- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Minerva; New edition edition (11 Mar 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0749395761
- ISBN-13: 978-0749395766
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.4 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 297,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
A first novel which is narrated by 25-year-old Josie, who is in the final stages of anorexia. As she rages against her hospital treatment, the reader is drawn deep inside the obsessive nightmare in which she is trapped, and from which part of her is now struggling to escape.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
'Life-Size' is an excellent piece of fiction, using black humour and artistic originality to create a gripping dramatic prose.
The book is narrated by Josie, a severely anorexic young woman. The book is essentially a static one, with little plot except the memories and flashbacks in her mind. Starting off in the hospital where Josie has ended up and working backwards, we piece together the steps and events it has taken to get to this point.
Written with complete accuracy, the author manages to effectively convey the thoughts and mentality of a person with anorexia right down to the specific details. As we see the world through Josie's eyes, we see everything from the persepctive of a disordered mind. And Josie's extreme polarised thinking is made bearable (and even enjoyable) by a sharp wit and a deeply dark sense of humour. It is crafted almost like a piece of horror, a piece of black humour where the reality presented to us is so horrific that it becomes almost funny. It is similar in a way to Bret Easton Ellis's 'American Pyscho', where the mentality of a pyschopath becomes the 'norm' for the reader, and you become used it.
The narrative switches back and forth between past memories and present day, which gives the reader a brief and snatched reasons as to why Josie has become the way she has. Short insinuations about paternal abuse quickly appears only to disappear just as quickly again, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. This is an effective way of writing, as it accurately mirrors the way Josie's mind works - brief memories quickly pushed to the back of her mind, so as not to dredge up past horrors. It makes for a gripping read, always leaving you wanting more information.
A truly great piece of fiction - and an inspired choice using an anorexic as a protaginist without resorting to using the novel as a piece of anti-anorexic propoganda.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book follows the life of a 25 year old woman called Josie who is suffering from anorexia. You see everything through her eyes and her thoughts. This story is not morbid at all, but full of laughter and tears. It shows another angle to how someone suffering with anorexia might think and feel. After reading this story, I can see a little of Josie in everyone. I recommend everyone reads this book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book follows the story of Josie, who is in hospital suffering from anorexia. She doesn't believe she has a problem and finds it extremely difficult to come to terms with her problem.
This book explains carefully what it is like to be anorexic, and explains her thoughts well.
The only thing that I didn't like was things that were hinted at but not explained properly, such as what really happened with her Dad, and a trip to the hospital, which I'm assuming was after she ate the glass?
I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to know about eating disorders, or just for general reading it's definitly worth a look.
This book explains carefully what it is like to be anorexic, and explains her thoughts well.
The only thing that I didn't like was things that were hinted at but not explained properly, such as what really happened with her Dad, and a trip to the hospital, which I'm assuming was after she ate the glass?
I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to know about eating disorders, or just for general reading it's definitly worth a look.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant
This book is amazing, really well written and it was gripping from start to finish. It gave a perfect insight into the mind of someone with an eating disorder, and I would... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Alice92
replacement for a friend's stolen book!
This was a friend's book that some 'nice' person stole when I was in hospital. Story eventually becomes tedious on and on and on, but maybe that's how someone who is anorexic is.
Published 13 months ago by Maureen A. Jeffs
One of my best ever reads
For me this is the most perfect novel since "the Bell Jar" and I have reread it many times. It is excellent, extremely funny as well as poignant.
Published on 15 May 2009 by Maud Jane
Easily one of my top ten favourite books of all time
Jenefer Shute is an incredible writer.
she uses graphic detail in every description without losing your interest. Read more
she uses graphic detail in every description without losing your interest. Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2008 by Lucia Donofrio
An astonishing achievement. Compelling.
Life-size is a fictional first-person account told from the perspective of its anorexic protagonist. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2000
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