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Weight has always been a big issue in Carmen's life. Not surprising when her mum is obsessed with the idea that thin equals beauty, thin equals success, thin equals the way to get what you want. And somehow her daughter is going to be thin.
When her mother sweeps her off to live in the city, Carmen finds her old world disappearing. With everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose. Carmen starts to ask: if she was thin, very thin, could it all be different?
A new cover edition of Julia show more Bell's critically acclaimed YA novel, Massive, published to coincide with the release of Julia's new book, The Dark Light
'Bell's debut novel is tough, grimy and truthful as it looks at three women in the same family with food problems' Guardian
'. . . boldly yet sensitively explores complex interactions between emotional and nutritional needs . . . perceptive and disturbing' Bookseller
'. . . told with sympathy and humour . . . manages to be enjoyable as well as thought-provoking' Big Issue

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Member Reviews

4 reviews
This novel disturbed the HELL out of me, but I think that was the point. It was terrifying to see the progression of an eating disorder not only in the teenager narrator but also in her mother. I was actually disturbed by the story and the non-resolved ending made me nervous for the narrator. It makes me hope Bell writes a sequel.
The book is categorized under fiction, & I do hope that is the case & that it is not semi-biographical. The mother in the book sickened me---in fact when reading this book it constantly brought back to mind Julie Gregory's "Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood" (which is sadly, an actual memoir).
It is bad enough to set such a poor example to a child, but to inflict the same on them by means of verbal abuse is inexcusable.
The book seems to end in an odd way until one contemplates the symbolism of it.
½
Narrated by a teenage girl with an eating disorder this is an immensely moving story. It’s all the more tragic because her body issues are strongly influenced by her mother, who herself is obsessed with her weight, She causes her daughter to become extremely lacking in confidence and believing that the only way to be accepted and loved is to be stick thin. Anorexia and bulimia become part of this family’s every day life, despite other relations trying to help the daughter break out of this unhealthy cycle. A brilliantly written tale of food obsession, but one that I suggest only older teenagers read as it is very disturbing at times.
This book was really great. It is good for those girls who feel unsure of themselves (I am not ones of them). It could help you find yourself.
½

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Author Information

12+ Works 680 Members

Awards and Honors

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Massive
Original publication date
2002
People/Characters
Carmen Wiley; Maria Wiley; Lisa; Paisley Harries; Maxine Miles; Kelly (show all 11); Janice; Billy; Brian Wiley; Annmarie; Patti
Important places
Birmingham, England, UK; Yorkshire, England, UK
Epigraph
"...it is certain that I am really distinct from my body, and can exist without it." -Descartes
Dedication
Nuff respect to the friends and family massive- The Bell Family, Rachel Bradford, Maggie Braley, Lesa Carnegie, Louise D'Arcens, Bex Farley, Jackie Gay, Ness Harbar, Emma Hargrave, Mo Herdman, Laura Hird, Tina Jackson, JpJ, P... (show all)aschal Kane, Penny & Dave Rendall, Michele Roberts, Jerry Sheldon, Ali smith, Barbara Watts, and Sara Wingate Gray. And a big up to the Tindal Street Fiction Group, my editor Sarah Davies, and my patient and encouraging agent, Annette Green.
For all the girlfriends
First words
"If I was as big as her I'd kill myself," Mum says, pointing at a picture of Marilyn Monroe in her magazine.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I shiver, not because I'm cold, but because I can feel my skin tightening, like cling wrap pulling taut, around the soft contours of my body.
Blurbers
Caletti, Deb; Giles, Gail

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Teen, Young Adult
DDC/MDS
823.92Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesEnglish fiction1900-2000-
LCC
PZ7 .B45 .MLanguage and LiteratureFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction and juvenile belles lettresJuvenile belles lettres
BISAC

Statistics

Members
252
Popularity
128,210
Reviews
4
Rating
(3.10)
Languages
English, Finnish, French
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
13
ASINs
2