Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self

Lori Gottlieb is a precocious child, too smart for an eating disorder--or is she? Though the perspective is that of an eleven-year-old, Gottlieb’s precociousness and wit make this a story that could appeal to any age. Teens will especially like how Lori’s interactions with adults, often seeming smarter than they are—most teens can relate to and enjoy that! Lori also presents interesting insights into the disorder—she does not diet to be pretty, caring little for such superficial concerns, or to remain young, desiring nothing more than to be an adult. She resists common beliefs about the cause of the disorder, making this an enlightening and realistic read. Middle school readers and teenagers who don’t fit into the common mold, show more especially in regards with this particular disorder, will sigh in relief that someone, at least, understands them. An epilogue explains the motivation for publishing the diary and allows the story to be taken even further, leaving the reader thinking even after the book has been set aside. show less

Every woman should read this and then buy a copy for her daughter. No joke. I was so, SO angry at Lori's mother for being, well, awful. Just awful and self-centered and completely blind. If someone had just ASKED Lori why she was doing what she was doing and explained to her what she was going through, I don't think she would have gone as far as she did. Good God. Horrifying and absolutely necessary. They should pass out this book in schools.

The author's diaries from when she was 11 yrs old as she slips into anorexia. Kind of tough to read -- why do we program our women to be so body-conscious?

I read Stick Figure by Lori Gottlieb. This is one of the most touching books I have ever read. This is the author’s story of when she was eleven. The book gives us great details of what she was thinking and what was going on in her life at the time. It is a great story of fighting the eating disorder, anorexia. It’s a great book to read when you either have had an eating disorder or know someone with an eating disorder. It gives you a great amount of detail and explains to you everything you need to know. While reading you connect with Lori and you feel her pain and frustration. You understand what she is saying.

Lori talks a lot about her family and their relationship together. Her family and her don’t always get along very well. show more She notices how the women she knows never finish their whole meals. Lori always notices that her mother offers her brother and father more food and always gives the rest of her meal to them too. Lori also sees how the women she knows are always on diets and comparing each other to one another. Lori thought they were crazy. Suddenly things changed. It was like it was overnight where Lori became obsessed with dieting and counting calories. She found out that if she slept in she could skip breakfast. She would also drink more water in between bites when she was eating so it would help her fill up faster. Sadly it got to a point where she had to go to the hospital to get looked after 24 hours. Eventually she does realize how bad it got and doesn’t even believe that, that is what she looks like.

Reading Stick Figure gave me a better look at anorexia. You always hear those stories of someone you know being anorexic but you don’t really understand and don’t believe it. I used to always wonder how someone could be anorexic until I actually had an eating disorder myself. It’s a scary thing, but to overcome it like Lori did is truly amazing. She gave very good detail of her story, which helps get people into the book. She made it very easy to connect with her and understand her story. This book gives you great insight on what a person with anorexia thinks. show less

In the early chapters the main characters laments that her mother and other women are too obsessed about their weight. She makes several observations about how the constant focus on body image is unhealthy. And them almost overnight she starts believing that stuff herself and becomes anorexic. That transition happened almost instantaneously and didn't make any sense to me. Then again, teenage diaries don't always make sense.

Booktalk: Women don't eat desserts; they save them for the guys. Women are always on diets. Boys don't like girls who have thunder thighs. You can never be too thin. Thin is in. This is what Lori sees and hears all around her, everyday, at school, with her friends, in her own family. And since every one at school thinks she's a weirdo anyway, maybe being thin is the key to being popular. So Lori goes on a diet. Read pp 90-91 starting with "...at lunch everyone at our table...think I was a phony." (or pp 80-81 "I'm a very fast reader... but at least I have a plan.") The diet works. Lori loses weight...but the thing is, Lori is only 11 years old and weighs 70 pounds to start with.

This is an interesting memoir, however, the ending annoyed me. I hope people don't get the idea that recovery is in any way "easy" after reading this book. It is often a long and painful journey.