My Body, My Enemy

by Claire Beeken

Anorexia nervosa is a controversial subject that attracts constant media attention. As an illness it mystifys as much as terrifies. In this book Claire Beeken tells the story of her battle with anorexia. She was first hospitalized at the age of 10 with an eating disorder and spent the next 13 years in a cycle of starvation, binge-eating and laxative abuse. She describes her early years through her teenage years to how she finally gained the upperhand and put herself on the road to recovery.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Memoir, Psychology

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Definitely one of my favourite ED books! Plus, I really like that she's also a fan of Karen Carpenter.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent book about a woman's experiences with an eating disorder (ED). It painted a very clear picture of what people with ED go through and also made a lot of their thought patterns very understandable. I would recommend this as a starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about ED.

However, if someone wanted to learn more in-depth, there are other books I would recommend. This one is interesting and insightful, but it is a hurried tale of her journey and gives little information about ED in general or any insight into how to assist someone with ED. I'd highly recommend Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia for someone looking for memoirs about ED - it's more entertaining, more upfront, and gives the same amount of gory and difficult details as this book does.

[Alexander Mattam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely honest book. also gives insight into human mind's frailities and complexity. How sexual exploitation of our young children has far reaching consequences and also the struggle to come through the quagmire. sometimes you cannot be sure how to be the right support for your dear ones like Claire explains. Important to realise you are the one to change your life and for families to be part of the journey to self redemption of your dear ones

[Sarah]

I absolutely adored this book. Peering into the life of an anorexic and seeing the pain they go through has really given me something to think about. Hopefully people will have raised awareness of how to deal with these things because of this book.

[Traceylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why

This book about a woman with anorexia. How she overcame it and learned to help other people with the disorder

[Erinyeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sehr ehrlich und erschütternd.

[Hanne]

Fantastisk bok, den trigger noe hvis man allerede sliter med en spiseforstyrrelse eller man er på vei inn i en spiseforstyrrelse.

[Sosa Coleone · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rubbish
Your brain yours

[Welmoed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning very very intense and detailed

Good though

[SW! · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. Loved it

[Inge Gorres-Smit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indrukwekkend boek over de strijd om anorexia te overwinnen.

[Steffi Bevers · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Chris Boersma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veel van mogen leren, ook veel in mogen herkennen. mooi boek✨️. Binnen een week uitgelezen

[Jo Allott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found out about this book after I spoke to Claire on the phone, I originally sent a copy of my own book to the charity that Claire runs.

I read this book from start to finish in 2 days, I wouldn't say I enjoyed it as its not meant to be enjoyed. It's meant to show what living with a life deliberating disorder like Anorexia is really like. Having suffers for 19 years with Bulimia myself I was surprised how similar my own and Claire's journey had been. I like the fact she is brutally honest and doesn't sugar coat the details like a lot of books on this subject matter do.

I would recommend this book to people who are suffering with Anorexia and their family and friends, so that they get a better understanding.

Well done Claire.

[Nele Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mijn lichaam, mijn vijand is het waargebeurde en aangrijpende verhaal van Claire. Dertien jaar worstelde ze met de ziekte anorexia.
Het verhaal is vreselijk, maar leest heel vlot omdat Claire haar ganse leven uitgebreid beschrijft. Vanaf een vreselijke gebeurtenis die ze meemaakt als kind, naar haar lange lijdensweg met anorexia, en hoe ze dit uiteindelijk toch een halt kan toeroepen. Het boek is een aanrader voor iedereen die worstelt met een eetstoornis. Maar ook voor de omgeving van die personen, of voor iedereen die hierin interesse heeft. Claire geeft de lezer een beter inzicht in deze ziekte, waar die vandaan komt en waarom genezen zo moeilijk is.
Aangrijpend tot op het einde.

[Steph Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of my favourite books this year. I found it gripping right from the start and just wanted to keep on reading. I was gutted when it finished and yet so happy for her! It's so real you're almost another person in the book. Claire is an amazing, honest, inspiring and incredible woman who's been extremely brave to share her difficult life and struggle with sexual abuse and anorexia nervosa. I highly recommend this book to anyone!

[Ellana Chughtai · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was amazing because it showed the real story of a person with an eating disorder and how they overcome it. The story followed Claire Beeken, telling how she was abused by grandfather, developed Anorexia for 13 years and this had affected her in every day life

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. I enjoyed the British-ness (does that make sense?) but I was kind of disappointed by this book. I was expecting more from it based on the reviews.

[Manodeldios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a colleague of mine, a survivor not without scars. Emotive read.

[Isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Marleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erg slecht gecorrigeerd, maar ook erg indrukwekkend en angstaanjagend.

[heidi cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and helped me greatly

My name is Heidi and I thank Claire for so openly share her journey. I have also suffered from anorexia and bulimia. I started my journey at 9 years old until Jesus Christ healed me. I am 55 years young and this book has inspired me to look into using my BS degree to help others who are stuck in the prison of an eating disorder as that's how I felt and thank God I have been set free from the bondage of suffering as so many do. I'm thankful for finding this book. Best I have ever read and know that you are not alone in this. I look forward to getting in touch with Claire.