Hardback book

From the inside flap:

At fourteen, I was a regular high school student in Clinton, Mississippi, when a modeling scout told me: You could be a supermodel. And then: But you'll have to lose a little weight. For glamour, fame and escape, I lost 70 pounds. When I was sixteen, I signed a big modeling contract, moved to New York City, and started traveling around the world. It is also when I developed a ferocious case of anorexia and exercise bulimia, and began to lose my hair, develop frequent bruises,and experience frequent heart palpitations. And still my body refused to remain a size zero. As my weight rebelled, my mania escalated. I experimented with diet drugs and fainted between casting calls, slumping to the sidewalk of Madison Avenue.

Until one day I realized that if I wanted to live, I could no longer starve. I had to get off the crazy making treadmill. I had to nourish my body and feed my soul. So I ate. And ate. And I returned to my natural size 12--the size of the average American and the size I was when I really made it big. At eighteen, I became one of the most successful models in the industry today.

Hungry charts the rise, fall, and rise of Crystal Renn, offering a behind-the-scenes peek into the modeling industry, as well as a trenchant look at our weight-obsessed culture. In this testament to the power of authenticity, Renn illustrates the ways in which the fashion industry is slowly changing and exposes the cold truths about size and sizeism.

An inspiring and cautionary tale, Hungry will resonate with anyone who has battled society's small-minded-definitions of beauty.

Placing in the virtual bio bookbox.

mailed

Caught for my: Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox.

Sending to dvg from the Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox Enjoy the books!

Arrived safely in NJ - thank you so much for sharing this with me via the VBB. =)

The title caught my eye - perhaps cause I'm dieting - but the description really made me interested. I believe more spotlight is needed on modeling and creating 'real' size is needed to set the example for young women. Can't wait to dive in.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I requested the book from the VBB. A model writting a book. So I chuckled to myself when the author noted (I paraphrase because I forgot to mark the page for the JE): Please don't judge a model by some comment that may appear scatter-brained since most models are simply starving. Actually, many of her thoughts in this book about her life and career were not only well written but inspiring. I hope that many a young woman read this and become inspired to love themselves as they are, where the come from and love their body - no matter what their shape. You should be comfy in yourself.

I will be sharing this with another BCer who is on the VBB list too. Being sent in a much delayed package to this BCer. As a woman I think you will enjoy the read. Happy Reading and Happy BookCrossing!

This one sounds good, too. Thanks for all these books, dvg!

This could have been a good bio of a woman's descent into an eating disorder in the pursuit of an ideal that was all but unattainable and her eventual rise out of this to become a "plus-size" (and WTF size 12 is NOT plus) sensation. This could have been an examination at an industry that has gone to extremes and displayed models with bodies that are ever more elusive and only obtainable through either the genetic lottery or bizarre eating and workout regimens just this side of starvation. This could have been a look at American and European attitudes towards women and fashion. It was none of these. What it was was unorganized, despite the secondary writer's assistance, and without an overall focus. The book could not seem to decide if it was going to be mostly about Crystal or about modeling or about eating/eating disorders - and so it was about all of it but in a shallow and disjointed manner. This story did need to be told and it was okay enough but at 226 pages it should not have taken 6 weeks to slog through this. I think that Crystal is a gorgeous woman at her 'plus size' and we need more role models like her, but there is way too much fat and sugar in the American diet. I know, having lost about 55 pounds over the past 15 months - I'm eating well: lots of lean protein, fruits and veggies and very little, but not no, sugar and saturated fat. I also watch portion size and try to keep my activity level reasonable, but not crazy. There is happiness in moderation.

Adding to booklady's VBB

Arrived safely - thank you!

This is Renn’s memoir about her life as a model, going from having an eating disorder to a healthier weight and getting work as a “plus-sized” model. It gives insight into the unhealthy (physically and psychologically) world of fashion and modeling; thankfully this book is older (10ish years?) And times they are a’changing, if slowly. I liked it, but didn’t love it.

Left in this LFL while out for a walk. Happy travels, little book!