The Passion of Alice

Rating:
Summary: ummm....
Review: I have to say that this was an interesting novel...but seeing as how I have an eating disorder I feel this story would have been more appropriate minus the ed. I think the author should've done a little more research into the disorders of her characters- I found her interpretation of eating disorders very shallow and offensive. The story had the potential to be great...but it lost itself along the way.

Rating:
Summary: Unanswered questions
Review: I learned a lot about anorexia from reading The Passion of Alice- or at least, I think I did- hopefully this book is a reliable source on the subject. Particularly interesting was the chapter on the various causes of the disease: the 12-Step, Freudian, and Feminist theories, which could all come into play, depending on the individual. What was never quite clear to me was why Alice had developed the disease. Even by the end (which was, I thought, very good- no miracle/unrealistic cure) I found myself asking, "but why is she doing this to herself?" I didn't think that her relationships with her family and Ronald were explored enough to fully explain what was happening in Alice's inner world. Maybe I missed something, but although various difficulties that Alice had during her life were described, they didn't seem sufficient to me to warrant such deep psychological suffering. Sequel, please!

Rating:
Summary: Unanswered questions
Review: I learned a lot about anorexia from reading The Passion of Alice- or at least, I think I did- hopefully this book is a reliable source on the subject. Particularly interesting was the chapter on the various causes of the disease: the 12-Step, Freudian, and Feminist theories, which could all come into play, depending on the individual. What was never quite clear to me was why Alice had developed the disease. Even by the end (which was, I thought, very good- no miracle/unrealistic cure) I found myself asking, "but why is she doing this to herself?" I didn't think that her relationships with her family and Ronald were explored enough to fully explain what was happening in Alice's inner world. Maybe I missed something, but although various difficulties that Alice had during her life were described, they didn't seem sufficient to me to warrant such deep psychological suffering. Sequel, please!

Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: I loved this book, it was very poetical and 'true'. I was intrigued at the way Alice 'justified' her anorexia, not to that doctor guy, but her total denial of desire, it's weird...it's a totally different slant. I can't wait to read the next book by this author, i think she's really talented.

Rating:
Summary: Unappropriate content
Review: I was highly shocked and disgusted by what I found i this book. I was under the impression that this book would be about anorexic and the diary of her occurences. But this book was about two lesbian lovers, which was explained in explicit detail. I was throughly amazed at the disgusting content of this book. Therefore, I consider this book to serve as yet another example that the world is on the verge of moral bankruptcy.

Rating:
Summary: Merely a fictional novel
Review: If you think you'll gain an understanding of eating disorders, you'll be disappointed, as this is merely a fictional novel. I suppose that's why it is listed as such. Continuing to battle my own demons, I found this book to be only midly interesting, and mostly a yawn. Some parts did ring true, however.
It would have been nice for the reader (if not Alice) to have known more about Maeve, as she is a central character in the novel. Okay attempt as a first novel for the author. Won't seek out others written by her, though.

Rating:
Summary: Disgusting portayal- not worth reading.
Review: Simply put, this book was awful to read. If I had flipped to the last chapter it would have summed up the whole story quickly and neatly. The idea of Alice straving herself in the end because of her obsession with Maeve is ridiculous.
There is no growth or change in the characters in this book. What you see is what you get. The story is so unbelieveable, the hospital unit sounds more like club med than a psychiatric unit. I was very disappointed in this novel and the way the author glossed over character emotions. Really, there is no real depth in these women as designed by this author.
Real people have problems and reasons behind their choices. As far as this being a lesbian novel, I also do not reccomend it for the same reasons listed above. Generalizations are what have killed the womens movement in the past.
Shame on the author, a strong intelligent woman for writing this novel. I suggest you pass it by unless you are looking for lesbian ... scenes involving women who abuse their bodies for no apparent reason.

Rating:
Summary: Inventive and fabulous......
Review: Stephanie Grant, I eagerly await your second novel. I read this book....at the public library more than a year ago. I admit that when I picked the book...I picked it because of its title and that I was looking for as much erotica as one can find at the public library. I was suprised then...by the heavy topic of anorexia...it really hit home with me...because I have borderline personality disorder...and at times have been anorexic myself...though I tend to act out my disease in different ways. I loved Alice's dark humor...her intelligence and her journey of self-discovery. I was not at all disturbed by her journey leading her to discover that she is a lesbian. I felt that the tie between suffering and desire was superb. A well-written novel. I bought it a couple of months ago from amazon...and I have read it many times since then. Each time I discover something new...in Alice and in myself. Excellent literature---it makes you laugh, cry, and think. Again, I eagerly await Ms. Grant's next novel.

Rating:
Summary: wished i'd known the real content!
Review: the lesbian slant was unexpected, and without a warning, not appreciated. as a young anorectic, i was scared by the detailed sexual scenes, and while i am by no means against such literature, i feel that the reader should be informed of the direction the book takes somewhere on the cover. i agree with an earlier reviewer that The Secret Language of Eating Disorders is a must to read if the reader is seeking info on eating disorders rather than lesbianism. The book however did provide an intense look at the much hidden lesbian world.

Rating:
Summary: Page-turning and empathic
Review: The Passion of Alice is one of my favourite books. I read it when it was released in Australia, and have re-read it since. Alice is such a likeable character that you cannot stop turning the pages to see what happens to her. Her story is complex on many levels, as are her reasons for denying all her needs, not just that for food. I agree with the other reviewers who are eagerly awaiting Stephanie Grant's next book - I hope that Alice was not her first and last, because it is also her beautiful writing style and empathy for her characters which makes this book so successful.