The Girls at 17 Swann Street is the riveting debut novel written by author Yara Zvheib.
The imagery is written with so poetically and emotion that it is difficult to put it down. We begin with Anna as she begins the journey to save her life that has slowly being destroyed by anorexia. She has admitted herself at the desperate coaxing of her husband in the house at 17 Swann Street, where she and other women with varying eating disorders go to learn how to cope with their disease. It's tragic and eye-opening to learn that some of these women that she can relate to have been 17 Swann Street for years, some leave because they are healing, some leave by other means less hopeful.
Anna is madly in love with her husband Matthias. And she is madly loved by Matthias, her father, and her sister. But, the anorexia has damaged those relationships. They don't understand that it is simply not a matter of Anna refusing to eat, more so that she is terrified to eat. She does not see a beautiful reflection worthy of their love when she looks in the mirror. She is not perfect enough to be Matthias wife. The anorexia has taken away most of her ability to feel anything, except anxiety.
For Anna, it's not a matter of simply getting through each day, but getting through each bite. In order to overcome her disease, she must be willing to accept that she has problem, to accept the help from the therapist, the nutritionist, the girls at 17 Swann Street, Matthias, and her family. She must realize that all of these people are rooting for her and not against her. Anna must decide, if she wants to live or let the anorexia kill her.
This is a novel that many will relate to and maybe save lives. This is a novel that has the power to bring awareness to the dangers of eating disorders, body image, body shaming, and the effects of unmourned grief. This is a novel that shows the power of women lifting each other up, the power of love, and the power of hope.
The imagery is written with so poetically and emotion that it is difficult to put it down. We begin with Anna as she begins the journey to save her life that has slowly being destroyed by anorexia. She has admitted herself at the desperate coaxing of her husband in the house at 17 Swann Street, where she and other women with varying eating disorders go to learn how to cope with their disease. It's tragic and eye-opening to learn that some of these women that she can relate to have been 17 Swann Street for years, some leave because they are healing, some leave by other means less hopeful.
Anna is madly in love with her husband Matthias. And she is madly loved by Matthias, her father, and her sister. But, the anorexia has damaged those relationships. They don't understand that it is simply not a matter of Anna refusing to eat, more so that she is terrified to eat. She does not see a beautiful reflection worthy of their love when she looks in the mirror. She is not perfect enough to be Matthias wife. The anorexia has taken away most of her ability to feel anything, except anxiety.
For Anna, it's not a matter of simply getting through each day, but getting through each bite. In order to overcome her disease, she must be willing to accept that she has problem, to accept the help from the therapist, the nutritionist, the girls at 17 Swann Street, Matthias, and her family. She must realize that all of these people are rooting for her and not against her. Anna must decide, if she wants to live or let the anorexia kill her.
This is a novel that many will relate to and maybe save lives. This is a novel that has the power to bring awareness to the dangers of eating disorders, body image, body shaming, and the effects of unmourned grief. This is a novel that shows the power of women lifting each other up, the power of love, and the power of hope.