Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Anorexia Diaries: A Mother and Daughter's Triumph Over Teenage Eating Disorders by Linda Rio, Tara Rio, and Craig Johnson Ph.D.


Nothing terrible new or insightful in these diaries. Just another memoir on Anorexia. This book is undeveloped and the problems with eating disorders is not fully explored or explained.

I was expecting a raw look into this horrific disorder but instead got another repeating account of parental blame and a perceived difficult childhood (who didn't have a rough childhood?).

I am not taking this disorder lightly but this particular book isn't very compelling.

Borrow it or check it out. Do not purchase this book.


Grade: D


Synopsis

"Last night I asked my mom some questions about bulimia and anorexia. I thought for sure she would know what I was doing to myself. How could a mother not know the terrible things her daughter was doing?"

"Tara seems fine these last few days. The questions she asked me the other night scared me. But now I think she's just curious. Maybe one of her friends is having a problem with something."

Mother and daughter, living in the same house, yet at times it seems as though they are on different planets. Tara, growing obsessive about the way she looks, feels her mom no longer understands her. Linda, while concerned about the changes her teenage daughter is going through, is focused on making a career for herself as a family therapist. Neither knows how to reverse the terrible path that Tara is heading down.

Tara's and Linda's side-by-side diaries of this difficult time, only shared with each other years later, show both sides of their maddening ordeal and inspiring victory to keep their family together.

In addition to sharing their actual diaries, Tara and Linda look back on the drama of those years to offer the wisdom and perspective that can only come with hindsight. Craig Johnson, Ph.D., an international leader in the research and treatment of eating disorders, offers useful advice and fascinating commentary on the Rios' story to inform today's families who may be going through similar situations.

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