Wasted

A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia

By: Marya Hornbacher

Narrated by: Marya Hornbacher

Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Precociously intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and ambitious, Marya Hornbacher grew up in a comfortable middle-class American home. At the age of 5, she returned home from ballet class one day, put on an enormous sweater, curled up on her bed, and cried because she thought she was fat. By age 9, she was secretly bulimic, throwing up at home after school, while watching Brady Bunch reruns on television and munching Fritos. She added anorexia to her repertoire a few years later and took great pride in her ability to starve.

Marya's story gathers intensity with each passing year. By the time she is in college and working for a wire news service in Washington D.C., she is in the grip of a bout of anorexia so horrifying that it will forever put to rest the romance of wasting away. Down to 52 pounds and counting, Marya becomes a battlefield: her powerful death instinct at war with the will to live.

Why would a talented young girl go through the looking glass and slip into a netherworld where up is down, food is greed, and death is honor? Why enter into a love affair with hunger, drugs, sex, and death? Marya Hornbacher sustained both anorexia and bulimia through five lengthy hospitalizations, endless therapy, the loss of family, friends, jobs, and ultimately, any sense of what it means to be "normal."

In this vivid, emotionally wrenching memoir, she recreates the experience and illuminates the tangle of personal, family, and cultural causes underlying eating disorders. Wasted is the story of one woman's travels to the darker side of reality, and her decision to find her way back again - on her own terms.

©1998 Marya Hornbacher (P)1998 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

An Excellent Window...

Into the life of an anorexic, bulimic. For those of us who can't imagine a compulsion to starve it is almost incomprehsible. I was struck by how functional the writer was even during her worst times..Excelling in theatre, writing and more...She doesn't give herself enough credit for that. I think all mothers of teen girls should make time for this story..there is a lot to learn regarding what NOT to do and say to our daughters..

Touching

Got immersed in the story. Thanks for sharing Ms. Mayra. Would recommend to anyone interested in knowing more about eating disorders.

great book

She is a very talented writer, such a s way with words. Does a vivid job of painting pictures of madness in your head.

Awesome

I've read this book atleast 3 times. The book itself is written to not keep any part of bulimia or anorexia hidden. It explains all and every feeling imagined and felt. When I had the chance to download this book with Marya's own voice reading her own words, it was a chance to listen to how she speaks. Her words, sometimes haunts, sometimes makes me speak outloud to nobody, saying things like, "Yes, that's true." It's an amazing book to have on audio. Download this book, and listen to it. You'll be glad you did.

Actual truth of Eating Disorders

This is not suppose to be an uplifting book, this is suppose to be a book to show the honest truth of the thoughts, actions and feelings of those that have Eating Disorders. Having suffered myself I related to some of what she said although mine was no where as severe as hers. What Marya does is describe it in such a way that whether or not you have suffered any type of disordered eating you will feel that you are her, that you are going through what she is going through. Eating disorders are not how books with simple "warning signs" are about. It's what goes on in your head and Marya describes it so honestly and perhaps what people don't really want to know.

The brutal reality of eating disorders

A must read for anyone who has or knows someone with an eating disorder. Well written and narrated by Marya, highly reccomend.

disturbingly vivid

incredibly vivid portrayal of what it actually feels like to have a serious eating disorder. it doesn't offer any science on the topic or solutions though. you might want to skip this one if you have a weak stomach but it may really help you to understand if you have a loved one going through this.

I loved it.

I can really relate with the author and her struggles. I wish there was more. Yet, its amazing.

Love this book

This is one of my favorite books and I’ve read it a couple of times over the years. I enjoyed the audio book but it is definitely missing a couple of parts I remember from the book. Still love it though.

Love it

By far the most beautifully written memoir on mental illness I've read.
I didn't get the sense that she was wallowing in self pity or making excuses.
I really enjoyed this book.