my eyes, losing control of her own body by losing more weight she could handle. Emma cries for help and her brother hears her but he cannot do anything to save his little sister. She slowly fades in front of his eyes, she is pain and she has no idea how she could fight with her illness.
Can you imagine someone you deeply love slowly disappears, losing her light day by day?
And James is the narrator of the story, caring brother, trying to do everything to help his little sister.
He also tries to find his place in the world. He fights with his own inner demons, facing his biggest fears, falling in love, forming a different bond with his friends. He slowly starts to change, growing up fast and being more mature than his peers.
And of course I love their parents who give their love and support equally to their children. They suffer too much. All those hospital times, never-ending treatments and doing everything they can to save their little girl.
This is touchy, remarkable, heartbreaking family, a brutal mental illness and a boy’s self-discovery story. It really affected me a lot. Normally I don’t like to talk about my own family but this brother and sister’s amazing story hurt my heart so deeply and I want to wave at the sky and look over the clouds, wishing my brother could see me I’m doing better right now.
I wanted to thank to Andy Marr give us this tearful, effective, memorable, beautifully written journey and teach us how to be hungry for happiness, self-love and self-acceptance! I loved those beautiful characters, meaningful and lyrical story which already took a special part of my heart.
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I think I barely open my eyes. They’re red, itchy and fitting so well with my blotchy face. It’s obvious to have a face looks like probable winner of the most terrifying Halloween mask after crying so long. But interestingly, I’m feeling like okay even though my heart is aching so bad, having a quiet big record of sobbing and sighing million times. But as a result I just finished an incredible book and I’m so happy to enjoy every moment of this amazing, heart wrenching, poignant, well-crafted family, a fantastic brother and sister story.
The book hit me from two places: Eating disorder and sister and brother’s closeness, being each other’s real best friends.
I was so little when I first watched a movie on television about Karen Carpenter’s story and I was introduced the mental illness: bulimia, watching a young singer’s fight against her eating disorder and her self-hatred about her appearance and ill feeling about not being good enough defeated her at the final round.
I know that when we are so young, we’re raised with wrong thought patterns which force us to be in ideal, thin shape. If you are not looking fit, everyone can laugh at you and your image is the most important thing to gain the power at your social circle. So you may stick with all those stereotype thoughts that you’re injected by the society, sentencing yourself to stay hungry, trying different kinds of nonsense diet lists, exercising excessively because being a little over-weighted or chubby will be worst crime that can be punished with scrutinizing and judging looks of the people.
When I read Emma’s story, I remembered my teenage years, witnessing one of my friend’s changing in front of my eyes, losing control of her own body by losing more weight she could handle. Emma cries for help and her brother hears her but he cannot do anything to save his little sister. She slowly fades in front of his eyes, she is pain and she has no idea how she could fight with her illness.
Can you imagine someone you deeply love slowly disappears, losing her light day by day?
And James is the narrator of the story, caring brother, trying to do everything to help his little sister.
He also tries to find his place in the world. He fights with his own inner demons, facing his biggest fears, falling in love, forming a different bond with his friends. He slowly starts to change, growing up fast and being more mature than his peers.
And of course I love their parents who give their love and support equally to their children. They suffer too much. All those hospital times, never-ending treatments and doing everything they can to save their little girl.
This is touchy, remarkable, heartbreaking family, a brutal mental illness and a boy’s self-discovery story. It really affected me a lot. Normally I don’t like to talk about my own family but this brother and sister’s amazing story hurt my heart so deeply and I want to wave at the sky and look over the clouds, wishing my brother could see me I’m doing better right now.
I wanted to thank to Andy Marr give us this tearful, effective, memorable, beautifully written journey and teach us how to be hungry for happiness, self-love and self-acceptance! I loved those beautiful characters, meaningful and lyrical story which already took a special part of my heart.
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November 26, 2019
This book is honest, raw, grim, and important. I struggled with it. It took me around a month to finish it. That’s partially due to a particularly hectic and stressful time in my life, teaching a couple of new courses at University and having over 200 students in my classes this semester. But it’s also the book, it affected me deeply. Andy Marr shows us a starkly frank look at living with mental illness. He doesn’t sugarcoat, he doesn’t make excuses, he just shows the wake of living with a disease that can’t be treated with an ointment or pills or surgery. How does one live their life when a loved one is suffering? How do you get through a day, when you’re helpless to help your family?
Not to make this about me, but I have a high degree of empathy. That’s not intended to be a brag, it can be a weakness at times. It makes me a worrier, and despite my luck of having three healthy kids, all I could think about through the entire book, was what if this was one of my kids? What if it strikes a future grandkid? While reading, I should be filled with gratitude that I’m not personally effected by mental illness, but this book made me think about the millions that are afflicted. How many more people does that ripple out to? The World Health Organization says one in four people are affected by mental disorders. Parents, siblings, children all must try to get through their life, day by day, with these kinds of struggles.
How does anorexia happen? I’m not well informed on this disease but is it really any surprise with bombardment of body images children get from media. Girls in particular, receive a constant stream of what society says is beauty, sexy, or desirable. It shouldn’t a surprise to anyone that eating disorders affect tens of millions of people.
In today’s society, we rally around treating disease. We run 5Ks to support cancer research. When a kid breaks a bone, folks line up to sign the cast. But mental illness is different, people shy away. They don’t like to talk about it, it’s a negative stigma. That’s why this book is important. It’s such a powerful reminder that you don’t know what person sitting next to you is going through. As a society, we need to talk about mental illness. People like Marr need to be brave and share their experiences. I can only imagine, if this book affected me, how it would impact someone who has lived it, or IS living it.
While this book is fiction, it’s based on real life experiences, and that shines through. Marr writes extremely well. He shows us the anguish and the pain of living with this disorder. Books like this tear down the walls and give insights that can only help us all react more supportively and positively to those dealing with mental illness. Five stars.
Not to make this about me, but I have a high degree of empathy. That’s not intended to be a brag, it can be a weakness at times. It makes me a worrier, and despite my luck of having three healthy kids, all I could think about through the entire book, was what if this was one of my kids? What if it strikes a future grandkid? While reading, I should be filled with gratitude that I’m not personally effected by mental illness, but this book made me think about the millions that are afflicted. How many more people does that ripple out to? The World Health Organization says one in four people are affected by mental disorders. Parents, siblings, children all must try to get through their life, day by day, with these kinds of struggles.
How does anorexia happen? I’m not well informed on this disease but is it really any surprise with bombardment of body images children get from media. Girls in particular, receive a constant stream of what society says is beauty, sexy, or desirable. It shouldn’t a surprise to anyone that eating disorders affect tens of millions of people.
In today’s society, we rally around treating disease. We run 5Ks to support cancer research. When a kid breaks a bone, folks line up to sign the cast. But mental illness is different, people shy away. They don’t like to talk about it, it’s a negative stigma. That’s why this book is important. It’s such a powerful reminder that you don’t know what person sitting next to you is going through. As a society, we need to talk about mental illness. People like Marr need to be brave and share their experiences. I can only imagine, if this book affected me, how it would impact someone who has lived it, or IS living it.
While this book is fiction, it’s based on real life experiences, and that shines through. Marr writes extremely well. He shows us the anguish and the pain of living with this disorder. Books like this tear down the walls and give insights that can only help us all react more supportively and positively to those dealing with mental illness. Five stars.
May 23, 2020
This book tells the story of a young man (James) who’s eager to start living his life but is held back due to his sister’s mental health. Emma, his sister, is suffering and living with a devastating illness that has plagued her and her family for years. James wants to be present to offer support to his sister Emma and their parents during these difficult times. Simultaneously he struggles with his own emotions, particularly anxiety from everything he’s been through over the years.
We hadn’t always been like that. We hadn’t always been so fucked up. Actually, for many years after Emma was born, the four of us – me, Mum, Dad and Emma – had been happiest when we were all together. There’d been the usual tantrums and squabbles, of course, but we were a solid little family, and for the most part our lives together were happy and simple.
This story really hit home with me. Having a daughter with an eating disorder—I was constantly reminded of the anger, frustration, and other strong emotions that come crashing in. Every family member deals with it differently. It wears on you becoming almost too much to endure at times, tearing you down. Even more challenges arise when people on the outside (friends that are closest to you) lose patience, and in turn your relationships are strained. All you want is for the affected person to act normal again, and for things to return to the way they used to be. Conventional therapy doesn’t always work, and all this time goes by where you just struggle to maintain with normal so far out of sight. I began to wonder if the author had experienced this first hand, because the characters’ thought patterns and the events in the story were written so well, which made the book feel more like a memoir than a work of fiction.
Because the thing was, however much I loved Emma, however protective I felt towards her, there were times when I got angry. There were times when I wanted to shout in her face, to push a slice of cake into her mouth and yell, ‘Just fucking eat it!’ There were times when I became almost blinded by rage, when an electric anger filled my body and it was all I could do not to tear the hair from my head and scream.
Hunger for life was an incredibly engaging read; the story was written well, descriptive and detailed, and the characters were all well-developed and complex. The writing style nearly prevented me from putting this book down. I was brought to tears at times. As far as the characters, I absolutely fell in love with James who narrates the entire story and it’s hard not to connect with him because everything pretty much revolves around him. He offers unwavering support to everyone, and he’s also forgiving which is such an amazing quality. He’s constantly attentive, concerned, reliable, and faithful to his family. Surprisingly, it was hard for me to connect with Hannah at all though; she turned out to be my least favorite character. Some of her decisions didn’t make sense to me and I just lost patience with her because she came across as selfish to me at times. This is of course my personal opinion though. The end was wrapped up beautifully and totally non-predictable.
With themes of love and sacrifice, friendship, family, hope, and overcoming, this book will stay with me for some time. It brings awareness to such an important subject about a disorder that affects so many in this world and sadly isn’t taken seriously enough. It’s a reality for many. I highly recommend this book.
4.5 stars
You can also read this review and others @ www.readrantrockandroll.com
We hadn’t always been like that. We hadn’t always been so fucked up. Actually, for many years after Emma was born, the four of us – me, Mum, Dad and Emma – had been happiest when we were all together. There’d been the usual tantrums and squabbles, of course, but we were a solid little family, and for the most part our lives together were happy and simple.
This story really hit home with me. Having a daughter with an eating disorder—I was constantly reminded of the anger, frustration, and other strong emotions that come crashing in. Every family member deals with it differently. It wears on you becoming almost too much to endure at times, tearing you down. Even more challenges arise when people on the outside (friends that are closest to you) lose patience, and in turn your relationships are strained. All you want is for the affected person to act normal again, and for things to return to the way they used to be. Conventional therapy doesn’t always work, and all this time goes by where you just struggle to maintain with normal so far out of sight. I began to wonder if the author had experienced this first hand, because the characters’ thought patterns and the events in the story were written so well, which made the book feel more like a memoir than a work of fiction.
Because the thing was, however much I loved Emma, however protective I felt towards her, there were times when I got angry. There were times when I wanted to shout in her face, to push a slice of cake into her mouth and yell, ‘Just fucking eat it!’ There were times when I became almost blinded by rage, when an electric anger filled my body and it was all I could do not to tear the hair from my head and scream.
Hunger for life was an incredibly engaging read; the story was written well, descriptive and detailed, and the characters were all well-developed and complex. The writing style nearly prevented me from putting this book down. I was brought to tears at times. As far as the characters, I absolutely fell in love with James who narrates the entire story and it’s hard not to connect with him because everything pretty much revolves around him. He offers unwavering support to everyone, and he’s also forgiving which is such an amazing quality. He’s constantly attentive, concerned, reliable, and faithful to his family. Surprisingly, it was hard for me to connect with Hannah at all though; she turned out to be my least favorite character. Some of her decisions didn’t make sense to me and I just lost patience with her because she came across as selfish to me at times. This is of course my personal opinion though. The end was wrapped up beautifully and totally non-predictable.
With themes of love and sacrifice, friendship, family, hope, and overcoming, this book will stay with me for some time. It brings awareness to such an important subject about a disorder that affects so many in this world and sadly isn’t taken seriously enough. It’s a reality for many. I highly recommend this book.
4.5 stars
You can also read this review and others @ www.readrantrockandroll.com
December 3, 2022
Hunger for Life. What an apropos title for this.
James has just graduated university and moved back into his parents’ home as he figures out the path forward for his future. Younger sister, Emma, is anorexic and back in the hospital on a perpetual back and forth home-hospital cycle, as doctors and family desperately try to convince her to fight for her future. Two young adults who should have a hunger for life, but neither able to embrace it.
When James meets and falls in love with a free-spirited Austrian named Hannah, he sees in her the zest for life he should have. With his sister quite literally losing the battle for her life as both her medical team and family can’t break through to her, James has a choice before him: Should he be the dutiful brother, son and protector that he’s always tried to be for his family, or should he follow Hannah on her dreams to go around the world and start living his own life? After all, it’s not only Emma that’s falling apart. He’s drinking too much, his dad is all but living in their garage, and his mom is just trying to keep her family together. Something has to give.
Andy Marr’s debut novel beautifully captures the cost to a family when any one of its members is suffering deeply from any affliction - in this case, mental illness. Despite coming from a supportive family, and having a close relationship with James, Emma was always an anxious child and began exhibiting anorexic behaviors at seven years old. Despite the common urge to blame it on the family or parents, Emma had everything she needed to thrive, yet she couldn’t escape the internal voices that told her she was fat, ugly and unacceptable. Her abusive behavior towards those trying to help her is difficult to watch, but easier to understand if you see it from her perspective of wanting to control something that no one will let her control.
It’s raw, sobering, and frustrating at times, but it’s also tempered with moments of humor. You can see Marr’s own experience with his sister at play in the pages, which makes the book all the more personal and powerful. Those who’ve experienced family trauma in any way will likely relate, and those who haven’t, may understand those who have a little better. I highly recommend it!
★★★★
James has just graduated university and moved back into his parents’ home as he figures out the path forward for his future. Younger sister, Emma, is anorexic and back in the hospital on a perpetual back and forth home-hospital cycle, as doctors and family desperately try to convince her to fight for her future. Two young adults who should have a hunger for life, but neither able to embrace it.
When James meets and falls in love with a free-spirited Austrian named Hannah, he sees in her the zest for life he should have. With his sister quite literally losing the battle for her life as both her medical team and family can’t break through to her, James has a choice before him: Should he be the dutiful brother, son and protector that he’s always tried to be for his family, or should he follow Hannah on her dreams to go around the world and start living his own life? After all, it’s not only Emma that’s falling apart. He’s drinking too much, his dad is all but living in their garage, and his mom is just trying to keep her family together. Something has to give.
Andy Marr’s debut novel beautifully captures the cost to a family when any one of its members is suffering deeply from any affliction - in this case, mental illness. Despite coming from a supportive family, and having a close relationship with James, Emma was always an anxious child and began exhibiting anorexic behaviors at seven years old. Despite the common urge to blame it on the family or parents, Emma had everything she needed to thrive, yet she couldn’t escape the internal voices that told her she was fat, ugly and unacceptable. Her abusive behavior towards those trying to help her is difficult to watch, but easier to understand if you see it from her perspective of wanting to control something that no one will let her control.
It’s raw, sobering, and frustrating at times, but it’s also tempered with moments of humor. You can see Marr’s own experience with his sister at play in the pages, which makes the book all the more personal and powerful. Those who’ve experienced family trauma in any way will likely relate, and those who haven’t, may understand those who have a little better. I highly recommend it!
★★★★
January 6, 2020
Hunger For Life is such a good, heartbreaking book. I couldn't help wanting to shake Emma, at times, despite knowing that she's encased in her mental illness and can't get out of the grips of it. I feel bad for feeling that way but I know it's me feeling the helplessness of the family, the hopelessness that nothing is ever going to change or get better, until their loved one has finally succeeded in starving herself to death. Emma is in a prison of her own mind and body and the only door out of that prison seems to be death. I really like all the family members. Clearly mom and dad and James love their daughter/sister with everything they have but they can't do anything to help her change. Her illness has destroyed their lives, they can't "live" while she is killing herself right in front of them. Her illness has her micro managing every ounce of her life and their lives, they are afraid to breath around her...the author does such a good job of showing how miserable it is to live with a "successful" anorexic.
The story of James, Emma, and his parents, is so true, real, heartbreaking but the author ends the book with hope. Hope that they really don't have during most of the book. The family is so broken, the parents so destroyed by their daughter's disease and the brother James, just graduated from college, is not able to move forward at all, not while his sister is starving herself to death. The treatments that his sister are getting seem mostly worthless. One place pretty much ignores her, allowing her to not eat and to over exercise, to her heart's delight. And even the "good" place is able to only force her to gain weight before they let her out again to go home and starve herself again. She goes home and loses weight so quickly that the hospital realizes they were making her worse.
This book is really James' book, his thoughts, feelings, struggles with what his sister is doing to herself and her family. Such a good book and I'm glad I read it. There seems to be a sequel in the works and I'm looking forward to reading it, also. I want to thank the author for providing a this book to me. This review is my honest opinion.
The story of James, Emma, and his parents, is so true, real, heartbreaking but the author ends the book with hope. Hope that they really don't have during most of the book. The family is so broken, the parents so destroyed by their daughter's disease and the brother James, just graduated from college, is not able to move forward at all, not while his sister is starving herself to death. The treatments that his sister are getting seem mostly worthless. One place pretty much ignores her, allowing her to not eat and to over exercise, to her heart's delight. And even the "good" place is able to only force her to gain weight before they let her out again to go home and starve herself again. She goes home and loses weight so quickly that the hospital realizes they were making her worse.
This book is really James' book, his thoughts, feelings, struggles with what his sister is doing to herself and her family. Such a good book and I'm glad I read it. There seems to be a sequel in the works and I'm looking forward to reading it, also. I want to thank the author for providing a this book to me. This review is my honest opinion.
May 23, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up. This is the story of James Barnes, who graduates from college but moves back in with his parents, because he does not want to move away while his sister Emma is so sick. Emma suffers from anorexia, and is in hospital because she is frightfully thin. James drinks heavily, to ease the pain of being unable to resolve his sister's downward spiral. Indeed, James' parents are also devastated by their powerlessness in dealing with Emma's anorexia. James' dad retreats to his garage most of the time. In the US, it is called a "man cave" and I know someone who spends a fair amount of time in his man cave. James' mom is desperately trying to hold her family together.
The first 25% of this book is painfully depressing, so much so that I almost gave up. But then James meets Hannah who brings joy and some drama into his life. There is an uplifting ending.
I can emphasize with James and his parents. Two of my 3 grandchildren have a terminal, incurable genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. There have been times that they have rebelled against daily therapies and meds. There were times when I thought that my granddaughter might die, while she spent 2 and 1/2 months in the NICU, recovering from surgery related to a CF complication.
According to the author bio, this book is based on personal experience with his sister.
Two quotes:
Young James and Emma: "Back then, Emma had been my best friend in the world. Scrawny and a little too tall for her age, she possessed an odd combination of knock knees, light skin, and green eyes that could melt a person's heart from a hundred paces. She was 2 years younger than me, but if I ever noticed a gap in our ages it never troubled me."
Description of Myreton, Scotland, near Edinburgh: "The rain was coming down in buckets by the time Myreton came into view, but even beneath a heavy grey sky the village was unmistakably beautiful. It's a picture-postcard little place, with immaculate stone houses, charming little shops and a medieval church, whose ivy coated ruins provided a centrepiece for High Street."
Thank You Andy Marr for sending me this eBook .
The first 25% of this book is painfully depressing, so much so that I almost gave up. But then James meets Hannah who brings joy and some drama into his life. There is an uplifting ending.
I can emphasize with James and his parents. Two of my 3 grandchildren have a terminal, incurable genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. There have been times that they have rebelled against daily therapies and meds. There were times when I thought that my granddaughter might die, while she spent 2 and 1/2 months in the NICU, recovering from surgery related to a CF complication.
According to the author bio, this book is based on personal experience with his sister.
Two quotes:
Young James and Emma: "Back then, Emma had been my best friend in the world. Scrawny and a little too tall for her age, she possessed an odd combination of knock knees, light skin, and green eyes that could melt a person's heart from a hundred paces. She was 2 years younger than me, but if I ever noticed a gap in our ages it never troubled me."
Description of Myreton, Scotland, near Edinburgh: "The rain was coming down in buckets by the time Myreton came into view, but even beneath a heavy grey sky the village was unmistakably beautiful. It's a picture-postcard little place, with immaculate stone houses, charming little shops and a medieval church, whose ivy coated ruins provided a centrepiece for High Street."
Thank You Andy Marr for sending me this eBook .
September 17, 2019
💥UPDATE:💥 NOW AVAILABLE....
$4.99 Kindle Download! .....
Wonderful characters!!!
Andy Marr is a new author from Scotland with a great flair for writing — intimate and heartfelt!!
UPDATE....BELOW....🖌
4.5 Excellent stars....
- a 10 star emotional -close to home - experience/read. It’s a subject I sadly know much too much about -
I learned several new things about treatments for eating disorders in Scotland-
different than in the United States from this novel.
Emma was sick. She suffered for years with a dangerously serious - bone thin - unsafe low-weight - horrendous eating disorder.
A family illness was the center focus of every day life.
James - old brother to Emma- narrator for most of the novel - with sections of Emma narrating....was an exceptional memorable character!!!
James couldn’t change Emma’s situation anymore than she could....but he loved her more than anyone could love anyone!!!
A beautiful brother - a lovely family -
A very sad illness!!!!
A terrific eye-opening -valuable first novel - about the illness of a beautiful sick girl - a brother who loves her - parents who love them both - hospital treatments - a brothers life -
James falling in love - his personal challenges - hanging out with his buddies - drinking - worrying - fears - with his heart never ever too far away from his sister!!
James was an exceptional brother to Emma. He was HUNGRY FOR HEALTH and HAPPINESS for EVERYONE he loved.
Intimate page turning writing!!!
FULL REVIEW to come soon - in a day or two.
I’m still on vacation...back soon!
UPDATE.....
2nd part continuation......VERY LONG....
For those who read this...’Thank You’.....Do not feel obligated....
Skimming is nice too!
I’ve been thinking a lot about this book. I’m totally glad I read it. I don’t imagine I’ll forget it. Big Thanks to Andy Marr....a beautiful sensitive compassionate writer and hopefully new friend!!!
Many of my friends on Goodreads know a little about our family history with an eating disorder. This is perhaps the first time though - I’m about to share a little more. I wasn’t ready years ago,
Many books have been written about anorexia and bulimia. At one time in my life - I read every book published on the subject and related subjects. Plus...our family lived it. Thankfully - Paul and I did beautiful together....not lots of making love - but lots of holding each other!!!
We were living a life we never saw coming. I can’t possibly cover all the details - onsets - assessments - years of this disease that we learned and write a book review - but happy & willing to answer questions should anyone want to ask. ( I might not have answered one question a decade ago).....
Only in recent years - I mostly stopped reading all eating disorder books....even new release books with exceptionally high rating reviews. The books I was sure I already knew their stories.
I was satisfied enough just knowing my friends on Goodreads expressed a greater understanding about the disease. I was quietly thrilled to know that a book about a dancers eating disorder was being well-received.
I was thrilled to learn that many people - who have never had experience with the ‘disease’ were beginning to understand that eating disorders are:
....not only about feeling or seeing themselves as fat - ( part of it - yes!)...
....eating disorders are not a choice.
....eating disorders affect people of all genders, race, age, body shape and weight.
....eating disorders are the most fatal form of addiction...the most difficult to spot and treat......costing more lives than heroin.
.... eating disorders have the highest suicide rate in the United States.
I know the warning signs: frequent use of laxatives, excess workout after a high calorie meal, night eating, excessive eating of only safe foods, fuzzy hair on either the face, arms, or legs ( fuzzy hair grew on our daughter’s bone thin body- on one-half of her face when she was sick...in an attempt to keep the body warm from freezing), food disappearing during night time hours, hidden food containers,
containers with VOMIT....SHOCKING SECRET LIFE....of....STORING their own vomit in garbage bags, Tupperware containers, - and keeping them hidden!!! ( our daughter did this - and her younger sister and I found ‘the secret life’....It was SHOCKING)....
.......I screamed - grabbed my younger daughter - didn’t understand - but was shaking sick and crying: we ran out of the house. My husband later cleaned it. I was so traumatized and sick- I stopped eating myself for a few days. I can still cry over the visual of that day.
And we had other days that were worse involving scissors- construction tools- jumping out of windows - lying - hiding - stealing - police situations - and a couple of days I just can’t talk about....
But our poor sweet daughter was SICK. VERY SICK!! It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t ANYBODY’S thought. It took about 14 years until I could begin to fully UNDERSTAND....what most people try & try & try & TRY to understand >>> that NOBODY DID THIS TO THE ONE SUFFERING WITH AN EATING DISORDER....INCLUDING THEM!!! It wasn’t my fault either.....( but the mind goes there)....It wasn’t because our child daughter was a professional actress....( but the mind goes there too)....
It’s a mental, physical, emotional, depleting DISEASE....ONE FILLED WITH SHAME...and VERY DIFFICULT TO TREAT AND HEAL!
So....why did I choose to read THIS BOOK?....when I know more than what’s written in most books (unfortunately)....
When years ago - our own family - Paul, me, Ali, ( our youngest daughter, and Katy (anorexia/bulimia/ anorexia: 65 lbs at age 14...on 24 hour watch - serious danger of death...5 different cycles of Hospitalization at Stanford, Berkeley, and Los Angeles...plus nightmare-frightening-home care with no doctors helping at home when it was seriously needed)....TALKED ABOUT WRITING A FAMILY TRUE STORY BOOK.....
but after much thought and consideration and consultation about the process involved to write a family book - from each of our points of view—with hopes of more healing & helpful for other families, .....
the psychiatrist we worked with for years - respected the most- who had the MOST experience with the disease than any doctor in the Bay Area - HIGHLY ADVISED OUR FAMILY- NOT TO WRITE THE BOOK ( the book still lives in us - and we believe it might even help other families who have a family member suffering - as EVERYONE in the family suffers).....but statistics PROVE THE RISK IS TOO HIGH!!!
Plus ....books bring awareness......but they are not a cure.
Relapse almost ALWAYS happens JUST FROM continuing to revisit the memories. We didn’t need the risk. Our gift was that our daughter survived...
.....close to death a few times....absolutely terrified... nightmare situations....
....our gift today: .....OUR DAUGHTER IS ALIVE and THRIVING TODAY....
......the miracle included constant work- effort - pain nobody should experience- lots of failures- hospitals and doctors didn’t work at some point - our daughter ran away - no money on her - didn’t know where she was - on the streets SOMEWHERE in Southern California— nights of sleep lost - fear & tears -
But.....
our GIFT ....IS Katy is alive. Her LIFE IS HER CONTRIBUTION....JUST LIVING...WE ARE SOOOO PROUD OF HER!!! She’s a beautiful young adult - almost 38 years of age today!! Talented...and KIND!!!
SOMEHOW.....slowly...her own way....Kat recovered!
NO BOOK is coming from anyone in this family....
But Katy did write a musical that is being performed in New York next February....which we’ll all attend.
Years ago, our doctor told our daughter- “Katy, if you get well...REALLY WELL....NEVER WRITE A BOOK - don’t look BACK- BE SELFISH- MOVE FORWARD with your own LIFE”.......
Katy, who is a talented writer in her own rite...( won young author awards from grade school - all through her senior year in High School only to have won best writer in her senior year in High School)....
Katy says writing SAVED HER LIFE....SHE wanted to die, kill herself, take her unbearable pain away soooo often....( and the fear oh how Paul and I would be if she died helped Katy’s fight to live, too), but ‘writing’ kept Katy breathing.
Boxes and boxes of dark writings - hundreds of dark poems - are boxed away in our garage......but STILL the best ADVICE WAS....which we believe was excellent advice was....”let the book go”....don’t write it!!!
STAYING HEALTHY IS THE ONLY important job. Katy didn’t need to ‘make-a-difference’.....we didn’t either.
At the same time - we are incredibly grateful to those who have written books - hopefully they have helped - in some way- of healing another person or family....[ NOT JUST BE SADLY FASCINATED - but REALLY HELP]....
And THAT UNFORTUNATELY....I’m not confident about at all!!!!! It’s such a personal disease..books help informed....but rarely heal the sick person.
These are my reasons for reading THIS BOOK....
1- It’s the first eating - disorder book written from a BROTHER/SIBLING���S point of view I’ve ever read. We need to hear from siblings.
2- This book takes place in Scotland....where treatments are very different than in the United States[ note: treatments have changed for the better since our daughter was sick in the United States....BETTER....but still a fatal disease. I have questions about treatments in Scotland- from reading this book.
3 - I knew I could FINALLY trust that I’ve been away from this disease long enough now - that I could take care of my own well being —-
That being said....tons of memories surfaced....( Paul couldn’t hear me share about this book to him- he asked me a view questions but wanted to distant himself - which I respected).
4- I ADMIRE THE AUTHOR....he is wonderful contributing member on Goodreads. If he writes the phone book - I’ll read it!!! His writing elevated my respect and love for him. THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK .....and not all depressing... It’s REAL LIFE with a character - ( a BROTHER).... trying to live his own life - allowing himself some happiness when it’s as hard for him to do so as it was for his sister to eat!!!
Now for more tidbits ABOUT THIS BOOK....including some of the writing....HOPING EVERYONE I KNOW WILL CONSIDER READING IT....( fast page turning novel)> inspired by true events in the author’s life.... dedicated to his sister:
THE INNER VOICE of a brother - who loves his sister...
LETS HEAR FROM JAMES:.... a sample moment thought....
.....“For a girl without a job, or hobbies or any kind of social life, Emma’s schedule was remarkably crowded. Dieting, walking, worrying, writing, exercising, surviving - all of these things ate into a day that might have offered endless possibilities had Emma not felt obliged to fill her great unfenced acres of spare time with the kind of trivial concerns and ridiculous compulsions that her doctors have been trying for years to clear from her head”.
Towards the beginning of this book...we learn of the exceptional relationship between a brother and sister. They were so close. Emma, two years younger than James, were each other’s best friend. James, a college graduate, was often transported back to the happy playful years with his sister. They were so close as brother and sister....”that James didn’t know where his thoughts ended and where Emma’s began”.
However....Emma started putting her fingers down her throat to bring up food at age 7. It was her secret. Fifteen years later .... Dad learned the truth.
HEARING A LITTLE FROM EMMA and DAD/John...
....with Mum’s attempts to neutralize an uncomfortable situation....
....with a final outburst from James:
[ note.... Family dynamics were exhausting, frustrating, filled not only with anger and sadness, but with weariness]
An understanding dialogue:
EMMA BEGINS.....
“I’m sorry” Emma said. “I don’t mean to be this way”.
“Really? Dad said. Are you sure? Because, truly, sometimes I wonder whether you’re not perfectly happy in that crazy little bubble of yours”.
“Emma’s head snapped back like she’d been slapped. You shouldn’t say that, she said”.
“Does the truth hurt so badly? Dad asked”.
“It’s not the truth, Emma said. You’re not allowed to say that to me”.
“I’ll say whatever I want, Dad shouted. This is my house”.
“The argument snowballed pretty rapidly from there. Emma offered dad a feeble apology. Dad called Emma a selfish little cow. Then Emma started to cry”.
Mum tried to calm the situation, but when she did dad turned his teeth at her, literally his teeth, like some kind of animal....
James lost it too....
“For Christ’s sake! I yelled, jumping to my feet. Would you ‘shut up’! God dammit, I’ve had enough of this!”.
It’s sooo easy to understand the craziness- the terror - the deep devastating grief... the raw pain each family member felt.
It’s feels awful and hopeless. No words can describe just how horrendous a chronic nightmare is that goes on and on and on.....
Yelling ‘occasionally’.... but silence in-expressed thoughts most of the time....like walking on eggshells- everyone trying to tame-the-beast.
Emma’s sections were very sad.
“The doctors say that it will take me a long time to get over this illness. But I don’t want to get over it. I want to turn the clocks back to a time before it, when all the future was sunny. Then I could do it all again, but do it right. There’d be no illness, no need to find the courage it takes to recover. For I know I don’t have that courage within me, and I know I never will”.
James sadness was clear too:
James stayed awake half the night....
.....”listening for danger - dry retching from the toilet, the rattling of a pill bottle, the rattle of death”...
He spent half the next day with his head propped against his chin. He’d see an ambulance pass on the street, lights and sirens blaring, and immediately assumed it was headed for their house.
THE ILLNESS HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN:
Emma returned home in February, and immediately settled into the task of losing weight she gained since she left home the previous spring. Throughout her ten months at St Jude’s, she’d regarded us as compatriots in her battle against the doctors. Within a few days of her return, however, she became convinced that we were spying on her, reporting to the doctors behind her back, and we became her enemies once more. The tantrums that followed were epic. She shouted if we accidentally looked at her food. She screamed if we made plans that interfered with her schedule. She kicked, and bawled, she threw things, and punched walls, and made life hell for all of us”.
“You have to eat more than one apple day, darling, Mum told Emma a week after she arrived home. Emma was already noticeably thinner than when she left the hospital, and she began to get that glazed, a distant look that she got whenever her body began to shut itself down”.
I REMEMBER THAT ‘glazed-look’ all too well myself.
James said....
“It made me cringe when Emma spoke to mom like that, especially when I thought about everything Mum was doing to help her. She cut her hours at work so she could take care of Emma, and every evening she spent hours in Emma’s room, giving her cuddles and offering the countless reassurances she needed to get through the night. I guess Emma valued the support, but she was far too wrapped up in her problems to really show any sort of appreciation for it”.
I REMEMBER Ali, our younger daughter, felt this protection towards me - in the same way James did for his mother.
COMPLICATED FAMILY days ... go on FOR YEARS when AN EATING DISORDER is the CENTER-FOCUS - Good days are HARD....
BAD days are ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE!
In and out of hospitals - St. Jude, and Hope Park in Glasgow....different doctors - different treatments - it’s all EXHAUSTING.....and Soooo hard!!!
But....now for a little pleasure....
*James* was such a REAL GUY....
We get to experience James with his buddies - boozy-all-nighters...hanging out at The Grange in Scotland. Sure, James was hurting - suffering - but there were good times too....
Even dad said to James:
“Keep smiling, son. I need you to be happy. I need one of you at least to be happy”.
So.....we get some romantic nights at Myreton Castle and Cranston beach.
Game nights and silly fun at home in Edinburg....( a Carrie Bradshaw TV show to make readers giggle)...
Mum’s 50th B day celebration...
...we also meet a full cast of people James connects with: Holly, Dan, Steve, Gary, ( ha, the asshole friend), Katie, ( a short love interest with it’s complications)...Christian & Barry, ( more complicated drama), Elizabeth...etc...
.....and we meet THE STAR LOVE INTEREST-....( visiting from Vienna)> **HANNAH**.
A ‘little’ about Hannah....
“She wasn’t a fairy princess or anything like that. She was challenging and crazy and frequently frustrating but she love life with a passion that made all those things seem worthwhile.
She had her own unique vision of the world, and she wanted to find her place in it, to test life’s limits and boundaries. And in allowing me to be with her, she was showing me a life far beyond the limits I had set for myself”.
I really enjoyed the relationship between James and Hannah. ( their development- their challenges - their - together-relationship the Emma....and MOST... the love that grew between them.
As long as this review is...there is much more to Andy Marr’s book to experience- think about - learn - and enjoy. Perhaps even have questions after you finish....
It’s sad - but written very respectfully!!! NOT ALL IS BLEAK...
The storytelling is engaging. I promise there will be moments to laugh and smile. ( ha, I might never look at marigold flowers the same again)
MANY THANKS AND CONGRATS TO ***ANDY MARR*** on his debut novel....inspired by true experiences...
REFLECTIVELY WONDERFUL....informative - powerful - and enjoyable.
My time reading it was very special.
Buying a ticket to Scotland now.... haha!
Andy did his country proud!!!
$4.99 Kindle Download! .....
Wonderful characters!!!
Andy Marr is a new author from Scotland with a great flair for writing — intimate and heartfelt!!
UPDATE....BELOW....🖌
4.5 Excellent stars....
- a 10 star emotional -close to home - experience/read. It’s a subject I sadly know much too much about -
I learned several new things about treatments for eating disorders in Scotland-
different than in the United States from this novel.
Emma was sick. She suffered for years with a dangerously serious - bone thin - unsafe low-weight - horrendous eating disorder.
A family illness was the center focus of every day life.
James - old brother to Emma- narrator for most of the novel - with sections of Emma narrating....was an exceptional memorable character!!!
James couldn’t change Emma’s situation anymore than she could....but he loved her more than anyone could love anyone!!!
A beautiful brother - a lovely family -
A very sad illness!!!!
A terrific eye-opening -valuable first novel - about the illness of a beautiful sick girl - a brother who loves her - parents who love them both - hospital treatments - a brothers life -
James falling in love - his personal challenges - hanging out with his buddies - drinking - worrying - fears - with his heart never ever too far away from his sister!!
James was an exceptional brother to Emma. He was HUNGRY FOR HEALTH and HAPPINESS for EVERYONE he loved.
Intimate page turning writing!!!
FULL REVIEW to come soon - in a day or two.
I’m still on vacation...back soon!
UPDATE.....
2nd part continuation......VERY LONG....
For those who read this...’Thank You’.....Do not feel obligated....
Skimming is nice too!
I’ve been thinking a lot about this book. I’m totally glad I read it. I don’t imagine I’ll forget it. Big Thanks to Andy Marr....a beautiful sensitive compassionate writer and hopefully new friend!!!
Many of my friends on Goodreads know a little about our family history with an eating disorder. This is perhaps the first time though - I’m about to share a little more. I wasn’t ready years ago,
Many books have been written about anorexia and bulimia. At one time in my life - I read every book published on the subject and related subjects. Plus...our family lived it. Thankfully - Paul and I did beautiful together....not lots of making love - but lots of holding each other!!!
We were living a life we never saw coming. I can’t possibly cover all the details - onsets - assessments - years of this disease that we learned and write a book review - but happy & willing to answer questions should anyone want to ask. ( I might not have answered one question a decade ago).....
Only in recent years - I mostly stopped reading all eating disorder books....even new release books with exceptionally high rating reviews. The books I was sure I already knew their stories.
I was satisfied enough just knowing my friends on Goodreads expressed a greater understanding about the disease. I was quietly thrilled to know that a book about a dancers eating disorder was being well-received.
I was thrilled to learn that many people - who have never had experience with the ‘disease’ were beginning to understand that eating disorders are:
....not only about feeling or seeing themselves as fat - ( part of it - yes!)...
....eating disorders are not a choice.
....eating disorders affect people of all genders, race, age, body shape and weight.
....eating disorders are the most fatal form of addiction...the most difficult to spot and treat......costing more lives than heroin.
.... eating disorders have the highest suicide rate in the United States.
I know the warning signs: frequent use of laxatives, excess workout after a high calorie meal, night eating, excessive eating of only safe foods, fuzzy hair on either the face, arms, or legs ( fuzzy hair grew on our daughter’s bone thin body- on one-half of her face when she was sick...in an attempt to keep the body warm from freezing), food disappearing during night time hours, hidden food containers,
containers with VOMIT....SHOCKING SECRET LIFE....of....STORING their own vomit in garbage bags, Tupperware containers, - and keeping them hidden!!! ( our daughter did this - and her younger sister and I found ‘the secret life’....It was SHOCKING)....
.......I screamed - grabbed my younger daughter - didn’t understand - but was shaking sick and crying: we ran out of the house. My husband later cleaned it. I was so traumatized and sick- I stopped eating myself for a few days. I can still cry over the visual of that day.
And we had other days that were worse involving scissors- construction tools- jumping out of windows - lying - hiding - stealing - police situations - and a couple of days I just can’t talk about....
But our poor sweet daughter was SICK. VERY SICK!! It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t ANYBODY’S thought. It took about 14 years until I could begin to fully UNDERSTAND....what most people try & try & try & TRY to understand >>> that NOBODY DID THIS TO THE ONE SUFFERING WITH AN EATING DISORDER....INCLUDING THEM!!! It wasn’t my fault either.....( but the mind goes there)....It wasn’t because our child daughter was a professional actress....( but the mind goes there too)....
It’s a mental, physical, emotional, depleting DISEASE....ONE FILLED WITH SHAME...and VERY DIFFICULT TO TREAT AND HEAL!
So....why did I choose to read THIS BOOK?....when I know more than what’s written in most books (unfortunately)....
When years ago - our own family - Paul, me, Ali, ( our youngest daughter, and Katy (anorexia/bulimia/ anorexia: 65 lbs at age 14...on 24 hour watch - serious danger of death...5 different cycles of Hospitalization at Stanford, Berkeley, and Los Angeles...plus nightmare-frightening-home care with no doctors helping at home when it was seriously needed)....TALKED ABOUT WRITING A FAMILY TRUE STORY BOOK.....
but after much thought and consideration and consultation about the process involved to write a family book - from each of our points of view—with hopes of more healing & helpful for other families, .....
the psychiatrist we worked with for years - respected the most- who had the MOST experience with the disease than any doctor in the Bay Area - HIGHLY ADVISED OUR FAMILY- NOT TO WRITE THE BOOK ( the book still lives in us - and we believe it might even help other families who have a family member suffering - as EVERYONE in the family suffers).....but statistics PROVE THE RISK IS TOO HIGH!!!
Plus ....books bring awareness......but they are not a cure.
Relapse almost ALWAYS happens JUST FROM continuing to revisit the memories. We didn’t need the risk. Our gift was that our daughter survived...
.....close to death a few times....absolutely terrified... nightmare situations....
....our gift today: .....OUR DAUGHTER IS ALIVE and THRIVING TODAY....
......the miracle included constant work- effort - pain nobody should experience- lots of failures- hospitals and doctors didn’t work at some point - our daughter ran away - no money on her - didn’t know where she was - on the streets SOMEWHERE in Southern California— nights of sleep lost - fear & tears -
But.....
our GIFT ....IS Katy is alive. Her LIFE IS HER CONTRIBUTION....JUST LIVING...WE ARE SOOOO PROUD OF HER!!! She’s a beautiful young adult - almost 38 years of age today!! Talented...and KIND!!!
SOMEHOW.....slowly...her own way....Kat recovered!
NO BOOK is coming from anyone in this family....
But Katy did write a musical that is being performed in New York next February....which we’ll all attend.
Years ago, our doctor told our daughter- “Katy, if you get well...REALLY WELL....NEVER WRITE A BOOK - don’t look BACK- BE SELFISH- MOVE FORWARD with your own LIFE”.......
Katy, who is a talented writer in her own rite...( won young author awards from grade school - all through her senior year in High School only to have won best writer in her senior year in High School)....
Katy says writing SAVED HER LIFE....SHE wanted to die, kill herself, take her unbearable pain away soooo often....( and the fear oh how Paul and I would be if she died helped Katy’s fight to live, too), but ‘writing’ kept Katy breathing.
Boxes and boxes of dark writings - hundreds of dark poems - are boxed away in our garage......but STILL the best ADVICE WAS....which we believe was excellent advice was....”let the book go”....don’t write it!!!
STAYING HEALTHY IS THE ONLY important job. Katy didn’t need to ‘make-a-difference’.....we didn’t either.
At the same time - we are incredibly grateful to those who have written books - hopefully they have helped - in some way- of healing another person or family....[ NOT JUST BE SADLY FASCINATED - but REALLY HELP]....
And THAT UNFORTUNATELY....I’m not confident about at all!!!!! It’s such a personal disease..books help informed....but rarely heal the sick person.
These are my reasons for reading THIS BOOK....
1- It’s the first eating - disorder book written from a BROTHER/SIBLING���S point of view I’ve ever read. We need to hear from siblings.
2- This book takes place in Scotland....where treatments are very different than in the United States[ note: treatments have changed for the better since our daughter was sick in the United States....BETTER....but still a fatal disease. I have questions about treatments in Scotland- from reading this book.
3 - I knew I could FINALLY trust that I’ve been away from this disease long enough now - that I could take care of my own well being —-
That being said....tons of memories surfaced....( Paul couldn’t hear me share about this book to him- he asked me a view questions but wanted to distant himself - which I respected).
4- I ADMIRE THE AUTHOR....he is wonderful contributing member on Goodreads. If he writes the phone book - I’ll read it!!! His writing elevated my respect and love for him. THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK .....and not all depressing... It’s REAL LIFE with a character - ( a BROTHER).... trying to live his own life - allowing himself some happiness when it’s as hard for him to do so as it was for his sister to eat!!!
Now for more tidbits ABOUT THIS BOOK....including some of the writing....HOPING EVERYONE I KNOW WILL CONSIDER READING IT....( fast page turning novel)> inspired by true events in the author’s life.... dedicated to his sister:
THE INNER VOICE of a brother - who loves his sister...
LETS HEAR FROM JAMES:.... a sample moment thought....
.....“For a girl without a job, or hobbies or any kind of social life, Emma’s schedule was remarkably crowded. Dieting, walking, worrying, writing, exercising, surviving - all of these things ate into a day that might have offered endless possibilities had Emma not felt obliged to fill her great unfenced acres of spare time with the kind of trivial concerns and ridiculous compulsions that her doctors have been trying for years to clear from her head”.
Towards the beginning of this book...we learn of the exceptional relationship between a brother and sister. They were so close. Emma, two years younger than James, were each other’s best friend. James, a college graduate, was often transported back to the happy playful years with his sister. They were so close as brother and sister....”that James didn’t know where his thoughts ended and where Emma’s began”.
However....Emma started putting her fingers down her throat to bring up food at age 7. It was her secret. Fifteen years later .... Dad learned the truth.
HEARING A LITTLE FROM EMMA and DAD/John...
....with Mum’s attempts to neutralize an uncomfortable situation....
....with a final outburst from James:
[ note.... Family dynamics were exhausting, frustrating, filled not only with anger and sadness, but with weariness]
An understanding dialogue:
EMMA BEGINS.....
“I’m sorry” Emma said. “I don’t mean to be this way”.
“Really? Dad said. Are you sure? Because, truly, sometimes I wonder whether you’re not perfectly happy in that crazy little bubble of yours”.
“Emma’s head snapped back like she’d been slapped. You shouldn’t say that, she said”.
“Does the truth hurt so badly? Dad asked”.
“It’s not the truth, Emma said. You’re not allowed to say that to me”.
“I’ll say whatever I want, Dad shouted. This is my house”.
“The argument snowballed pretty rapidly from there. Emma offered dad a feeble apology. Dad called Emma a selfish little cow. Then Emma started to cry”.
Mum tried to calm the situation, but when she did dad turned his teeth at her, literally his teeth, like some kind of animal....
James lost it too....
“For Christ’s sake! I yelled, jumping to my feet. Would you ‘shut up’! God dammit, I’ve had enough of this!”.
It’s sooo easy to understand the craziness- the terror - the deep devastating grief... the raw pain each family member felt.
It’s feels awful and hopeless. No words can describe just how horrendous a chronic nightmare is that goes on and on and on.....
Yelling ‘occasionally’.... but silence in-expressed thoughts most of the time....like walking on eggshells- everyone trying to tame-the-beast.
Emma’s sections were very sad.
“The doctors say that it will take me a long time to get over this illness. But I don’t want to get over it. I want to turn the clocks back to a time before it, when all the future was sunny. Then I could do it all again, but do it right. There’d be no illness, no need to find the courage it takes to recover. For I know I don’t have that courage within me, and I know I never will”.
James sadness was clear too:
James stayed awake half the night....
.....”listening for danger - dry retching from the toilet, the rattling of a pill bottle, the rattle of death”...
He spent half the next day with his head propped against his chin. He’d see an ambulance pass on the street, lights and sirens blaring, and immediately assumed it was headed for their house.
THE ILLNESS HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN:
Emma returned home in February, and immediately settled into the task of losing weight she gained since she left home the previous spring. Throughout her ten months at St Jude’s, she’d regarded us as compatriots in her battle against the doctors. Within a few days of her return, however, she became convinced that we were spying on her, reporting to the doctors behind her back, and we became her enemies once more. The tantrums that followed were epic. She shouted if we accidentally looked at her food. She screamed if we made plans that interfered with her schedule. She kicked, and bawled, she threw things, and punched walls, and made life hell for all of us”.
“You have to eat more than one apple day, darling, Mum told Emma a week after she arrived home. Emma was already noticeably thinner than when she left the hospital, and she began to get that glazed, a distant look that she got whenever her body began to shut itself down”.
I REMEMBER THAT ‘glazed-look’ all too well myself.
James said....
“It made me cringe when Emma spoke to mom like that, especially when I thought about everything Mum was doing to help her. She cut her hours at work so she could take care of Emma, and every evening she spent hours in Emma’s room, giving her cuddles and offering the countless reassurances she needed to get through the night. I guess Emma valued the support, but she was far too wrapped up in her problems to really show any sort of appreciation for it”.
I REMEMBER Ali, our younger daughter, felt this protection towards me - in the same way James did for his mother.
COMPLICATED FAMILY days ... go on FOR YEARS when AN EATING DISORDER is the CENTER-FOCUS - Good days are HARD....
BAD days are ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE!
In and out of hospitals - St. Jude, and Hope Park in Glasgow....different doctors - different treatments - it’s all EXHAUSTING.....and Soooo hard!!!
But....now for a little pleasure....
*James* was such a REAL GUY....
We get to experience James with his buddies - boozy-all-nighters...hanging out at The Grange in Scotland. Sure, James was hurting - suffering - but there were good times too....
Even dad said to James:
“Keep smiling, son. I need you to be happy. I need one of you at least to be happy”.
So.....we get some romantic nights at Myreton Castle and Cranston beach.
Game nights and silly fun at home in Edinburg....( a Carrie Bradshaw TV show to make readers giggle)...
Mum’s 50th B day celebration...
...we also meet a full cast of people James connects with: Holly, Dan, Steve, Gary, ( ha, the asshole friend), Katie, ( a short love interest with it’s complications)...Christian & Barry, ( more complicated drama), Elizabeth...etc...
.....and we meet THE STAR LOVE INTEREST-....( visiting from Vienna)> **HANNAH**.
A ‘little’ about Hannah....
“She wasn’t a fairy princess or anything like that. She was challenging and crazy and frequently frustrating but she love life with a passion that made all those things seem worthwhile.
She had her own unique vision of the world, and she wanted to find her place in it, to test life’s limits and boundaries. And in allowing me to be with her, she was showing me a life far beyond the limits I had set for myself”.
I really enjoyed the relationship between James and Hannah. ( their development- their challenges - their - together-relationship the Emma....and MOST... the love that grew between them.
As long as this review is...there is much more to Andy Marr’s book to experience- think about - learn - and enjoy. Perhaps even have questions after you finish....
It’s sad - but written very respectfully!!! NOT ALL IS BLEAK...
The storytelling is engaging. I promise there will be moments to laugh and smile. ( ha, I might never look at marigold flowers the same again)
MANY THANKS AND CONGRATS TO ***ANDY MARR*** on his debut novel....inspired by true experiences...
REFLECTIVELY WONDERFUL....informative - powerful - and enjoyable.
My time reading it was very special.
Buying a ticket to Scotland now.... haha!
Andy did his country proud!!!
February 16, 2020
Fly for Yourself
She doesn’t fit!
She doesn’t belong!
She hates herself!
She’s awful!... She feels bloated!... Large!... Like an elephant!...
That’s it!... Like an Elephant!... A huge, wide, Elephant!...
She must lose weight!... Urgently!... Imperiously!...
She starts vomiting!... Skipping meals!... Starving!...
Running all the way down to Anorexia!...
Mom worries! Dad worries! James worries!
James forgets about himself! Emma means the world to him! All his life revolves around his vulnerable, fragile sister! Emma is a whole damaged planet, and James her private satellite!...
But everyone is fighting for dearest beloved Emma, and some minor victories are slowly coming their way. The light at the end of the tunnel is still faint but finally visible.
Time to go, James! ... Go and fly for yourself!...
Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of mental disorders; it can knock your door (cross your fingers it doesn’t) and deserves all the spotlight it can get!...
Many thanks to the author for conceding me the privilege of reading this literary masterpiece 😍
Way to go, Andy! Just like James, you’re finally embarking in a flight of your own ✈️ !... 👍
She doesn’t fit!
She doesn’t belong!
She hates herself!
She’s awful!... She feels bloated!... Large!... Like an elephant!...
That’s it!... Like an Elephant!... A huge, wide, Elephant!...
She must lose weight!... Urgently!... Imperiously!...
She starts vomiting!... Skipping meals!... Starving!...
Running all the way down to Anorexia!...
Mom worries! Dad worries! James worries!
James forgets about himself! Emma means the world to him! All his life revolves around his vulnerable, fragile sister! Emma is a whole damaged planet, and James her private satellite!...
But everyone is fighting for dearest beloved Emma, and some minor victories are slowly coming their way. The light at the end of the tunnel is still faint but finally visible.
Time to go, James! ... Go and fly for yourself!...
Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of mental disorders; it can knock your door (cross your fingers it doesn’t) and deserves all the spotlight it can get!...
Many thanks to the author for conceding me the privilege of reading this literary masterpiece 😍
Way to go, Andy! Just like James, you’re finally embarking in a flight of your own ✈️ !... 👍
October 12, 2022
"Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, not lifestyle choices." - Demi Lovato
Gripping, heartbreaking and raw, Hunger for Life is the story of James, a young man and how he and his life are affected by his sister's eating disorder. Not only is James affected by her illness, but his parents are as well.
James was so happy when Emma was born. He loves his sister deeply and they have a close bond. He is rocked to the core when his sister suffers from an illness which has plagued her for so long. James feels guilty moving on with his life while his sister is struggling. His entire family is struggling, each in their own way.
James has friends and eventually meets Hannah, a young woman who proves to him that he can be both happy and sad at the same time.
"Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose." - ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
This book is a poignant look at how eating disorders can affect not only the individual but their loved ones as well. The feeling of helplessness that loved ones feel watching as someone they love struggles and fades in front of them. They I-could-have-done something and I-should-have-done something that runs through the minds of loved ones. How painful and gut wrenching it is fear for their lives and wellbeing.
"About 26% of people with eating disorders attempt suicide." -ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
I also appreciated how he showed Emma's feelings and thoughts as well. Her thoughts about herself, her body, and her family. This is such a serious illness and the author, Andy Marr, handled the subject with care. I appreciated how he showed the love, the frustration, the anxiety, the anger, the hope, and myriad of feelings that James experienced in this book.
I found this well written book to be raw, evoking emotion and gripping. It was hard not to feel for James, Emma, and their parents. James is at an age where he should be embracing his future, finding his way, and moving forward. Like his mother I wanted to tell him to go live and be happy but understood how he had difficulty doing so.
10,200 deaths each year are the direct result of an eating disorder—that’s one death every 52 minutes. -ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
This book is both heartbreaking but hopeful. James is off to see that world and his sister finally feels that she is being listened to and finally has a say in her care. I included some statistics in my review to show the seriousness of this illness. Mental Health is not talked about enough. It is still a taboo subject for some. It is a shame and I feel we need to be discussing it openly and providing a safe place for people to share and get support.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank to you Andy Marr for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Gripping, heartbreaking and raw, Hunger for Life is the story of James, a young man and how he and his life are affected by his sister's eating disorder. Not only is James affected by her illness, but his parents are as well.
James was so happy when Emma was born. He loves his sister deeply and they have a close bond. He is rocked to the core when his sister suffers from an illness which has plagued her for so long. James feels guilty moving on with his life while his sister is struggling. His entire family is struggling, each in their own way.
James has friends and eventually meets Hannah, a young woman who proves to him that he can be both happy and sad at the same time.
"Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose." - ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
This book is a poignant look at how eating disorders can affect not only the individual but their loved ones as well. The feeling of helplessness that loved ones feel watching as someone they love struggles and fades in front of them. They I-could-have-done something and I-should-have-done something that runs through the minds of loved ones. How painful and gut wrenching it is fear for their lives and wellbeing.
"About 26% of people with eating disorders attempt suicide." -ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
I also appreciated how he showed Emma's feelings and thoughts as well. Her thoughts about herself, her body, and her family. This is such a serious illness and the author, Andy Marr, handled the subject with care. I appreciated how he showed the love, the frustration, the anxiety, the anger, the hope, and myriad of feelings that James experienced in this book.
I found this well written book to be raw, evoking emotion and gripping. It was hard not to feel for James, Emma, and their parents. James is at an age where he should be embracing his future, finding his way, and moving forward. Like his mother I wanted to tell him to go live and be happy but understood how he had difficulty doing so.
10,200 deaths each year are the direct result of an eating disorder—that’s one death every 52 minutes. -ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
This book is both heartbreaking but hopeful. James is off to see that world and his sister finally feels that she is being listened to and finally has a say in her care. I included some statistics in my review to show the seriousness of this illness. Mental Health is not talked about enough. It is still a taboo subject for some. It is a shame and I feel we need to be discussing it openly and providing a safe place for people to share and get support.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank to you Andy Marr for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
January 3, 2020
I’m not going to pretend this is an easy read - it isn’t. Is it worth reading? Hell, yes. This is a very emotional, powerful and sensitive story about a lovely family who have a fight on their hands to save daughter/sister Emma from her ongoing battle with anorexia. The novel is narrated by James who must be one of the best brothers ever and I’ve got a lovely one myself! His bond with Emma from the minute she is born is a thing of beauty and one I empathise with as I would go to the ends of the earth for my siblings. I wept, I laughed, I wanted to give Emma a shake (sorry Andy, know it wouldn’t help) because of the devastating impact on the family and I also wanted to give the medical professionals a shake too because they did not listen to Emma.
I think this is one of the most emotional stories I’ve read in a while. You feel the family’s despair and you see the toll it has taken on them as they are in a state of inertia. However, love for Hannah, some really good friends such as Holly and his marvellous mum and dad saves James who wants to put his life on hold for Emma. The ending is optimistic as James goes off travelling with Hannah and Emma has some control over her life. I love the peppering of humour to alleviate the sadness and pain and the Scottish setting in and around Edinburgh is pretty darned good too!
Overall a book that takes you on a rollercoaster journey of emotions that I will remember for a long time.
Ps. Andy - you sure can write!!! It’s definitely ‘your best debut novel you’ve ever written’ !!
I think this is one of the most emotional stories I’ve read in a while. You feel the family’s despair and you see the toll it has taken on them as they are in a state of inertia. However, love for Hannah, some really good friends such as Holly and his marvellous mum and dad saves James who wants to put his life on hold for Emma. The ending is optimistic as James goes off travelling with Hannah and Emma has some control over her life. I love the peppering of humour to alleviate the sadness and pain and the Scottish setting in and around Edinburgh is pretty darned good too!
Overall a book that takes you on a rollercoaster journey of emotions that I will remember for a long time.
Ps. Andy - you sure can write!!! It’s definitely ‘your best debut novel you’ve ever written’ !!
October 7, 2021
With the exception of a five-minute break to feed the cats, I read this book in one sitting, glued from beginning to end. It actually affected me much more than I had anticipated, and I made many notes while reading, though they ended up being too personal to include in my review.
I related quite strongly to Emma, though not in a literal sense, which may sound odd. Without getting too specific, I have spent a great deal of my life in and out of hospital, and it seems some things apply regardless of the reasons why you are there!
I really appreciated how real Emma felt as a person. She wasn't just someone with a disease, which is something that happens sometimes in books where someone is sick. The disease fills in for personality. Thankfully that's not the case here. The depiction of her eating disorder and the effects of it on her and her family are beautifully portrayed here.
Though Emma is basically the central point of James' life, he is our main character, and just as fleshed out. A good person, caught up in an incredibly tough situation. I was eager to follow along with his life, and his budding relationship with Hannah. At times I wanted to slap the people around him for not being more sympathetic to his situation, but I appreciated the realism. People can be disappointingly thoughtless much of the time.
Also, as someone who rarely drinks, I was a little taken aback at the amount of alcohol he and his friends consumed, though it felt authentic!
I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading this. I found it to be a rather beautiful book and a wonderful depiction, not just of an illness, but of a deep sibling bond (and of family in general).
I'm very glad I got the chance to read it.
***Thank you to Andy Marr for sending me a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review***
I related quite strongly to Emma, though not in a literal sense, which may sound odd. Without getting too specific, I have spent a great deal of my life in and out of hospital, and it seems some things apply regardless of the reasons why you are there!
I really appreciated how real Emma felt as a person. She wasn't just someone with a disease, which is something that happens sometimes in books where someone is sick. The disease fills in for personality. Thankfully that's not the case here. The depiction of her eating disorder and the effects of it on her and her family are beautifully portrayed here.
Though Emma is basically the central point of James' life, he is our main character, and just as fleshed out. A good person, caught up in an incredibly tough situation. I was eager to follow along with his life, and his budding relationship with Hannah. At times I wanted to slap the people around him for not being more sympathetic to his situation, but I appreciated the realism. People can be disappointingly thoughtless much of the time.
Also, as someone who rarely drinks, I was a little taken aback at the amount of alcohol he and his friends consumed, though it felt authentic!
I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading this. I found it to be a rather beautiful book and a wonderful depiction, not just of an illness, but of a deep sibling bond (and of family in general).
I'm very glad I got the chance to read it.
***Thank you to Andy Marr for sending me a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review***
October 4, 2022
I was really in the mood for something with depth and feeling so picked up this book that has been calling my name for some time now. I am so glad I answered the call as it was exactly what I was searching for.
Hunger for Life is the story of a Scottish family—James, his sister Emma, and their parents. The novel is set in 2004-2005 when James and Emma are in their very early 20s. James is our narrator. He and Emma are extremely close. Emma, unfortunately, is struggling with and slowly deteriorating from a serious eating disorder. This has taken a huge toll on the family.
The story grabbed me in the prologue and didn’t let go till the end. There is so much depth of feeling and heartbreak in this novel. Emma’s disease has a powerful impact on all four family members, including their relationships with each other and others in their lives. At times it’s difficult to see how any of them can possibly fight through and salvage the good left in their lives. Though there are instances of sheer despair, there is also heartrending poignancy and some truly beautiful moments.
As the story is so introspective (which I loved) and because the thoughts and emotions played out in the story are so realistic, I wondered if the book was semi-autobiographical. The touching dedication at the beginning also prompted me to wonder. When I reached “About the Author” at the end, my suspicions were borne out—the story is indeed closely based on the life Andy shared with his sister Seonaid.
Hunger for Life is a brilliant and very well written debut novel. I now have my eyes on Andy’s second book, “A Matter of Life and Death,” and look forward to reading it soon. I highly recommend “Hunger for Life” to all readers looking for a heartfelt and inspiring read about the struggles and challenges of a family in crisis.
Hunger for Life is the story of a Scottish family—James, his sister Emma, and their parents. The novel is set in 2004-2005 when James and Emma are in their very early 20s. James is our narrator. He and Emma are extremely close. Emma, unfortunately, is struggling with and slowly deteriorating from a serious eating disorder. This has taken a huge toll on the family.
The story grabbed me in the prologue and didn’t let go till the end. There is so much depth of feeling and heartbreak in this novel. Emma’s disease has a powerful impact on all four family members, including their relationships with each other and others in their lives. At times it’s difficult to see how any of them can possibly fight through and salvage the good left in their lives. Though there are instances of sheer despair, there is also heartrending poignancy and some truly beautiful moments.
As the story is so introspective (which I loved) and because the thoughts and emotions played out in the story are so realistic, I wondered if the book was semi-autobiographical. The touching dedication at the beginning also prompted me to wonder. When I reached “About the Author” at the end, my suspicions were borne out—the story is indeed closely based on the life Andy shared with his sister Seonaid.
Hunger for Life is a brilliant and very well written debut novel. I now have my eyes on Andy’s second book, “A Matter of Life and Death,” and look forward to reading it soon. I highly recommend “Hunger for Life” to all readers looking for a heartfelt and inspiring read about the struggles and challenges of a family in crisis.
October 11, 2022
In many ways this is a coming of age story. Hey, I'm 74 and still learning new life lessons every single day.
The relationship between James and Emma reminds me of my relationship with the younger of my two older sisters. I had to learn to go my own way so as not to fall into her quagmires. I had to forge ahead and fall into my own quagmires.
The relationship between James and Emma reminds me of my relationship with the younger of my two older sisters. I had to learn to go my own way so as not to fall into her quagmires. I had to forge ahead and fall into my own quagmires.
July 14, 2020
HUNGER FOR LIFE by Andy Marr earned 5 solid, hope-inspiring stars from me!
My Tease…
Whether a family member’s disease is contagious or not, no one in the family is immune to the sickness’s ill effects. Twenty-two-year-old James Barnes lives and breathes this reality. His younger sister Emma suffers from anorexia. At the same time, James and his parents agonize from not being able to cure her themselves.
After graduating from Edinburgh University, James comes home to start the next phase of his life. But guilt, frustration, anger, and sadness bring his forward motion to a screeching halt as he realizes his sister’s life has paused. She’s confined, for the time being, to St. Jude’s Hospital, in the Victoria Wing—a ward designated for those with eating disorders. Only, instead of blossoming once again, Emma is wilting away. From every angle, his precious sister is getting worse.
Meanwhile, everything outside of James’s homelife is moving forward. Yet, he’s stumbling because his questions have no clear answers: What can he do to make his sister better? Does his sister even want to live? Will she survive? How can he possibly achieve independence as an adult when his sister and family need him so much? Is there any hope at all to satisfying his own “hunger for life” when his sister is possibly starving to death?
Thoughts…
MESSAGE:
This story has a powerful message at its heart, reminiscent of the one inherent in the Serenity Prayer (by Reinhold Niebuhr). In HUNGER FOR LIFE, everyone in the Barnes family must learn what they can control and what they can’t control. Developing this understanding seems to be the start of healing, so the book has such a meaningful, uplifting, and hopeful message to share, even as the Barnes family faces an uncertain outcome. (You’ll have to read the book to learn about their journey.)
WRITING:
I was so impressed by the quality of the writing! Here are some examples:
“All around us, a sea of travellers moved like an unseen current, flowing like a wide river through the terminal.”
and…
“I’d stay up half the night, listening for danger—dry retching from the toilet, the rattling of a pill bottle, the rattle of death—and spend half the next day with my head propped against my chin.”
and…
“He’d spent so many years looking after number one, protecting his own interests, that not giving a fuck was almost a reflex.”
HUMOR:
In a story with plenty of hard bumps in the road, the injection of humor was medicine to the soul. In most instances, I considered the humor understated, making it all the more enjoyable.
“The café was called Marvin’s Mochas, for no good reason at all. For one thing, its owner’s name was Giovanni, and for another the only coffee they sold came out of the industrial-sized bucket of Nescafé that stood behind the counter.”
COVER:
While the story and writing took hold of me and wouldn’t let me go, I’m admitting the cover didn’t grab me. Instead, the positive reviews for this book invited me in. In life, everyone knows you can’t judge a book by its cover. But in the literary world…covers often make or break a potential sale, so that’s why I mention it.
This was a memorable 5-star read on so many levels. I highly recommend HUNGER FOR LIFE :)
My Tease…
Whether a family member’s disease is contagious or not, no one in the family is immune to the sickness’s ill effects. Twenty-two-year-old James Barnes lives and breathes this reality. His younger sister Emma suffers from anorexia. At the same time, James and his parents agonize from not being able to cure her themselves.
After graduating from Edinburgh University, James comes home to start the next phase of his life. But guilt, frustration, anger, and sadness bring his forward motion to a screeching halt as he realizes his sister’s life has paused. She’s confined, for the time being, to St. Jude’s Hospital, in the Victoria Wing—a ward designated for those with eating disorders. Only, instead of blossoming once again, Emma is wilting away. From every angle, his precious sister is getting worse.
Meanwhile, everything outside of James’s homelife is moving forward. Yet, he’s stumbling because his questions have no clear answers: What can he do to make his sister better? Does his sister even want to live? Will she survive? How can he possibly achieve independence as an adult when his sister and family need him so much? Is there any hope at all to satisfying his own “hunger for life” when his sister is possibly starving to death?
Thoughts…
MESSAGE:
This story has a powerful message at its heart, reminiscent of the one inherent in the Serenity Prayer (by Reinhold Niebuhr). In HUNGER FOR LIFE, everyone in the Barnes family must learn what they can control and what they can’t control. Developing this understanding seems to be the start of healing, so the book has such a meaningful, uplifting, and hopeful message to share, even as the Barnes family faces an uncertain outcome. (You’ll have to read the book to learn about their journey.)
WRITING:
I was so impressed by the quality of the writing! Here are some examples:
“All around us, a sea of travellers moved like an unseen current, flowing like a wide river through the terminal.”
and…
“I’d stay up half the night, listening for danger—dry retching from the toilet, the rattling of a pill bottle, the rattle of death—and spend half the next day with my head propped against my chin.”
and…
“He’d spent so many years looking after number one, protecting his own interests, that not giving a fuck was almost a reflex.”
HUMOR:
In a story with plenty of hard bumps in the road, the injection of humor was medicine to the soul. In most instances, I considered the humor understated, making it all the more enjoyable.
“The café was called Marvin’s Mochas, for no good reason at all. For one thing, its owner’s name was Giovanni, and for another the only coffee they sold came out of the industrial-sized bucket of Nescafé that stood behind the counter.”
COVER:
While the story and writing took hold of me and wouldn’t let me go, I’m admitting the cover didn’t grab me. Instead, the positive reviews for this book invited me in. In life, everyone knows you can’t judge a book by its cover. But in the literary world…covers often make or break a potential sale, so that’s why I mention it.
This was a memorable 5-star read on so many levels. I highly recommend HUNGER FOR LIFE :)
May 9, 2023
This is the second novel I’ve read by Andy Marr and, as with ‘A Matter of Life and Death’, he has once again confirmed he knows how to write about life, pain and family.
I read the blurb on this one, therefore waited until I was ready to delve into his (assumed) semi-autobiographical struggles.
There are no elaborate or implausible themes, no fantasy or hidden meanings, instead he gives us a poignant contemporary story of an illness that affects a family, infused with his ‘one-liner’ wit (also evident in his reviews) and set against a Scottish backdrop:
‘Oh yes,’ I said. ‘I love the Scottish summer. It’s probably my favourite day of the year.’
I needed these snippets of light-heartedness as counterweights to the heavier material.
I look forward to more of Marr.
I read the blurb on this one, therefore waited until I was ready to delve into his (assumed) semi-autobiographical struggles.
There are no elaborate or implausible themes, no fantasy or hidden meanings, instead he gives us a poignant contemporary story of an illness that affects a family, infused with his ‘one-liner’ wit (also evident in his reviews) and set against a Scottish backdrop:
‘Oh yes,’ I said. ‘I love the Scottish summer. It’s probably my favourite day of the year.’
I needed these snippets of light-heartedness as counterweights to the heavier material.
I look forward to more of Marr.
June 7, 2022
An honest, sincere approach to the anorexic cause. Very touching and, at the same time, poignant reading. One piece of advice on how not to behave with lousy nutrition. Fabulous.
February 22, 2020
This was a fantastic, emotionally charged book about a young girl wasting away from anorexia, and the devastation it wrecks on her family. The story’s set in Edinburgh, Scotland, and told from the perspective of her older brother who returns home after graduating college, and in addition to dealing with the myriad of changes life is throwing at him, he’s forced to watch helplessly as his sister, who he had been so close to while growing up, teeters on the brink of death. It would have been so easy for this story to fall into melodrama or sappy tropes, but it always stays grounded and real. It’s a fantastic debut from the author.
October 25, 2022
Wow! Powerful, emotional, poignant story about Emma who has anorexia, an eating disorder, and how it affects her family. It is told from the viewpoint of her brother, James, who loves his sister dearly.
Interwoven into the story is James' personal life and how he holds back from traveling or pursuing his life because he is very worried about Emma.
The pace of the story and the writing style is fabulous. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the journey.
The book is about difficult topics: mental health, anorexia, and suicide. However, it is told with grace, compassion and love.
Highly recommend.
Interwoven into the story is James' personal life and how he holds back from traveling or pursuing his life because he is very worried about Emma.
The pace of the story and the writing style is fabulous. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the journey.
The book is about difficult topics: mental health, anorexia, and suicide. However, it is told with grace, compassion and love.
Highly recommend.
September 27, 2022
This is an important book. And it was undoubtedly painful to write, as it's based on the experiences of the author, who was forced to complete the second half of the novel after his sister's death. The most heartbreaking, beautiful, bullish family portrait I've ever read.
March 9, 2020
4.5 Stars
The novel opens with a prologue. James’ baby sister has just been born. He cannot believe how tiny she is and when he and his father must eventually leave to give his mother some rest, he wants to stay with his sister. As he leaves his mother says to him,
“Don’t worry James Emma will be home with Mummy tomorrow. After that you can spend the whole rest of your lives together”.
This thought fills him with joy.
We are then propelled into the future with the first chapter and things are far from joyful. James is twenty-two years old and has just graduated from University. He and his mother are visiting his sister Emma, who has an eating disorder and is very ill. James is shocked at her condition,
“At twenty years of age, she had the body of someone of eighty or more. Her once soft skin was stretched tight over her face, her hair dull and brittle”.
For the last four months Emma has been force fed through a tube in her nose.
We find out that Emma has been Ill for a long time. James remembers ever since Emma started school, she had anxiety issues. Every time he would see her at playtime, she would be as far as possible away from all the other students. Head hanging.
For fifteen years Emma was in and out of clinics and hospitals. For fifteen years the rest of the family was clueless that Emma was making herself vomit and this was taking its toll on her health.
As Emma moved into high school, her self-enforced isolation continued, and she started to stop eating.
Emma’s disorder does not only affect her, it affects the whole family. Her father thinks that she hates him, wallowing in depression, keeping his feelings bottled up inside him. This bottling of feelings has left him angry and bitter and he has isolated himself, like Emma, from the family, hiding away in his garage.
When Emma returns home from hospital, she never leaves her room. With her in her room, the father in the garage, the whole family is in disarray. On the rare occasions when the whole family is together, you could cut the tension with a knife, each member of the family waiting from somebody else to break the silence, all the while the tension ratchets up.
James lives his life with underlying guilt. He feels selfish every time he is enjoying himself, his thoughts quickly, and with a will of their own, changing to his sister trapped in the hospital, all alone and suffering. It takes his best friend Holly, to make him realise that he also harbours feelings of anger towards his sister. All these feelings stem from his love for his sister, and his feelings of hopelessness not being able to help her.
Interspersed throughout the novel are chapters in which we are taken inside Emma’s head and have access to her thoughts. These chapters are quite horrific, the level of mental anguish almost unbearable to read.
It doesn’t take long for the reader to realise that Emma’s disorder affects every member of the family. There lives indelibly altered to accommodate and revolve around Emma and the disorder. It has left a terrible toll on all of them.
In part two of the book, James meets and falls in love with Hannah. Hannah is like a lifeline thrown to James, who now realises he was slowly drowning without knowing it. Hannah is bubbling with life, and James feels like he is coming to life, happiness, a feeling unknown for such a long time.
But Hannah has a boyfriend, and this just causes more problems for James. Hannah does have strong feelings for James, and she vacillates between the two. Comparing the boyfriend and James to the future and the present.
Meanwhile Emma gets sicker and sicker and is readministered back into hospital. The vicious cycle is never ending, she is let out, she refuses to eat, she is readministered. When she eventually tries to take her life. Something must change.
You can feel the passion that Marr has beating deeply within this book and knowing that it is based on his own life and sister gives it a greater feeling of realism.
A wonderful debut novel 4.5 Stars.
A big thankyou to Andy Marr for sending me his book for a fair and honest review.
The novel opens with a prologue. James’ baby sister has just been born. He cannot believe how tiny she is and when he and his father must eventually leave to give his mother some rest, he wants to stay with his sister. As he leaves his mother says to him,
“Don’t worry James Emma will be home with Mummy tomorrow. After that you can spend the whole rest of your lives together”.
This thought fills him with joy.
We are then propelled into the future with the first chapter and things are far from joyful. James is twenty-two years old and has just graduated from University. He and his mother are visiting his sister Emma, who has an eating disorder and is very ill. James is shocked at her condition,
“At twenty years of age, she had the body of someone of eighty or more. Her once soft skin was stretched tight over her face, her hair dull and brittle”.
For the last four months Emma has been force fed through a tube in her nose.
We find out that Emma has been Ill for a long time. James remembers ever since Emma started school, she had anxiety issues. Every time he would see her at playtime, she would be as far as possible away from all the other students. Head hanging.
For fifteen years Emma was in and out of clinics and hospitals. For fifteen years the rest of the family was clueless that Emma was making herself vomit and this was taking its toll on her health.
As Emma moved into high school, her self-enforced isolation continued, and she started to stop eating.
Emma’s disorder does not only affect her, it affects the whole family. Her father thinks that she hates him, wallowing in depression, keeping his feelings bottled up inside him. This bottling of feelings has left him angry and bitter and he has isolated himself, like Emma, from the family, hiding away in his garage.
When Emma returns home from hospital, she never leaves her room. With her in her room, the father in the garage, the whole family is in disarray. On the rare occasions when the whole family is together, you could cut the tension with a knife, each member of the family waiting from somebody else to break the silence, all the while the tension ratchets up.
James lives his life with underlying guilt. He feels selfish every time he is enjoying himself, his thoughts quickly, and with a will of their own, changing to his sister trapped in the hospital, all alone and suffering. It takes his best friend Holly, to make him realise that he also harbours feelings of anger towards his sister. All these feelings stem from his love for his sister, and his feelings of hopelessness not being able to help her.
Interspersed throughout the novel are chapters in which we are taken inside Emma’s head and have access to her thoughts. These chapters are quite horrific, the level of mental anguish almost unbearable to read.
It doesn’t take long for the reader to realise that Emma’s disorder affects every member of the family. There lives indelibly altered to accommodate and revolve around Emma and the disorder. It has left a terrible toll on all of them.
In part two of the book, James meets and falls in love with Hannah. Hannah is like a lifeline thrown to James, who now realises he was slowly drowning without knowing it. Hannah is bubbling with life, and James feels like he is coming to life, happiness, a feeling unknown for such a long time.
But Hannah has a boyfriend, and this just causes more problems for James. Hannah does have strong feelings for James, and she vacillates between the two. Comparing the boyfriend and James to the future and the present.
Meanwhile Emma gets sicker and sicker and is readministered back into hospital. The vicious cycle is never ending, she is let out, she refuses to eat, she is readministered. When she eventually tries to take her life. Something must change.
You can feel the passion that Marr has beating deeply within this book and knowing that it is based on his own life and sister gives it a greater feeling of realism.
A wonderful debut novel 4.5 Stars.
A big thankyou to Andy Marr for sending me his book for a fair and honest review.
March 22, 2020
This was a grim, powerful, and well-written debut novel by Andy Marr. It gives insight into anorexia and its devastating effects on an entire family. The informative book should provide readers with greater awareness of the condition with hopes that it will result in more compassionate reactions towards the sufferers of anorexia and their families. The author elicits a strong emotional response in his writing. It is heart wrenching, poignant, and written with sensitivity.
James is a young adult who has just graduated from University. He has moved back with his parents into the family home and has difficulty moving ahead in his life. His future looks grim. He is under much stress because his beloved younger sister, Emma, has suffered from anorexia since childhood and has little desire to live. He is conflicted as he wants to protect her and encourage her to get healthy but is in anguish because he is frustrated in knowing there is little he can do. Emma has been in and out of treatment centers and hospitals, discharged to her home, and back for more programs and hospitalization. Her condition keeps deteriorating. Doctors and psychiatrists feel that without a desire to help herself or to go on living she is unlikely to regain mental and physical health.
Her loving family is in despair and the mother, father, and brother James react in different ways. The book brilliantly tells a tragic story with believable and memorable characters. However, I felt at times there were two separate stories here. It is no fault of the author since romantic stories rarely appealed to me. I felt that less emphasis could be placed on James’s romantic entanglements, his binge drinking, and his rowdy friends, and more time describing the family dynamics. I understand the need to show James’s struggle and personal growth. I thought the story of his character development and the strong brother/sister and parent bond could have made two books.
The story ends on a hopeful note. I would like to read a future story devoted to further events in the lives of Emma and James. Well done!
James is a young adult who has just graduated from University. He has moved back with his parents into the family home and has difficulty moving ahead in his life. His future looks grim. He is under much stress because his beloved younger sister, Emma, has suffered from anorexia since childhood and has little desire to live. He is conflicted as he wants to protect her and encourage her to get healthy but is in anguish because he is frustrated in knowing there is little he can do. Emma has been in and out of treatment centers and hospitals, discharged to her home, and back for more programs and hospitalization. Her condition keeps deteriorating. Doctors and psychiatrists feel that without a desire to help herself or to go on living she is unlikely to regain mental and physical health.
Her loving family is in despair and the mother, father, and brother James react in different ways. The book brilliantly tells a tragic story with believable and memorable characters. However, I felt at times there were two separate stories here. It is no fault of the author since romantic stories rarely appealed to me. I felt that less emphasis could be placed on James’s romantic entanglements, his binge drinking, and his rowdy friends, and more time describing the family dynamics. I understand the need to show James’s struggle and personal growth. I thought the story of his character development and the strong brother/sister and parent bond could have made two books.
The story ends on a hopeful note. I would like to read a future story devoted to further events in the lives of Emma and James. Well done!
February 22, 2022
Sometimes I read fiction for pure entertainment, other times I read it for personal enrichment; to learn something I didn’t know, or to feel something I’ve never felt. Andy Marr’s Hunger for Life falls into the latter.
This sobering contemporary novel is a character study about one family’s struggle to cope with mental illness. Twenty-year-old Emma suffers from anorexia. Focusing more on the ripple effect of this tragic disease than on the disease itself, the story isn’t told from Emma’s point of view, but rather from her brother James', and to a lesser degree, her parents'. James numbs himself with alcohol, walking a thin line with his own mental well-being while trying to nurture a budding romance. Their father, John, essentially checks out, hiding in his garage alone, alienating his wife and children. Mary, their mother, is the rock of the family.
I didn’t know a great deal about anorexia going into this. Heart wrenching is the term that comes to mind. It can be a difficult read at times, as Marr is graphic in his depictions, but it’s remarkably well written and I walked away from it feeling like I gained something important.
The best debut novel I’ve read in a long time, and I have a feeling I'll be hearing a lot more about this writer over the coming years. Well done, Mr. Marr.
This sobering contemporary novel is a character study about one family’s struggle to cope with mental illness. Twenty-year-old Emma suffers from anorexia. Focusing more on the ripple effect of this tragic disease than on the disease itself, the story isn’t told from Emma’s point of view, but rather from her brother James', and to a lesser degree, her parents'. James numbs himself with alcohol, walking a thin line with his own mental well-being while trying to nurture a budding romance. Their father, John, essentially checks out, hiding in his garage alone, alienating his wife and children. Mary, their mother, is the rock of the family.
I didn’t know a great deal about anorexia going into this. Heart wrenching is the term that comes to mind. It can be a difficult read at times, as Marr is graphic in his depictions, but it’s remarkably well written and I walked away from it feeling like I gained something important.
The best debut novel I’ve read in a long time, and I have a feeling I'll be hearing a lot more about this writer over the coming years. Well done, Mr. Marr.
July 27, 2023
In his semi-autobiographical, debut novel, Andy Marr provides his readers with an insightful exploration of the complexities of family, love and grief whilst each individual is exposed to his/her inner demons to cope with life.
In his impeccable prose, Andy Marr raises awareness of a serious and mostly neglected illness. James, the protagonist of the story, is struggling to live his life unlocking its full potential whilst his sister Emma is suffering from anorexia.
Have the protagonist reminisce his happy childhood with his sister in an intact family, Andy Marr breaks all stereotypes about the root-cause of psychological problems individuals can be exposed to.
James´parents are also challenged and have their own way of coping with Emma´s illness. His father finds solace in solitude whilst his mother projects an unfiltered optimism. Amidst these adversities, James´ life continues as a fresh uni graduate when he falls in love with Hannah.
Will he ever enjoy his life without a guilty conscience when his sister´s life is fading away? Only James will know.
Compelling and touching read!
Many thanks to Andy Marr for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
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In his impeccable prose, Andy Marr raises awareness of a serious and mostly neglected illness. James, the protagonist of the story, is struggling to live his life unlocking its full potential whilst his sister Emma is suffering from anorexia.
Have the protagonist reminisce his happy childhood with his sister in an intact family, Andy Marr breaks all stereotypes about the root-cause of psychological problems individuals can be exposed to.
James´parents are also challenged and have their own way of coping with Emma´s illness. His father finds solace in solitude whilst his mother projects an unfiltered optimism. Amidst these adversities, James´ life continues as a fresh uni graduate when he falls in love with Hannah.
Will he ever enjoy his life without a guilty conscience when his sister´s life is fading away? Only James will know.
Compelling and touching read!
Many thanks to Andy Marr for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
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February 26, 2020
What a hard read but such a strong woman Emma is! Anorexia is a disease many of us don't understand so beautifully told through the author's eyes, we see what it's like for the sufferer and their family. An excellent book for ones with anorexia...Emma went down as far as she could, dangling by a string, and climbed out of the abyss. Bravo Emma and Andy, Mom and Dad for being so brave and sharing so others might learn from your story. The writing flowed and even though a difficult read, it went quickly.
May 27, 2024
Utterly fantastic!!
What a gripping and heart wrenching story. Flawless. I was so involved and moved emotionally that I was a little speechless when it came to an end.
The characters are bloody brilliant and each one has a huge impact on the overall story. We see how a whole family is affected by one family member's illness. Also, the extension into friends or close relations.
The highs and lows have you on a rollercoaster of emotions and I had my mind changed a few times as to how this could all end.
Within this are life lessons and ordeals that must be so hard to overcome on a day to day basis. We are shown a realistic account of what life may be like for certain individuals that struggle with anorexia. It was an upsetting read in parts but a very beautiful read nonetheless.
Huge thanks to Andy Marr for the chance to read this fabulous book.
What a gripping and heart wrenching story. Flawless. I was so involved and moved emotionally that I was a little speechless when it came to an end.
The characters are bloody brilliant and each one has a huge impact on the overall story. We see how a whole family is affected by one family member's illness. Also, the extension into friends or close relations.
The highs and lows have you on a rollercoaster of emotions and I had my mind changed a few times as to how this could all end.
Within this are life lessons and ordeals that must be so hard to overcome on a day to day basis. We are shown a realistic account of what life may be like for certain individuals that struggle with anorexia. It was an upsetting read in parts but a very beautiful read nonetheless.
Huge thanks to Andy Marr for the chance to read this fabulous book.
January 19, 2023
What a wonderfully written book this was, even if it was a bit depressing at times. I have read quite a few books, but this is my first that deals with the topic of an eating disorder. We all know that eating disorders are mental illnesses/disorders, and we know how horrible they are and how much they affect the individual that is dealing with the disorder. However, Hunger for Life gives us a look at how an eating disorder affects the whole family, and not just the individual who has it.
Hunger for Life is primarily about James, who has just graduated from college. James moves back home as his sister Emma is very sick with an eating disorder, and she is in and out of the hospital. James’ father has retreated to the garage and barely speaks. His mother tries to take care of everything. While James feels he needs to put his life on hold to take care of his sister. He is afraid to move on for fear that something might happen to her.
During this time James does go out to the bar for drinks with some friends. In fact, alcohol becomes James’ friend to help with numbing the pain in dealing with his sister Emma. One night while out at the bar he meets a girl named Hannah, who he really likes. During his time and relationship with Hannah, he realizes that it might be time to start living his life at some point. In fact he was in love with Hannah, and I loved how James described her: “ It always amazed me, her ability to be fascinated by things. Life, it seemed, was just that little bit more interesting and beautiful to her than it was to regular people. I supposed that was why she never got bored- because every day, every interaction was different to the last.” If only every person that we met could be like Hannah…
I enjoyed this author’s writing, and I am looking forward to reading A Matter of Life & Death, which is his follow up novel. I highly recommend reading this touching, heartfelt story, as it is one that you won’t soon forget.
Hunger for Life is primarily about James, who has just graduated from college. James moves back home as his sister Emma is very sick with an eating disorder, and she is in and out of the hospital. James’ father has retreated to the garage and barely speaks. His mother tries to take care of everything. While James feels he needs to put his life on hold to take care of his sister. He is afraid to move on for fear that something might happen to her.
During this time James does go out to the bar for drinks with some friends. In fact, alcohol becomes James’ friend to help with numbing the pain in dealing with his sister Emma. One night while out at the bar he meets a girl named Hannah, who he really likes. During his time and relationship with Hannah, he realizes that it might be time to start living his life at some point. In fact he was in love with Hannah, and I loved how James described her: “ It always amazed me, her ability to be fascinated by things. Life, it seemed, was just that little bit more interesting and beautiful to her than it was to regular people. I supposed that was why she never got bored- because every day, every interaction was different to the last.” If only every person that we met could be like Hannah…
I enjoyed this author’s writing, and I am looking forward to reading A Matter of Life & Death, which is his follow up novel. I highly recommend reading this touching, heartfelt story, as it is one that you won’t soon forget.
January 25, 2020
This was a hard book for me to read. Not because of the subject matter, which is the effects of the anorexia suffered by Emma, younger sister of James, but because of the way her disease had totally controlled the happiness and well-being of her whole family. Emma had been in and out of hospitals for years, home for a few months, then back to hospitals and treatment after some dangerous episode. All of this of course had her parents on an emotional roller-coaster, but it essentially put her older brother's life on hold as well. James had been a close and protective older brother, but he couldn't fix this and he couldn't accept it either. It seemed nothing the family or doctors did was any help, and they tried everything.
I don't know how I would cope with a situation like this, and thank goodness I never had to, because I suspect my patience would run pretty thin very quickly. Much respect to those who do have to deal with this type of thing, and worse, because I know they have to dig deep for understanding and endurance on a daily basis.
This novel has a hopeful conclusion, with James finding love and planning a travel adventure, and Emma deciding to take control of her life and treatment.
Thank you to Andy for providing a copy, and for having the courage to write about a difficult topic. I'm sure it wasn't easy.
I don't know how I would cope with a situation like this, and thank goodness I never had to, because I suspect my patience would run pretty thin very quickly. Much respect to those who do have to deal with this type of thing, and worse, because I know they have to dig deep for understanding and endurance on a daily basis.
This novel has a hopeful conclusion, with James finding love and planning a travel adventure, and Emma deciding to take control of her life and treatment.
Thank you to Andy for providing a copy, and for having the courage to write about a difficult topic. I'm sure it wasn't easy.
January 18, 2020
The author discloses in his Acknowledgments at the end of the book that he closely based this story of a family in crisis on his own experiences and that of his young sister.
Young Emma suffers from Anorexia and poor body image. The entire family is affected by Emma's struggles, and the inability of her doctors to help her. The many lows of a family affected by a loved one suffering from anorexia are very well documented by Emma's older brother, James, in this well written novel. Even James' relationship with the love of his life, Hannah, is affected by Emma's numerous crises.
In the end, Emma and her medical caregivers acknowledge that she needs psychological as well as physical intervention/care, and decide to change her treatment.
James' loving relationship with his sister is apparent in this tribute to a young girl who was so lost. In support of his sister, James decides to give up drinking, realizing that there are so many addictive behaviors that can derail our lives.
This is an emotional roller coaster of a read but (slight spoiler alert!) the author ends the story on a highly positive note. In the end, James decides to take a chance on life, on his sister's recovery, and his love for Hannah, and just get on the plane to Vienna, and get on with the rest of his life.
Young Emma suffers from Anorexia and poor body image. The entire family is affected by Emma's struggles, and the inability of her doctors to help her. The many lows of a family affected by a loved one suffering from anorexia are very well documented by Emma's older brother, James, in this well written novel. Even James' relationship with the love of his life, Hannah, is affected by Emma's numerous crises.
In the end, Emma and her medical caregivers acknowledge that she needs psychological as well as physical intervention/care, and decide to change her treatment.
James' loving relationship with his sister is apparent in this tribute to a young girl who was so lost. In support of his sister, James decides to give up drinking, realizing that there are so many addictive behaviors that can derail our lives.
This is an emotional roller coaster of a read but (slight spoiler alert!) the author ends the story on a highly positive note. In the end, James decides to take a chance on life, on his sister's recovery, and his love for Hannah, and just get on the plane to Vienna, and get on with the rest of his life.
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