Something Spectacular: The True Story of One Rockette's Battle with Bulimia

by Greta Gleissner

Greta Gleissner, a longtime professional dancer, dreamed her whole life of becoming a Rockette. Then she became one—and she fell into the grips of a powerful eating disorder that began poison her life from the inside out.

Something Spectacular is Gleissner’s raw, personal chronicle of the devastating effects bulimia exacts upon her life during her time as a Rockette. As her disorder takes over, she begins to lead a dual happy-go-lucky on the outside; tortured by obsessive, self-destructive voices on the inside. Immersed in an environment in which even talent is secondary to appearance, Gleissner hides her disorder by any means necessary—lying, cheating, and stealing with no regard for the consequences of her actions—until she hits rock bottom and is forced to face the truths behind her disease. Her intensive odyssey of self-discovery ultimately gives her the strength to reshape her self-image, embrace her sexuality, and break free of the malignant hold bulimia has on her life.

The first book to give voice to the pervasive but often unaddressed problem of eating disorders in the dance industry, Something Spectacular is a gripping exposé of the insidious nature of eating-related diseases—and a profound account of one woman’s journey toward self-acceptance and recovery.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, LGBT, Addiction, Mental Illness

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Greta Gleissner is a New York based psychotherapist and author specializing in eating disorders. Greta's other specialties include substance abuse and addictions, mood disorders, and parent-child relationship issues. In her practice, Greta uses an eclectic approach, utilizing a combination of CBT, DBT, Family Systems, and Psychodynamic interventions.

In recovery herself, her first book, Something Spectacular: The True Story of a Rockette's Battle with Bulimia is a raw, personal chronicle of the devastating effects bulimia exacts upon her personal and professional life during her time as a Radio City Rockette. Greta has been a recovery speaker and writer for the world-renowned Sierra Tucson treatment facility in Arizona. Greta writes for Gurze publishing on eatingdisordersblogs.com and publishes a personal blog, Life With Cake, about eating disorder recovery. Greta has appeared on CNN and FOX4News, and in publications such as NY Post, Dance Spirit Magazine, XOJane, and Autostraddle.

Greta was the past Day Treatment Team Leader at The Renfrew Center of Old Greenwich, Connecticut and works as a Recovery Coach for Hazelden's Tribeca Twelve in New York City. Greta has a Master's degree in Social Work from New York University, and is a member of NEDA and NASW. Greta dedicates her life to the eating disorder field and uses her experience as a platform to help others, both personally and professionally.

Reviews

[Liralen · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I maintain an heir of innocence."
-page 224

I'm sorry. I had to. It's the best typo I've seen in a while.

I almost gave this three stars because I gave Life Inside the Thin Cage two stars, and this is without question better -- but then, Life Inside the Thin Cage only barely earned its second star, and it would be pushing it to give this three.

All of which says nothing about the book.

It's not that it's a particularly bad book. It's not much different than any other eating-disorder memoir I've read (in this case with a Rockette spin), although it certainly could have used better proofreading. No, what bothered me so much about this book is that the author is a psychotherapist specialising in eating disorders.

Let me be clear: It's not that I think a therapist shouldn't be writing about her experience. It's just that...there are some ED memoirs that do a good job of telling the story without glorifying the eating disorder or providing serious trigger material. This is not one of them, and that unsettles me.

Am I casting some judgement on the author rather than the work here? Perhaps. In another context I might cut the book more slack. But -- regardless of what the author has gone on to do with her life -- I would have preferred to see more depth to this. She touches on some things that could have proven really interesting: the experience of a queer person with an eating disorder, for example, or the prevalence of eating disorders in certain industries. But she doesn't really explore those things, focusing instead on the day-to-day toil of bulimia; the things she 'got away with', the being in the eating disorder rather than getting out of it. Considering that she's in a position to have a reasonably educated take on the topic, it proved something of a disappointment.

[Paige Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something Spectacular stands out because it breaks from the stereotypical teenage narrative that dominates eating-disorder literature. Gleissner shows what it looks like when bulimia follows you into adulthood, relationships, high-functioning careers, and the spaces where you’re expected to be “fine.” So much of her internal world felt familiar: the split between the external performer and the internal chaos, the secrecy, the rationalizations, the constant negotiations with oneself. She captures that psychic tug-of-war with a clarity I rarely see on the page.

I also appreciated her willingness to show the messy edges, the moments that don’t resolve neatly, the nonlinear path of recovery, the parts of the story that are still in process. It’s uncomfortable, but in the way truth often is.

If I could add anything, it would simply be that I wish more readers understood that bulimia doesn’t discriminate. Privilege doesn’t protect anyone from the biology, the compulsions, or the shame. Dismissing someone’s story because of their circumstances doesn’t just miss the point, it keeps people sick.

This book is honest, vivid, and important. For anyone trying to understand bulimia beyond clichés and stereotypes, or for anyone who has lived a version of this themselves, Something Spectacular is absolutely worth reading.

[Cindy H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio roundup 3.5

I borrowed this audio from #AudiblePlus on a whim and found it highly relatable. While Greta and I led very different lives and come from very different backgrounds, I found large parts very familiar. Gretchen shares her 16 year struggle with bulimia and confesses to the inner demons that still haunt her. That even though she’s “recovered”, food obsession still lingers and at times it’s easy to entertain her crippling thoughts.
If you have dealt with an eating disorder, or harmful shaming body imaging, I think you will benefit from listening to Gretchen’s story.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has a strange peak and resolution... I'm more interested in the years that were glossed over in the final chapter than I am about the majority of the book. However, it's still a helpful resource for people in the earlier stages of an eating disorder. I really like the author's parents as presented in the book. They really made a difference. For someone who has a distant relationship with an eating disorder, this book was a good reminder of the bad old days.

[Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and narrated, and sadly, very relatable to me. Not a self-help book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I definitely enjoyed this book. The story is very honest and it's refreshing that for the most part, it doesn't get preachy or trite, though often cliche. It's a bit repetitive at times, as if it was written in sections as essays before fully compiled - give your readers credit - they'll remember the important aspects of your life and recovery without it being repeated four times in six chapters.

Even with those minor complaints, I would definitely recommend the book to someone who is interested in learning more about life with ED or for those who are strong in their recovery - it's an honest account and I really connected with the first half of the book. Nice organization as well - part one is focused on the disorder, part two on recovery.

[Vonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people really liked the unique story form Gleeisner used (like a play, she uses acts, scenes, interludes to signify a tangent and/or flashback), but I honestly felt it was confusing. Unnecessary. Jarring, deterring from what could have been a much better, immersive read. What it seemed to me was a novel idea in concept, but on paper really made it look like she was trying harder than needed to be "artsy".

I hated that she ended the writing when she did (That is, all except the "Final Act"/Epilogue, which I am grateful for (Ha, a treatment "hiding emotions" statement, apparently)). Why? As admitted in said epilogue, her story was far from over. It was only her first intensive residential, she ends with such positive love... Well, of course. Your relapses are coming. It is not that easy. Let us be honest. Tell us about the struggle that continues, in excruciating details.

The other aspects of her story were pretty typical, many cliches, like her vows that staying the way she was would equal love, perfectionism, feeling fat when feeling negative, references to "emptiness", "filling" herself with meaning, etcetera. Being a little harsh, as I am sure almost any individual's story would garner many of the same cliches. They became that way for a reason, after all. Still feel like there are better reads out there in this sub genre. At least there should be?????....

[Spook Sulek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one and am super-glad I have it on my kindle so I can read it again and again. Gleissner's description of her relationship with food is vivid, and even if you don't have a disordered relationship with food, perhaps just having problems with self-esteem, I think that you'll be able to relate to her struggles. I didn't want to put this memoir down so that I could sleep, that's how good it is.

[Evelynl33 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I kind of like this book, even though it does not offer any tips or advices on recovery. I am moved by the author's honesty. Her stories are the exact reflection of my own and I can defined understand her feelings and find a strong sense of connection. There is a lot of details about bulimia so it may be a little bit triggering. Otherwise, if you suffer bulimia or want to understand more about people who suffer bulimia, this is one to read☺️

[Linda Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was spectacular -- for sure. Written by a local author in the Lenexa/Shawnee, KS, area, I was really taken with Ms. Gleissner's writing talent. I could not put it down -- wonderful from first page to last!

[Lili Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very honest account of someone deeply struggling with a very harsh disorder. I applaud her for sharing her story as honestly as she did. It took me two weeks at most to finish the book since I was so engrossed in it.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This bulimic memoir is the closest account to my experience that I have ever read. I am truly grateful to see her gone through her depths for the years that she did and still find recovery. THERE IS HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jennifer Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight to bulemia

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and ultimately hopeful.