I picked up The Appetites of Girls by Pamela Moses at the library this summer for a quick summer read.
What I got instead was a thought-provoking, powerful, challenging read. The Appetites of Girls tells the story of four girls who end up being roommates their freshman year of college. From the outside, they don’t seem to have much in common, but as the reader learns their stories with flashback to childhood, college, and then present day as adults gathering to celebrate an upcoming birth, the similarities are riveting.
In the stories, we learn of childhood traumas and disappointments that have led to eating disorders and food struggles. We learn of family conflict, parental failure, and sexual assaults. These four beautifully flawed women have amazing stories of overcoming and rebuilding.
This book is a great reminder how often we don’t know the full story and why we should always be gentle with each other. The Appetites of Girls by Pamela Moses was a lot heavier than a summer beach read, but it was a wonderful surprise nonetheless.
Leave a Reply