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A review by maryehavens
Fat Girl: A True Story by Judith Moore
4.0
In terms of readability - 10. I finished this book in less than 24 hours in an all-consuming tear of reading.
Moore states, many times, that she doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her but how can you help it? An unwanted, unloved child who was repeatedly rejected by her mother and grandmother turned to food for love and comfort.
Moore also states that she is quite unpleasant but I never felt that she was being particularly unpleasant. Constantly unsatisfied, yes, but not unpleasant. Moore never said that she did any kind of therapy although I hope, for her sake, that she did. Her incredible self-loathing and self-hatred was something I haven’t read in a long time, especially in non-fiction.
Her descriptions of food were incredible and her love was evident. She ends on a rather abrupt note; like the fact that she grew up absolved all the pain that she felt as a child and that she owned that pain. But I don’t think she ever did. She completely believed she was unlovable and undeserving of any love.
I felt her candidness brave (hopefully cathartic for her) and reminded me of Carrie Fisher’s works. But like Fisher, you want to embrace Moore and push her away at the same time, knowing you could never fix her and that she may not want to be fixed.
My love of addiction memoirs is one of my guilty pleasures and Moore’s is easy to consume in one sitting. But line up some talk therapy afterwards to process all the emotion that is bound to be stirred up.
Moore states, many times, that she doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her but how can you help it? An unwanted, unloved child who was repeatedly rejected by her mother and grandmother turned to food for love and comfort.
Moore also states that she is quite unpleasant but I never felt that she was being particularly unpleasant. Constantly unsatisfied, yes, but not unpleasant. Moore never said that she did any kind of therapy although I hope, for her sake, that she did. Her incredible self-loathing and self-hatred was something I haven’t read in a long time, especially in non-fiction.
Her descriptions of food were incredible and her love was evident. She ends on a rather abrupt note; like the fact that she grew up absolved all the pain that she felt as a child and that she owned that pain. But I don’t think she ever did. She completely believed she was unlovable and undeserving of any love.
I felt her candidness brave (hopefully cathartic for her) and reminded me of Carrie Fisher’s works. But like Fisher, you want to embrace Moore and push her away at the same time, knowing you could never fix her and that she may not want to be fixed.
My love of addiction memoirs is one of my guilty pleasures and Moore’s is easy to consume in one sitting. But line up some talk therapy afterwards to process all the emotion that is bound to be stirred up.