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A review by rakoerose
Meat & Bone by Kat Verhoeven
4.0
“You remember how it felt, don’t you?”
“And I wasn’t any happier.”
As someone who also falls into the category of “not big but not thin” like Anne, this graphic novel made me think back on my high school years and my behaviors back then. Some of them were not healthy, but never to the extent that Anne goes - I’m glad for that. Eating disorders are nothing to trifle with.
This novel really tackles the big issue that is women comparing each other. It’s so strongly encouraged by society for women to think they need to be different or change themselves to be the “ideal”. It’s a toxic mentality that only tends to end in tears. Now, more than ever, I think girls are becoming aware that this mindset is not healthy and we’re being more critical of the negative thoughts. Understanding where they come from (magazines, movies, society, etc) helps to realize that those thoughts don’t have to be your own. You can be totally happy with yourself and just not listen to the popular opinion. The thoughts can still crop up, but being aware of their negativity can reduce their strength if you fight back. Books like this help spread that awareness.
(ps it also helps if you imagine any self-hating thoughts as being told by a 12 year old gamer boy ; I have actually responded to myself mentally by going sure, greg, thanks for your input and moved on - it’s not foolproof, but it works for me!)
I’ve personally worked hard to spin my negative “wish” thoughts into positive ones. Instead of wanting to be someone else, I just love the differences we have. “What a cute skirt!” “They pull off that haircut really well.” When you think everyone else looks bomb and amazing in their uniqueness, you will start to realize you do too.
The message of this graphic novel’s story is to focus on your happiness instead of your weight or physicality. That’s super important for young women to hear. It’s the same thought process I’ve had since before I began high school and probably what saved me from ever falling into any rabbit holes of self hate. I have legs that are strong enough to get me across campus easily. I have arms that are strong enough to help and hug those that I love. That has always mattered so much more than their size.
(I think it also helps that I don’t tend to care what others think about me outside of the people I love, which I know is not possible for some individuals. I’ve always cared more about myself than the vague blob of society - in the end, it’s just going to be me by myself, isn’t it? So what does society’s opinion matter? Idk moving on.)
“Move your goal posts. You want to be thin when you should want to be happy. They’re not the same thing at all.”
To add to this, I think your happiness should also be intrinsically motivated. Don’t do things for the praise of others, do them because you genuinely want to. I want to stress the point of: being thin does not always equal healthy. Jane in this story is super healthy, but also not tiny! Just! Live your life! Everyone is unique! Life is too short!
Being proud of yourself and happy in the skin you’re in is tough and takes a lot of hard work no matter what size you are. But I promise it’s worth it in the end.
Long review short, while this is a big boi of a graphic novel to get through, I enjoyed it and the themes it presents are very important especially for people in their early 20’s or just... people in general. I’m glad I picked it up.
This graphic novel obviously contains massive trigger warnings for anorexia and body image issues.
“And I wasn’t any happier.”
As someone who also falls into the category of “not big but not thin” like Anne, this graphic novel made me think back on my high school years and my behaviors back then. Some of them were not healthy, but never to the extent that Anne goes - I’m glad for that. Eating disorders are nothing to trifle with.
This novel really tackles the big issue that is women comparing each other. It’s so strongly encouraged by society for women to think they need to be different or change themselves to be the “ideal”. It’s a toxic mentality that only tends to end in tears. Now, more than ever, I think girls are becoming aware that this mindset is not healthy and we’re being more critical of the negative thoughts. Understanding where they come from (magazines, movies, society, etc) helps to realize that those thoughts don’t have to be your own. You can be totally happy with yourself and just not listen to the popular opinion. The thoughts can still crop up, but being aware of their negativity can reduce their strength if you fight back. Books like this help spread that awareness.
(ps it also helps if you imagine any self-hating thoughts as being told by a 12 year old gamer boy ; I have actually responded to myself mentally by going sure, greg, thanks for your input and moved on - it’s not foolproof, but it works for me!)
I’ve personally worked hard to spin my negative “wish” thoughts into positive ones. Instead of wanting to be someone else, I just love the differences we have. “What a cute skirt!” “They pull off that haircut really well.” When you think everyone else looks bomb and amazing in their uniqueness, you will start to realize you do too.
The message of this graphic novel’s story is to focus on your happiness instead of your weight or physicality. That’s super important for young women to hear. It’s the same thought process I’ve had since before I began high school and probably what saved me from ever falling into any rabbit holes of self hate. I have legs that are strong enough to get me across campus easily. I have arms that are strong enough to help and hug those that I love. That has always mattered so much more than their size.
(I think it also helps that I don’t tend to care what others think about me outside of the people I love, which I know is not possible for some individuals. I’ve always cared more about myself than the vague blob of society - in the end, it’s just going to be me by myself, isn’t it? So what does society’s opinion matter? Idk moving on.)
“Move your goal posts. You want to be thin when you should want to be happy. They’re not the same thing at all.”
To add to this, I think your happiness should also be intrinsically motivated. Don’t do things for the praise of others, do them because you genuinely want to. I want to stress the point of: being thin does not always equal healthy. Jane in this story is super healthy, but also not tiny! Just! Live your life! Everyone is unique! Life is too short!
Being proud of yourself and happy in the skin you’re in is tough and takes a lot of hard work no matter what size you are. But I promise it’s worth it in the end.
Long review short, while this is a big boi of a graphic novel to get through, I enjoyed it and the themes it presents are very important especially for people in their early 20’s or just... people in general. I’m glad I picked it up.
This graphic novel obviously contains massive trigger warnings for anorexia and body image issues.