The Mirror Lied: One woman's 25-year struggle with bulimia, anorexia, diet pill addiction, laxative abuse and cutting

I really thought this book was interesting and actually learnt a few things About myself, along the way. I liked that it was based based around an older person because many eating disorder books focus on teenagers.However, there were times I felt I was lacking in empathy towards the female character. Particularly when she laughed at a nurses ‘fat ass’. That made me feel annoyed because you’d think that someone who suffers greatly with body image, would have kindness and compassion towards others.I did enjoy the book despite its flaws with the main character

I decided to read this book to know more about food disorders from the perspective of a person that struggled with them. The book cover this and gives much more to the reader: explain through the characters that people that suffer from food disorders have a personality profile, that they are people that have struggled a lot in their personal lives, that many of them think it is normal until a certain point to have the problem, that a lot of them are in denial of their problem and a thing that I did not know: a person can have more than one kind of food disorders at a time.I absolutely recommend. Sad, but very real and humane.

I choose this book as I am in recovery but didn't understand my disorder this book has helped me so much and I can relate in so many ways to jess. Couldn't put the book down!

A*

Fantastic informative book - well recommended without a shadow of a doubt

I stumbled across this book while reading numerous others prior to publishing my own story, of life suffering with an eating disorder. So I can say this honestly, I did read it but was bored to tears and had to keep putting it down and picking up again and really work at finishing it!!!While I understand the suffering and what living with such a disorder is really like, I felt the reader did not educate someone who has no clue what life is really like when your ill with such things. It would not stop me from taking this route if already fragile, in some was I felt this was made out to be a fashion statement that was being glorified.My illness almost killed me, it was more than just sticking my fingers down my throat, abusing laxatives and wanting to be thin. This woman has an amazing husband who would support her all the way, most people are not this lucky - why did she not confide in him he was fully aware, it almost felt at times like she was in a competition with her daughter with the self harming.With a look, but much, much better books that give a real insight on the subject matter.

Sad book

having been through an ED myself, and having had relapses, I found this book to be very accurate, particularly on the denial that comes with a relapse and the extreme self criticism. I didn't look at the authors before reading, and was surprised to see it wasn't a first person account. The book also explores the main character's relationships with her son, her supportive but often blind husband, and her daughter and her brother with mental health problems of their own. I was frustrated she didn't confide in her husband more and went straight back to purging as soon as she could, but I guess that's the nature of the illness, so it was fairly interesting to see it from the other side and realise how peopl feel about my behaviours