Hope and Recovery: A Mother-Daughter Story About Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, and Manic Depression

by Emma Lou Warner Thayne, Becky Thayne Markosian

In an unusual approach, mother and daughter tell the inspiring, true story of a young woman's recovery from the horror of an eating disorder and accompanying mental disorder. This compelling account shows how anorexia and bulimia can affect an entire family, and also how support, patience, and determination lead the way to recovery.

Genres: Nonfiction

187 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1992

About the author

Emma Lou Thayne has written thirteen books of poetry, fiction, essays, and travel stories as well as the hymn, “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” She has been widely anthologized and has published internationally on kinship and peace among people and nations. She has received numerous honors and awards, including the David O. McKay Humanities Award, the Association for Mormon Letters award for poetry, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Utah. A service center has also been named in her honor—The Emma Lou Thayne Community Service Center.

Emma Lou has taught English and was the women’s tennis coach at the University of Utah. She has been married to Mel Thayne for sixty years and has five daughters, eighteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly disappointed....I found little helpful in the book, just a storyline of some of the hardships they went through. It is well named. Becky who suffers from manic depression, anorexia nervosa and bullimia does eventually get better after putting her family through a hellish few years, especially her mother. And because she recovered that does bring hope to others, but it seemed so simplistic it left me empty and wanting more. Having been through a little anorexia and exercise addiction with my daughter, I was seeking more answers about what drives these young women to this somewhat bizarre behavior. Instead it seemed like a "Life is hard, then it gets harder. Then it gets super hard. Then it got better." Everything was told from the mother and the daughter's point of view, so we got to hear essentially the same story twice with a slightly different slant on things. I found myself bored with hearing everything told over again. I did have sympathy for their plight, and I was happy for them that things turned out well. I suppose it's a nice story if you're looking for a happily ever after, but I wanted more.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book for me to read. I had read An Unquiet Mind at the recommendation of a doctor, and felt like it was learning experience that I needed at the time. However, Hope & Recovery is based more in our realm of experiences and seems a little more relevant to our situation. Recovery is starting to feel very prolonged, and it was good to read a positive account and to put what seems like forever into a little better perspective. I know that every case, like every person, is very individual, but in general terms, it was a good read to restore a sometimes fluctuating and wanning hope for the future. I am willing to lend it to anyone who wants to read it.

[Julene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by an LDS mother and daughter, this book is a good intro in learning a bit about bipolar disorder.

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true peek inside what's happening in my life.