Best Little Girl in the World

Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Worse
Review: Alright, let me start off by saying that contrary to what a lot of people seem to think the main character Francessca/Kessa was NOT suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. The distniction was used to show her change from the ignored and dutiful Francessca, to when she finally descended into her illness as well as a way to show how anorexia can affect the mind, in the fact that "Kessa" which is what Francessca calls her self after she develops anorexia, can only find faults with her past "self". Despite this distinction, she does not have Multiple Personality Disorder. Now, I liked this book, it wasn't great but it wasn't the worst I've read on the subject. It's biggest faults are that 1) I really think he dives into the disorder all too soon; it's like, page one, I'm fine, now I'm not, I suck so I'm gonna starve myself. He really should have eased into it a bit more in my opinion. This fault is slightly redeemed by the fact that he gives clues and hints that the low self-esteem and all the other factors leading up to the disorder were nothing new and that he just sort of tuned us into her life when the disorder began. The second fault in this book is that it continues the stereotype that only upper middle class girls from good families get anorexia. Now, it doesn't just do this by example in the fact that that is the character that we are given, but one of the doctors in this story actually SAYS this. Yet again this can be redeemed in the fact that this was really the first book written about anorexia and in fact helped clear up even more stereotypes that there were at the time of its publication, so I guess you can't expect them to get it right all in one shot now can you? Unfortunately, many people might read this and take that assumption for truth! Besides these rather large faults the book isn't too bad although originally I started reading and put it down for a while before picking it up again. If you have read this I understand there is a sequel called Kessa where she has a relapse that I am planning on reading soon

Rating:
Summary: Disgust
Review: Dear Reader,
If you are looking for a reason to justify the eating disorder culture, might I suggest you read "The Best Little Girl in the World." Not only does this book idolize anorexia but it is a shallow, vain look in futility at the depths and severity of anorexia nervosa. Still caught in the hell that is this disorder, I found this book insulting and quite revolting as a matter of fact. Amidst a world of thiness, appearance, and weight, verging on the brink of death I found this book justified my actions, even reinforcing my disorder. So if in fact you are elated with the concept of entering an eating disorder facility, with absolutely no freedom whatsoever, "the Best Little Girl in the World" is a choice novel to read.

Rating:
Summary: A shallow look into a serious disorder
Review: As a sufferer of anorexia, I can assure potential readers that you will be given a very shallow look into the disorder. The characters are so one-dimensional and such stereotypical components of "the anorexic family" that the story is almost predictable. There are several "flaws" to the story. For example, the main character, Francesca/Kessa (is this MPD or anorexia we're talking about! ), wouldn't just consciously DECIDE to starve herself so quickly--that's insane and the disorder doesn't work that way. Maybe Levenkron was saving paper, who knows? And she wouldn't think of herself as being thinner than anyone, let alone supermodels in a magazine. And oh, how wonderful is the male therapist Kessa finally sees? Couldn't be a mirror image of Levenkron himself, could it? Also, recovering anorectic readers won't be encouraged with the fact that the story begins with Francesca/Kessa at an already "very skinny" weight prior to the anorexia. If you want an awesome, powerful (perhaps too powerful for some) book on eating disorders, give WASTED by Marya Hornbacher a try. Now that's the best!

Rating:
Summary: Stereotyped Crap
Review: This book was a real disappointment. It perpetuates the simplistic stereotype of anorexics as affluent, high-achieving white girls who lean towards perfectionism to deal with controlling parents and other family stress. (The protagonist in this book even does ballet.) The prototype Levenkron generates is overtypified and uninteresting. To make matters worse, the book is poorly written. Although it benefits from an inherently interesting topic, I can only hope that Levenkron is a better psychiatrist than novelist. The book may be shocking to those unfamiliar with anorexia, but for those of us who live with it every day, it's pretty mundane. Note to those with ED: I didn't find this to be a particularly effective trigger book, so if you want to learn more about anorexia without feeling inspired, read this. Otherwise, I'd recommend "Wasted" instead, which is a better-written and much more compelling book.

Rating:
Summary: Watch Out.
Review: I have an eating disorder and was triggered by this book a lot. It gave me so many new "tricks" *rolls eyes* Watch out if you have an eating disorder. This may or may not do more harm then good.

Overall though the book is good. I've read it twice an ordered the sequal to it 'Kessa' which should be coming to me in the mail within a few days. The book is VERY VERY sterotypical but you also have to keep in mind when this book was written. We know a lot more about ed's now than we did then, thats for sure. Just keep in mind not all cases will be like kessa's and somethings said in the book are not entirely true.

I'd recomend reading this book because it is good but keep in mind there are better, not triggering (if you have an ed and your not well into recovery), more accurate books.

My opinion.

Rating:
Summary: stereotypical
Review: The book was well written, as there was much insight provided to anorexia nervosa, however there was much sterotyping. Even though research supports that dancers and athletes are among the highest population plagued with eating disorders, I felt as though the book (like society) does not realize that eating disorders expound far beyond just young high class white ballet dancers. There are aspects I could relate to as a sufferer myself, but I felt out of the loop because I am not your typical anorexic or bulimic. While I know that one book cannot encompass every person and their struggles, I feel as though too much was left out of this. While Levenkron specializes in eating disorders, I still feel there is a different language spoken when it come from the victim themself. It is an easy read, and insightful for those who have no knowledge of eating disorders, but dissappointing for those who suffer with the pain.

Rating:
Summary: For a book on anorexia, you can do better
Review: I don't believe The Best Little Girl in the World is the evil propaganda some other reviewers have made it out to be. Given that it was written in 1978, I actually think it's impressive how much the author got right - what Levenkron says about anorexia is definitely more in line with current theory than most of what had been written before this. Very few people knew anything at all about anorexia in 1978, and I personally believe that if Levenkron didn't foresee the triggering effect his book would have, he can be forgiven. That said, many more books have been written since then, and you can do better. A number of books, including Marya Hornbacher's Wasted, Jenefer Shute's Life-Size, and even Levenkron's Anatomy of Anorexia have much more insight to offer. This is also, as has been pointed out, probably the most triggering book in print, and thus would be a terrible read for anyone remotely susceptible to eating disorders. The book is fairly entertaining, but its language is dull and it's not especially well-written. This may have been the book to read in 1978, but many better books have come out in the last twenty-five years that would be a better use of your time.

Rating:
Summary: The Downward Spiral
Review: Having dealt with most of the issues in this novel, I cannot be quite as objective as usual. The author, Steven Levenkron, has a firm grip on what it means to be anorexic, as well as obsessive compulsive. His characterization of the different psychiatrists, psychologists, and doctors that Kessa meets are well done. However, he made the main character, Kessa, seem significantly younger than her actual age, which was fifteen. It was a quick read, and the plot progressed quickly, as does the disease. As one of the more accurate eating disorder books, it proves to be an informative read for anyone who is not already familiar with the aspects surrounding eating disorders, and helpful for those who are looking for the core of their own disorders

Rating:
Summary: World Revolved Around Food...
Review: Overall, I liked this book a lot. I was interested in the book before reading it and during it. When it was over I wanted more. Kessa and I have many things in common, and many things that are different. We are both 5'4, but Kessa is so much lighter than me. I wish I weighed as much as she did at the time she thought she was fat. I would probably even want to weigh a little bit more. We are both ballet dancers. We both have ballet teachers who encourage us to lose a bit of weight. Kessa and I have a brother and a sister, however Kessa is the youngest, and I am the oldest. Dancers, mainly ballerinas, are stereotyped into the eating disorder category. Many ballerinas, as well as athletes and normal people go through anorexia and bulimia. People with anorexia may become bulimic, yet bulimics are not always anorexics. Anorexics are people who do not eat, or eat very little like about 500 calories a day or less. Bulimics are people who binge (consume thousands of calories in one seating) then purge (vomit). Honestly, I think I have an eating disorder myself. However, it is not one of the two I have just named. It is called Compulsive Eating Disorder, which is an obsession with food. I hope to find out what I can do to stop my obsession with food. I love food so much, and it puzzles me how a person no matter what their size, would go so far as to starve themselves to become thin. It makes me want to lose more weight to see a girl who I want to look like goes on to lose weight. I would tell you more about the story, but I don't want to spoil the ending...


Rating:
Summary: A disgusting example of ego-centrism
Review: I found Steven Levenkron's The Best Little Girl in the World to be absolutely horrible. It lacked depth, character development, and a maintainable story line. Overall, the book struck me as not a novel about a teenager dealing with anorexia, but as an ego trip for the author. So much of the book focuses on the apparent brilliance of the fictional Dr. Sandy Sherman (an all to clear incarnation of the author, who himself isn't a "Dr" of any sort, but rather holds a MSW) overshadows the entire work. Instead of seeing Kessa's issues in full light, we are instead exposed to the dramatic issues and fears of the therapist. Really, if Levenkron really had dreams about his patients being flung through the air per his dictate, perhaps he himself should spent a bit of time on the couch.

Every single character in the book is underdeveloped. We are left with a semi-alcoholic father, an insecure and submissive mother, and the stereotypical over and under achieving older siblings. The gender lines are drawn so clearly that it borders embarrassing. The passive mother tries to defend her family form the well meaning yet overbearing and strict father. The mother sews, the father reads the paper and all of the problems "pale before" the evening news

Perhaps the fact that the characters beginning weight was 98 lbs was meant to get the point across that the girl was by no means in need of diet, but the low weight overdoes it and works more to obliterate and trust the reader can have in the accuracy of the events..

Lastly (and only because of space restraints, be assured that this is not my "last' problem with this book, nor is it the least) I found the portrayal of the character of Kessa's African American roommate in the hospital to be wholly discouraging. Had Levenkron been working with the upper middle class so long (since, according to this book, they are the only ones afflicted with anorexia) that he had come to the assumption that black girls are ignorant, are incapable of speaking like the white characters? Since when, exactly, has anorexia, let alone any disease, been a problem of "white girls"?

This book is disgusting and revolting. The author's insensitive remarks in trying to promote himself and his "success" are sickening and distressing.