An Apple a Day: A Memoir of Love and Recovery from Anorexia Paperback – 30 April 2012

Emma is the most brilliant writer. This is an incredibly moving book describing her battle with anorexia - a wretched disease which affects too many lives. As a former sufferer, I could identify with lots of what she has written. What stuck out the most for me was the constant anxiety and worry - the ongoing thoughts about food and cleanliness. This is all to real and was at times difficult to read because of the memories it bought back. Emma's account paints a very real picture of what it is like for a sufferer. Emma constantly demonstrates how determined she is to beat this illness - which is why I think its important that others read this wonderful book because you will be shown that the road to recovery is not at all easy. But it IS possible. Thank you, Emma, for being so brave and sharing your story with us. Make sure you also read her other book - The Ministry of Thin: How the Pursuit of Perfection Got Out of Control

Having read quite a few books that examine anorexia Emma Woolf's An Apple A Day offers a different perspective on the illness to the chronicles I have read which track the victim's journey into the deep grip the illness can have on those affected. I did not know that Woolf had previously written about her experiences with anorexia for her column in The Times newspaper but nonetheless An Apple A Day is a valuable addition to books which raise awareness of the illness.Emma Woolf's book offers a more overall and contextual investigation of anorexia and its affects on people to the journals that exists on anorexia that sees the illness from the victim's perspective only (Incidentally, a very good account of the illness is Jennifer Hendrick's Slim To None which is a harrowing and haunting read). Woolf writes from the point of her life where she decides she wants to recover and have a child with her boyfriend. Where previous anorexia books I read usually start from when the illness takes hold Woolf's alternative starting point lets the reader consider new aspects of anorexia. She is able to look back to see what went wrong and examine her attitudes to food before anorexia took hold in her twenties and contrast it to her responses to food in the present day. Foremost in her book is that anorexia is not just a physical disease but that the mental side of the illness also needs attention and care. An example of this is when an old flame of her dies through suicide and her family anxiously monitor her weight lest she lapses back into anorexia but forget to offer her support in the midst of Woolf's grieving for her old lover.Woolf also expands her analysis of anorexia into different social and medical areas. She investigates such areas as the lack of knowledge the public have of the disease, the high mortality rate where 20% of its sufferers will die as well as modern media attitudes to women's bodies. My personal view is that the more which can be done to promote anorexia as not just `the slimmer's disease' than the more accurate public knowledge will be of the illness, which is the same as Woolf's. She is frank about the terrors of making public an illness that has been private, which by its nature requires isolation to be affective, but is surprised by the genuine well wishers and how her column has helped open up debate in families. One issue I did notice though from reading An Apple A Day is the illness consistently demands of the sufferer that they explain themselves whether this is to family, the medical profession or the public in this case all of which entail humiliation for Woolf on some level.Woolf also displays a level of self-awareness of how restrictive the illness is not just for herself but for other people too. Through the tight control over their food habits the anorexic feels they need to possess her reluctance to relinquish this. She is honest about the anxieties and tantrums there are when food is served to her in an unfamiliar form particularly when she is abroad. Likewise Woolf is ashamed of how her food habits have prevented social interactions with other people: from working lunches, birthday parties and spontaneous sharing of cake in the office are all are occasions which threaten her sense of security. Woolf is wistful and regretful for the opportunities she did miss; the central place food has when people interact is unavoidable but anorexia takes priority over all other concerns - such is its grip over its victims. The emotional distance it can also place between her and other people in the battle for control over oneself is also another affect of the illness as evidenced by her reluctance to move in with her boyfriend until a discussion with an aunt.If The Times ever choose to print her columns in book format I will be happy to buy it as Woolf is sincere and honest about the difficulties of trying to recover even when strong motivations for recovery exist. I wish her well in reaching her dream of becoming a mother and overcoming her struggles with anorexia.

I am not sure why some reviewers think Emma doesn't have an insight into Anorexia. Everyone is different and no two sufferers will have the same experience. I don't think she is the typical sufferer, and she is quite hard and less childish than most. But that doesn't mean that her story isn't interesting or there isn't anything to learn from it.She is a very good writer, and I couldn't put the book down. I do agree that if she was eating as little as she describes (Like a banana or half an apple a day) she wouldn't be as "fit" as she seems to be, so there seems to be more that she's letting on.I am in a similar situation where I have eating issues and want to get pregnant. I do personally feel that if you are as ill as Emma, you should first work a lot on getting recovered to the point that you are comfortable in a healthy weight and don't torture yourself with every bite. It's not all about just getting your periods; it's about stopping being selfish and thinking about yourself and being able to devote yourself 100% off the time to your child. And it's about not having that influence on the child what so ever when the child does grow up. I know that my obsession with thinness is completely selfish, but thankfully I am nowhere near as ill as Emma. I can understand her torture seeing other celebrities like Posh that are underweight but still manage to have kids. Why can she and not me? But they are celebrities, we don't know anything about their real life and how happy they truly are. I wish her all the best, but I do hope that she understands that something has to give, and stop making excuses - as strong as she thinks she is , she has to let herself break down and bring an end to this roller-coaster once and for all. I believe she can do it, but does she?

An interesting and disturbing memoir: one woman writes down, as honestly as she possibly can, her experience of having anorexia. I admired the honesty and the writing very much. Like other readers, I am disturbed that Emma regards herself as 'recovered' - she managed to put on a bit of weight, which is good for her health, and exercises less than before, but she still seems driven and full of false ideas about food and relationships.

Simply masterful. Woolf's work is a must for anyone who has or is trying to understand an eating disorder. Her journey is alternately heart-wrenching and -warming, but throughout she engages the reader with wit, charm, and her infectious will to thrive. I loved it so much I bought every other book she's ever written. Thank you for sharing your story; you're an inspiration to so many of us who are trying to follow in your footsteps, one bite at a time.

I loved the book because it is written in such an honest way! Emma Woolf is such a great writer and I found some parts in the book overwhelming! My greatest respect for finding the courage to try so hard getting over such a devilish disorder like Anorexia. Long live Emma Woolf! I adore you!

This book was very enjoyable as it explains in intimate detail in the first person everything about suffering with anorexia for years, and gives valuable insight to this world that so many woman are trapped. Made even better as it has been written by Emma Woolf, and she is the niece of Virginia Woolfe. Very well written, and insightful.

There's no magical cure for any ailment in this book and no gruesome details of the plummet into anorexia. It is an enlightening exercise in honesty. I do not suffer the same way as the author does, but we all have our own struggles to meet. Reading as the author bravely exposes her tumultuous experience breeds courage to in the reader to do the same... this one at least.

Wonderfully hopeful and honest on the path of recovery from anorexia. I have suffered for as long as I can remember, and I could relate to many sections. It can be triggering from my perspective, but not as bad as other books I have read. I like ending the book hopeful. I would recommend,