hereistheend's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
this is one of those books thats hard to right a review for because it was close to you (not exactly in the way you think okay.) and was beautiful in a very quiet yet inspiring way. Didn't make you depressed/suicidal/bad trigger, which rarely happens with books dealing with ed (*coughwintergirlscough*)
This point of view was wow and the story that unfolded was so... it wasn't overdone, yet you hurt for her so badly. The therapy sessions weren't annoying to read at all and actualy prompt thought...
It was a great point of view with a lot of really good aspects about ED in it, like how they aren't just for girls, etc.
Cant write a good review on this for my life but I loved this one.
this is one of those books thats hard to right a review for because it was close to you (not exactly in the way you think okay.) and was beautiful in a very quiet yet inspiring way. Didn't make you depressed/suicidal/bad trigger, which rarely happens with books dealing with ed (*coughwintergirlscough*)
This point of view was wow and the story that unfolded was so... it wasn't overdone, yet you hurt for her so badly. The therapy sessions weren't annoying to read at all and actualy prompt thought...
It was a great point of view with a lot of really good aspects about ED in it, like how they aren't just for girls, etc.
Cant write a good review on this for my life but I loved this one.
trin_ney18's review against another edition
3.0
It Has Been So Long
Before starting the book I was scrolling through the reviews and found that it was often being compared to [bc:Wintergirls|5152478|Wintergirls|Laurie Halse Anderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346343878s/5152478.jpg|5219477]
I completely disregarded this. (Seeing as I am just now starting Wintergirls I didn't think it fair to compare). On its own Purge was actually very interesting. It allows you to see into the world of the hospitals where people with ED's go. From the start I was pulled in and I didn't want to put it down. (Who needs school? Am I right or am I right?) I found the characters easy to get into and I liked how the author didn't spend a lot of time on appearances and left it up to interpretation. My title makes sense because this book made me tear up. It has been too long since a book has worked up that emotion from me. Obviously something was done right.
My problem was how late we found things out. Up until the very end we didn't have the full story of how Janie ended up in the hospital. After things came together I feel the end came so quick. It was like here's the last piece and close curtain. Though I did enjoy the character development in this short period.
I didn't love it but it's definitely something worth reading if you are a freak about ED's like yours sincerely. Maybe in the future I'll pick it up again.
Before starting the book I was scrolling through the reviews and found that it was often being compared to [bc:Wintergirls|5152478|Wintergirls|Laurie Halse Anderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346343878s/5152478.jpg|5219477]
I completely disregarded this. (Seeing as I am just now starting Wintergirls I didn't think it fair to compare). On its own Purge was actually very interesting. It allows you to see into the world of the hospitals where people with ED's go. From the start I was pulled in and I didn't want to put it down. (Who needs school? Am I right or am I right?) I found the characters easy to get into and I liked how the author didn't spend a lot of time on appearances and left it up to interpretation. My title makes sense because this book made me tear up. It has been too long since a book has worked up that emotion from me. Obviously something was done right.
My problem was how late we found things out. Up until the very end we didn't have the full story of how Janie ended up in the hospital. After things came together I feel the end came so quick. It was like here's the last piece and close curtain. Though I did enjoy the character development in this short period.
I didn't love it but it's definitely something worth reading if you are a freak about ED's like yours sincerely. Maybe in the future I'll pick it up again.
books_plan_create's review against another edition
2.0
To be honest, I was a little disappointed with this book. I was so eager to read it, but it just left me feeling cheated. Part of it was the span the book covers. Three weeks and she is suddenly all better? Well not all better, but well enough to be out on her own. Two days after Janie's major breakthrough and she is getting out? I guess it could happen but I just don't buy it. I did appreciate seeing her struggle with overcoming bulimia and even having setbacks. And again, she has a setback, a big one, but gets out a few days later?
ash_ton's review against another edition
1.0
All of the characters are so two-dimensional. They’re only caricatures of people with ED’s, which is insulting. Janie is literally such a self-involved idiot and annoying as hell. She tries too hard to be “deep”, even inside her own head.
DNF’d at page 62.
DNF’d at page 62.
perfect_escape's review against another edition
4.0
This took me a while to finish, but not because I couldn't concentrate. It was simply because I haven't read much the past few days, as I've found myself preoccupied with other things. And let me tell you-if I wasn't preoccupied and able to read, I probably would have read this in one or two sittings-that's how I finished it, at least. It was just that gripping. I couldn't put it down, as it had me hooked.
For one, the storyline is just so realistic. For some reason, I've always had an interest in reading books that center around the MC suffering from an eating disorder. This book sounded interesting, and slightly different, as it started with the MC IN recovery.
So...the storyline was very realistic. So were the characters, including the main girl. Her emotions were very real and understandable and I felt true sympathy for her. She also made it not so depressing, if yo
u know what I mean. Her voice was very honest; the sarcastic humor provided was almost like a comic relief, given how depressing the book actually is when you think about it.
However, it was slightly hard to keep track of who was a "starver" or "puker", as she called it. I wish I learned more about the characters, especially Callie. I got confused as to what character had what family life and what drove them here. I wish I could've seen more of Tom and Royce; maybe it's just me, but Royce didn't seem that bad-not at first. Granted, he made that rude comment, but even that wasn't enough to make me hate him. That aside, the characters still felt very real, as were their lives. Their reasons for having an ED "made sense" and are sadly very common.
The last critique I have is that ending was too perfect. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I didn't really see how they came to this one conclusion. Not to mention at the end SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER she was too...happy and all "well life sucks but I can make it through", if that makes any sense. In other words, I guess her attitude was too optimistic for someone who is suffering from an ED. It honestly felt like I was reading page after page of just too-real, optimistic attitude. However, I loved the last sentence. I was not expecting that.
So all in all, it was pretty good. It's a quick read, probably for most, and it gives you a very real insight on someone suffering from an ED. :P It's so sad...it makes me want to help. I'm starting to think my job-aside from writing-is meant to be a therapist for those with eating disorders. I want to help so badly. And if anything, this book inspired me to do so.
For one, the storyline is just so realistic. For some reason, I've always had an interest in reading books that center around the MC suffering from an eating disorder. This book sounded interesting, and slightly different, as it started with the MC IN recovery.
So...the storyline was very realistic. So were the characters, including the main girl. Her emotions were very real and understandable and I felt true sympathy for her. She also made it not so depressing, if yo
u know what I mean. Her voice was very honest; the sarcastic humor provided was almost like a comic relief, given how depressing the book actually is when you think about it.
However, it was slightly hard to keep track of who was a "starver" or "puker", as she called it. I wish I learned more about the characters, especially Callie. I got confused as to what character had what family life and what drove them here. I wish I could've seen more of Tom and Royce; maybe it's just me, but Royce didn't seem that bad-not at first. Granted, he made that rude comment, but even that wasn't enough to make me hate him. That aside, the characters still felt very real, as were their lives. Their reasons for having an ED "made sense" and are sadly very common.
The last critique I have is that ending was too perfect. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I didn't really see how they came to this one conclusion. Not to mention at the end SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER she was too...happy and all "well life sucks but I can make it through", if that makes any sense. In other words, I guess her attitude was too optimistic for someone who is suffering from an ED. It honestly felt like I was reading page after page of just too-real, optimistic attitude. However, I loved the last sentence. I was not expecting that.
So all in all, it was pretty good. It's a quick read, probably for most, and it gives you a very real insight on someone suffering from an ED. :P It's so sad...it makes me want to help. I'm starting to think my job-aside from writing-is meant to be a therapist for those with eating disorders. I want to help so badly. And if anything, this book inspired me to do so.
tangerineteeth's review against another edition
1.0
This was unrealistic and flat. Stereotypical 2000s ED lit.
yabooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
A heart wrenching yet funny tale ("It was like they went from being my Band of Barfers, my Sisterhood of Sneaky Eaters, to my Judge and freaking Jury in three minutes flat.") Littman tackles such a huge issue with humor, honesty, and lets the raw pain of her characters shine through. It's really a book everyone should be reading and chatting about. It's that good.