Catherine: The Story of a Young Girl Who Died of Anorexia

by Maureen Dunbar

Maureen Dunbar recounts her daughter's tragic battle with anorexia nervosa with excerpts of Catherine's moving diary entries. Told in the third person narrative.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mental Health, Psychology

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Skyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Catherine as told by her mother, Maureen Dunbar, is truly an emotional read. From page one, I was hooked. Throughout the book I was often aghast at how much anguish a girl so young could suffer from. Written in the '80s when anorexia was a fairly new mental health phenomenon, this memoir documents the very real journey Catherine took as she became tormented day in and day out within the throes of a very serious eating disorder. On January 2, 1984, Catherine Dunbar, just twenty-two years old, lost her seven-year battle against anorexia nervosa. Though doctors and specialists were consulted, and Catherine was sent to hospital numerous times, many were convinced that in the long run, she simply wouldn't make it. At times she prayed to God, begging Him to take her. It is difficult to imagine what Hell must be like, but if I had to guess, I'd say Catherine Dunbar knew it well. Her body became ravaged from near daily binging and purging and a severe laxative addiction. Her frail body fought valiantly but, in the end, her condition became too serious and her family was unable to save her.

In the back of the book, there's a small essay entitled "The Father's Story," written by John Dunbar, Catherine's father. He describes how Catherine's illness affected him personally. This was a wonderful added bonus to the book as it helps readers get a better understanding of her father's perspective throughout the ordeal.

Also in the back of the book is a section written by Catherine's brother, Simon. His "Afterword" reveals the medical side of the disease and includes "potential features of anorexia nervosa." Though it's a bit outdated, it is still a helpful reference.

Though this book was published back in the '80's, I found that the mother's thoughts were often eons ahead of the times. Throughout the memoir she includes little tidbits of what she wished the doctors had done differently and how to best approach a situation in which someone is afflicted by an eating disorder. Maureen Dunbar is both a brave woman and a devoted mother, which becomes evident throughout the pages of the story.

Ultimately this is a wonderful read albeit a very difficult one. The bottom line is this. Anorexia is not glamorous. It is a serious disorder that, if left untreated, can steal your life away from you in the blink of an eye. Today, eating disorders are treated a bit differently than they were in the past. And although they are more common, they are still just as dangerous as ever before.

May you rest in peace, Catherine.

[* Maru * (FellInLoveWithABook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My daughter, Catherine Anne-Marie, died of anorexia nervosa on 2 January 1984, at the age of twenty-two. She was intelligent, sensitive and beautiful, but she only wanted to die".

This book broke my heart. I suffered through every paragraph, yet I could not put it down. I finished it in one day. It was a very sad day. I was drawn to the story since I first read the summary a few months ago and I still am. It was emotionally exhausting.

This is the real story of Catherine, a young girl suffering from anorexia in the 80's, told by her mother. For this reason, I felt so much more connected to Maureen, the mother, than to Catherine. She describes in detail the ordeal those seven years fighting against the illness were for her. Catherine is presented as a strong, determined person. I can only figure she got that from her mother. How someone can find the strength to accompany such a struggling and painful life as that of her little girl, and not lose their mind in the process, I cannot understand.

We know how the story ends, and still I could not help but cry when it did. Although, to be honest, I wanted to cry throughout the entire book. Some parts are so crude and hard to take in that for a moment I felt I was reading a novel, that this was all made up and no one had actually been through it. And thinking of this family having to put up with such challenges made me even sadder.

This an old book, which comes clear to the reader especially when learning about the treatments Catherine was brought under. But the illness will never become old and it is haunting to be taken into the mind of someone suffering from it (some extracts of the girl's diary are spread along the story, becoming more and more dark).

There were a few books in my life that left me with a bitter and uncomfortable feeling afterwards. This is one of them.

[Ephraim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to the book by the television film "The Brief Life of Catherine". It was one of the few films that didn't romanticize Anorexia Nervosa and illustrate the amount of suffering anorexics go through. It was not surprising then, to see it was a true story. And if the film is effective then I think the word to describe the book is powerful.

It powerfully illustrates the frustration and fatigue of not only suffering anorexia firsthand but the secondhand consequences. Not only does it affect Catherine, a bright young girl and later woman who is the chokehold of a disease she can't seem to break free from, but it affects her sister's body image and her Mother's well being.

Every diary entry and every picture hammers in the tragedy of the situation. It's never taken lightly or trivialized, and you never find yourself envying Catherine's situation. Maureen, her mother, manages to give us a glimpse of both her life and a part of Catherine's mind. I recommend this book to any who wants a better understanding of eating disorders.

[Judy Canali · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reason I can only give this book 2 stars is because I feel it could be very triggering for anyone reading it - especially if they are in the early stages of anorexia. The book was written in the 80s, when so much less was understood about the illness. There are many other books now which I feel would be more helpful to both sufferers and their families.

That being said, I can hardly begin to imagine the suffering of both Catherine and her family. It takes a very brave mother to share such a personal tragedy with the world.

[Femmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeer emotioneel en aangrijpen, een boek wat je aan het denken zet, tot zwijgen brengt en wat je goed kan helpen als je zelf een geliefde ziet worstelen met deze ziekte

[Fatimah Shoukat · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have good thoughts about the book

[Ilze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong about my star-rating!
The reason I "found it amazing" is that Maureen (Catherine's mom) did not give up on her. Through all the ups and downs she kept holding on to the thought that her daughter will get better.

Then, how many years ago did I read it?, right at the end of her life, too weak to care for herself, when she bumped her head against the bath ... that had me in tears ... that had me wanting to turn the story back, to no, no, no! please let her live, let Maureen have her daughter back, let the photos go back to when Catherine was getting better.

The story repeated itself on 2 August 2002 when Luisel Ramos collapsed in Uruguay after her walk down the catwalk, except that Catherine never was and never aspired to being a model.

Click here for the gritty truth of this disease.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read this 30 years ago. I remember it was the first book that I borrowed from my school library, recommended by the librarian. Yet I remember it so well. The agonising story of a debilitating disease.

[Maria Elmvang · Rating 2 out of 5]

A true story about a girl's fight with anorexia. Not very well written and not very interesting unfortunately.

[Mia Tomine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denne leste jeg faktisk på dansk. fant den på hotellet i bulgaria da jeg hadde lest ut min kamp, og de korte 120 sidene ble lest ut med engang. sterk historie det her.

[Rikke Grave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denne bog beskriver meget rammende om hvordan det er for en familie, når en rammes af spiseforstyrrelse!

[Nazia Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story about a girl's fight with anorexia. Very sad!!