alexblackreads's review
5.0
I read this book as a teenager and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure how I found it or why I picked it up (neither poetry nor memoirs were really my thing when I was young), but I did and I loved it. Somewhere along the way I lost my copy so I haven't been able to reread this book in years, but I've kept thinking about it. I finally got a new copy yesterday and read it all in one sitting, and it was just as wonderful and emotionally powerful as I remember.
"I was my father's littlest girl, his hell on wheels, running away from him each morning, just ahead of his headlights, around and around the block."
The imagery in this book is so evocative. I included that quote because it was the first that stood out to me, the first that I wrote down, but I'm not even sure it was my favorite line. It was just one of many wonderful lines. And those wonderful lines made wonderful poems. Corrigan ties the literal and figurative together so well.
I almost don't want to talk about this because anything I say can't possibly measure up to what her writing does. It hits me so hard that I have to take breaks. It's not always healthy because it's real, and real life isn't always healthy. It's just a stunning look into mental health and the minds of teenagers, and her own struggles when she was young.
I'd highly recommend this if you're interested in a YA book that deals with some very heavy subjects. I've not read many that tackled eating disorders as well (although obviously trigger warnings because this book is incredibly graphic). Now that I have my own copy again, I'll be picking this book up frequently to return to specific poems and read snippets. I loved it, maybe even more than when I was young.
"I was my father's littlest girl, his hell on wheels, running away from him each morning, just ahead of his headlights, around and around the block."
The imagery in this book is so evocative. I included that quote because it was the first that stood out to me, the first that I wrote down, but I'm not even sure it was my favorite line. It was just one of many wonderful lines. And those wonderful lines made wonderful poems. Corrigan ties the literal and figurative together so well.
I almost don't want to talk about this because anything I say can't possibly measure up to what her writing does. It hits me so hard that I have to take breaks. It's not always healthy because it's real, and real life isn't always healthy. It's just a stunning look into mental health and the minds of teenagers, and her own struggles when she was young.
I'd highly recommend this if you're interested in a YA book that deals with some very heavy subjects. I've not read many that tackled eating disorders as well (although obviously trigger warnings because this book is incredibly graphic). Now that I have my own copy again, I'll be picking this book up frequently to return to specific poems and read snippets. I loved it, maybe even more than when I was young.
dee_hzz's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
liralen's review
3.0
I may have to revise my less-than-flattering view of books done in verse.
I'd had this one on my to-read list for a while, but had put it off because...well, I've read some verse novels done exceptionally well (Ellen Hopkins, anyone?) and some done...less well...and overall find them more miss than hit. But Corrigan had an essay in [b:Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?|3558938|Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?|Marissa Walsh|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348275252s/3558938.jpg|3601099] (actually, Ellen Hopkins also had a story in verse in that book...), and when I closed the back cover of that book I turned straight to the computer to put Corrigan's memoir on hold at the library.
Now, none of this is to say that the book is perfect. I can't judge it from a poetry perspective, because, well, I am not a good judge of whether poetry is good or not. But I do think that the framing sometimes made it difficult to place the author in time and space, separated her a little from what was going on in her life. The style isn't particularly spare, and there are some really beautiful lines (116: "People also use the word recovery to describe/gathering the shards of the broken./Divers swimming circles around the shipwreck and taking./Meaning: to salvage.") -- it was just hard in places to understand what was going through her mind.
I have no great insights into this book, but it's one that I expect to end up in possession sooner or later.
I'd had this one on my to-read list for a while, but had put it off because...well, I've read some verse novels done exceptionally well (Ellen Hopkins, anyone?) and some done...less well...and overall find them more miss than hit. But Corrigan had an essay in [b:Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?|3558938|Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?|Marissa Walsh|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348275252s/3558938.jpg|3601099] (actually, Ellen Hopkins also had a story in verse in that book...), and when I closed the back cover of that book I turned straight to the computer to put Corrigan's memoir on hold at the library.
Now, none of this is to say that the book is perfect. I can't judge it from a poetry perspective, because, well, I am not a good judge of whether poetry is good or not. But I do think that the framing sometimes made it difficult to place the author in time and space, separated her a little from what was going on in her life. The style isn't particularly spare, and there are some really beautiful lines (116: "People also use the word recovery to describe/gathering the shards of the broken./Divers swimming circles around the shipwreck and taking./Meaning: to salvage.") -- it was just hard in places to understand what was going through her mind.
I have no great insights into this book, but it's one that I expect to end up in possession sooner or later.
kaitlinshafer's review
1.0
I feel awful, but I really didn't like to poetry in this book. It was hard for me to follow. And I sometimes I had no idea what she was talking about.
I actually didn't read the last 15 pages because I couldn't push myself to read them.
I really liked the idea of this book and I'm sad that I didn't enjoy it. Don't let my bad review deter you from reading it. Who knows, you might actually like it.
I actually didn't read the last 15 pages because I couldn't push myself to read them.
I really liked the idea of this book and I'm sad that I didn't enjoy it. Don't let my bad review deter you from reading it. Who knows, you might actually like it.
margaretann84's review
2.0
Some of the poetry was sharp, but a good deal of the book was hard to follow and felt significantly longer than the page total.
kelsokake's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.25
a non-linear story written in verse, you remind me of you is a story of mental illness, recovery, and codependence. I remember reading this when I was younger and finding it romantic. Rereading as an adult I found their reliance on each other to be unhealthy and lowkey toxic. But I found her growth and recovery inspiring. I hope they’re both doing well and thoroughly enjoyed this reread, though I don’t know if I would read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Self harm
Minor: Car accident and Drug use
This book is about a woman recovering from an eating disorder dealing with her boyfriend’s suicide attempt. Please read safely.lindsayclaire's review
4.0
When your best friend tells you this is her favorite book, you drop everything else to read it. This was heartbreaking and so beautifully written. My best friend warned me it would be triggering - I did have to stop at multiple pages to take a break and regroup, but it was worth every word. As someone who has suffered from disordered eating for 9 years, I found this memoir to be honest and powerful. Memoirs or novels on eating disorders are difficult, because you never want them to become how-to's for readers, but for me, I really appreciated having a true, honest look into the life of this author. I think this memoir would do more good than harm, and I think it's important for deep, dark books about eating disorders to exist so the people living with one can feel less alone.