Jennette McCurdy has a horrific child star story, but thad he enormous strength and luck of some kind to succeed in overcoming severe issues with disordered eating. Her memoir about her “close” relationship with her mother (read smothering) unfolds as an almost stereotypical story. Well, stereotypes come from somewhere. In this case, McCurdy knew she did not like acting, did not like auditioning, did not want to do this. But a kid who will eat the flavor of ice cream her mom thinks is her favorite to keep her mom happy is not going to express her needs, her fears, her unwillingness to go along with all this.
McCurdy’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and was near death when McCurdy was two or three years old. She survived but remained at risk for recurrences. Her maternal grandparents moved in with them. Her mother obviously had serious mental health issues and we later get a picture of a grandmother who was also problematic. Jennette showed no interest in acting. At six, her mother forced her into it and continued to overpower her till the day she died and after.
Most of you know that McCurdy, through intensive therapy and hard work, found her way to ordered eating. But survivors still have a lot going on. Her writing is clear, put together in a sort of stark way a lot of the time, but with the emotion mentioned to make up for our own shock. She tells so many shocking stories in such a matter of fact way, but the facts are powerfully disturbing and the comprehension of what she felt is there even when she does not go into depth about its impact on her. The whole book is even more impactful for this spare account with enough of the inner Jennette to feel the pain and anger and exhaustion of being her. I’m glad I read it. The audio version was read by Jennette.
They Called me Bookworm 