Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Wintergirls is a tough read, but it is honest and bold. This young adult novel speaks volumes to anyone who loves someone with an eating disorder, a skewed self-image, or an addiction. Instead of being told from an outside point of view, Anderson brings the reader into the mind of Lia, a young girl who believes she will never be the thinnest.

After the death of her friend Cassie, Lia seems lost yet unable to stop hurting herself even though she knows that an eating disorder is the reason for Cassie's early death. Lia's family is at a loss how to help Lia through Cassie's death and also through her struggle with her weight. Lia seems to resist any help and support from anyone because she just doesn't see how her disorder affects anyone but herself.

Lia says it all when she mentions that when she gets to be 100 pounds, she'll need to weigh 90. When she gets down to 90 pounds, she'll have to weigh 80 and so on until she is finally down to 0. The fact that she is unable to live a normal life eludes her because to her, this obsession is normal. The compulsion to purge and harm herself is Lia's normal just as it was Cassie's normal.

Anderson's book is written not just for people with eating disorders like Lia's. It is written for their families as well. It is written for anyone who wants to understand why. Even though the question is not fully answered, the reader gains some insight into how a disorder can control a person and affect everyone around that person.

Even though the book gives a harsh reality, Anderson does allow the reader to feel some hope which is comforting. I listened to the book on Playaway, and I think hearing a young girl read it made it seem even more poignant. At the end of the novel, Anderson gives an interview that is exclusive to the audio recording, so do check it out sometime and hear her inspiration for the books she writes.

Story of a Storm

Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. I was not sure what to expect from this book about the Galveston hurricane. I listened to it on audio and expected to just catch bits and pieces as I focused on driving instead of on the book. All expectations were wrong. Larson's book is engrossing. I learned so much about the storm and its aftermath, and I found myself listening to every word of the recording. That is quite a feat for me.

The book is a non-fiction account of the Galveston hurricane, and it focuses mainly on Isaac Cline, a meteorologist. The reader is presented with Isaac's decisions and the consequences of his actions in a manner that makes one sympathize with Isaac while at the same time, the reader is angry about the outcome. Stories of the dead and living bring history to life, and the storm is described well using eye-witness accounts.

I chose a good time to listen to this audio-book as it is the beginning of hurricane season here in the U. S. If you are interested in storms or Texas history, this is the book for you. It is well-written, and the meteorological information is not too difficult to understand by an average person like myself. The reader Edward Herrmann reads at a good pace with a clear voice. He's very easy to listen to, and that is so important in an audio-book.

I am editing this post (6/7/12) to add some information my mom gave me when I told her about the book. Apparently, her great-aunt's husband Oscar evacuated from Galveston when the storm approached. According to the family story, he packed up his mother and his invalid sister, and they all came north to the Fort Worth area where they stayed. He needed someone to look after his sister, and that is how he met Great-Aunt Gordie. Like most family stories, there may be some elements of exaggeration, but I like the idea of a lovely outcome from this terrible storm.