Behind the Broken Image

by Debra M. Cooper

Alexa, Abby, and Robin are all sharing the same shameful secret that has already compromised the health, endangered the future, and devastated the families of all three. They now stand at the crossroads of their lives. Each must decide whether to go forward into the frightening world of recovery, or return to the the seductive, familiar world of addiction. Their families wait, knowing the future may offer hope or only desolation where all dreams of happiness are shattered.

Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

Reviews

[Liralen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Agenda-pushing doesn't sit well with me, and unfortunately this book has a serious agenda. To start with, it's fiction set at the treatment centre behind the book. (I don't think "Remuda" is actually mentioned, but everything fits.) There's a heavy emphasis on God: we are told several times that all of the therapists are devoted Christians; we see them praying repeatedly; we are told that the most important thing one a therapist can do for a patient is pray for them (Page 313: 'Tom's job was to continue working with her during the time he had left and most important, pray.'). I have no idea how true this is to the real-life Remuda Ranch (according to their website, chapel is voluntary -- in the book it's mandatory -- and the only place God is mentioned on the website is in the testimonial section), but it's very clearly the Big Thing in the book: the characters all redeem themselves through God (and the lone irredeemable character is the one who talked another into an abortion, which led to an eating disorder; the woman who had the abortion asks God for forgiveness and all is well.

Done well, I do not object to religious content, but this is not done well. This is thinly veiled religious propaganda with entirely flat characters. While I can understand (and appreciate) that obviously they didn't want to focus on weight, behaviours, etc., in practice what this means is that we get introductions of the characters (Abby the Adorable; Robin the Rebel; Alexa the Aristocratic -- oh, and we're told early on that one of them will die; not too difficult to work out who), and then...skip to working on them divulging their deepest darkest secrets, basically. Robin's rebelliousness only extends as far as swearing at people because she doesn't want to be sent to the ranch. (She sees a bunny rabbit and gets over it.) Lexy disappears from view for chapters on end and then coughs up the Deep Dark when yet another miracle therapist knows just the right thing. Abby posts no objections to a feeding tube. None of the characters interact with anyone other than family or therapist for more than a couple of sentences.

Unrealistic, sanitised, and agenda-driven. No thank you.

[Marceline Ahr · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I did find the story interesting, It was still pretty triggering. I was also extremely disheartened to see that the entire object of the book was to promote a treatment facility.

[Chelsea Clifton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in the later stages of recovery from Binge Eating Disorder. As someone who is going through Christian outpatient therapy for my recovery, I found this book really comforting and intriguing. I finished reading it having found something to connect to with each patient, and wondering if I should dabble in family counseling (with my husband at least). It's funny.. if I had read this book two years ago I would have scoffed at the hippy nonsense that the therapists spouted in reference to God and their faith, and as it is I am not sure if the spiritual aspect of recovery is represented in more than a shallow way here, but now I am one of those spouting this hippy nonsense myself.

This book is an introduction to the very real situations that many young women find themselves in.. but it's really just that; an introduction. There is not enough time spent with each patient to show more than a brief impression of what happens over long period of time in recovery. The author seems to want to present the story also for family members of people suffering from eating disorders, by featuring the families just as much as the young women themselves. This provides some wonderful insight into the way eating disorders affect the whole family, but ultimately I wanted more of the actual therapy featured.

The result is a novel that feels more like an assignment from your therapist rather than something that really could pull you in and hold you based on its own merits. I did get quite a lot out of it, as a supplement to my own therapy.. but i wouldn't recommend it for pleasure-reading.

[Michelle Chase]

I read this while in treatment and found it extremely triggering. Maybe it's just me, but I shouldn't have read it.

[Hannah Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book!! i got this at a neda walk and it was a refreshing surprise!!