Eating Matters

by Kara-Lee MacDonald

Kara-lee MacDonald is a survivor. The poems in Eating Matters are sophisticated explorations of anorexia and bulimia, from within and in retrospect, as the semiautobiographical narrator faces and overcomes her complex drives and compulsions. Through a variety of poetic forms, she explores the deep structures of body images and societal pressures that create and promulgate eating disorders and the culture of shame surrounding them. The poems will strike a chord in those who have experience with the illnesses and subtly educate those who have not. Throughout MacDonald maintains an edgy authenticity that will both horrify and inspire.

From Princess Diana to the problem with baking and the tyranny of mirrors, Eating Matters brings new life to a topic often discussed but seldom understood. Part trauma travelogue, part self-analysis, part cultural critique, part healing journey, MacDonald addresses the hidden world of the binge/purge purgatory. You will share in her struggle and triumph.

Genres: Poetry, Mental Health

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2017

Reviews

[Maggie Gordon]

Eating Matters is a raw and visceral volume of free verse about disordered eating. The often sparse words hit quite close to home, zeroing in on the balance between power/powerlessness that people who struggle with this illness are always poised between. There are moments of levity, but this is a powerful, ugly book of truths.

[Rebecca]

Picked this up at a little free library tonight and I'm so glad I did. Powerful, honest, rip your heart out painful. The kind of words that make you physically need to put the book down and take a big, deep breath before you can continue.

[Michael Blouin]

Kara-lee MacDonald's "eating matters": a stunningly effective use of language and form that shocks, cajoles, nudges and hammers at conceptions and misconceptions, at obsession and suppression, it interrogates the reader while delineating the reason that doing so is a necessary act. And it is heart-wrenching, as I believe all truly effective poetry to be... for me that's almost entirely the point. MacDonald nails it. I love a good ending and this has an ending that makes me truly jealous as a writer. You will not be disappointed.

[Yanina]

Interesting poetry collection, and dealing with a theme that is definitely not dealt with very often by contemporary prose-poets (at least, not in my experience). Some of these poems were intensely raw. I particularly liked the one in which she personifies the scale figure.

[Samantha]

Interesting set of poems on eating disorders

[Kailyn]

Really powerfully written. Macdonald doesn't hold back when it comes to the realities of bulimia. Would highly recommend.

[Jakelene]

This is a semi-autobiographical collection delving into the authors history with disordered eating, and it's mental, social, and physical toll. It's accessible, it's heartbreaking and horrifying, and it's so so important. Highly recommended for any fans of Rupi Kaur, Leah Horlick, or Amanda Lovelace.

(But honestly, if this is the only poetry collection you read this year, make it this one.)

[Taylor]

I don't know much, but this collection of poems hurt. A torturing, and real discussion of eating disorders and the illness and pain they cause.

[Hayden]

TW:ED and related

This was a book picked up from the feature shelves in the library. Parts of it were hard, but it was totally worth it. It is, though, trigger warning-filled for ED and related.
Totally worth a read. My favourites were near the end but don't rush the journey.