TAYSHAS 5

Elena Vanishing by Elena Dunkle

It's no secret that I am drawn to books/movies/tv shows about broken people. When I read the blurb for this book on the Overdrive website, I thought this would be a good one to read-a memoir about a woman and her experiences with anorexia. While it was a good read, I find that I didn't like Elena very much, and this made it hard for me to sympathize with her situation.

I understand being driven, and making good grades. I don't understand scheduling every second of your day because you need to be in control that much. I don't understand asking for treatment, but then not doing your best to make treatment work. I don't understand treating your loved ones horribly because they don't understand and are only trying to help.

For most of the book, Elena seemed to be one of those me me me personalities, and I really can't stand people like that. At one point, a classmate is asking her a question, and she admits she doesn't really hear what he's saying but she assumes that he is asking her out. Because she thinks she is beautiful and irresistible and that's all boys want from her. Stuck up much?

I did feel a little something for her when she miscarried, but not a lot. She knew she would probably lose the baby, but still drank a beer and smoked because it was going to die anyway. Then she professes to have loved that baby so much. Her actions say otherwise.

I am happy that she seems to have overcome her eating disorder because I don't wish that on anyone. I just wish the narrator was more likeable because I might actually care that she overcame this, and I don't.