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Book Review: Full by Kendal Privette

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Women Living Well Blog: Book Review: Full by Kendal Privette

Women Living Well Blog

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Book Review: Full by Kendal Privette

Every Tuesday I post a recipe for Tasty Tuesday - but today I am veering off from my norm to post a review that is not typically the type of book I would read. The book is titled Full and it came to me via the author herself, Kendal Privette. This book enters the mind of a woman struggling with "ed", short for an "Eating Disorder". Ed speaks to her over and over telling her she must not eat, she must exercise, and she is too fat.

When I received the book in the mail many weeks ago, I sat down in my kitchen and read the book cover to cover. Then, late one night I read pieces of the book out loud to my husband. Why you ask? I found it strange that I identified with the mind of an anorexic! I felt compelled to discuss this with him and being the amazing listener that he is, he completely engaged the conversation.

Let me try to explain how I identified - (and no I am not even close to having an eating disorder - this chick LOVES food!).

Here's how page 1 reads:

ED Speaks
127 (number on the scale)
It's too much.
Ed speaks.
I didn't know listening was a pact.

Page 2
127
ed sidles up,
hissing in my ear.
sweet talking,
two pounds,
he whispers...

Page 4
Psalm 139:14
126
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Your works are wonderful I know that full well


total crap
I am ugly
I have a lumpy waist
stringy hair
uneven complexion
beady eyes
I am a mistake
And on and on the book goes, as we watch this 127 pound mother of two, spiral down to 98 pounds. How in the world do I relate?

Oddly enough - I weigh 127 (I'm 5'2"). That caught my attention. Secondly, I have never weighed 127 and not been pregnant - so lately things are snug - and some of her thoughts and whispers she hears, I've heard. I must admit the delete button is screaming for me to use it and not let these feelings be known to all of you - but I feel compelled to humbly admit this - if only it can help one other woman out there. This is not my first time to mention my mind battle with weight. But I digress and this post is not about me - it's about the book Full.


Take 5 minutes to listen to this narrative taken from her book: Full.





Full shows the ugly side of dieting, the obsessive side of exercise and the lies Satan whispers in women's ears. But then it shows the beautiful side of victory and freedom only found in sweet Jesus!

We must believe: Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well."


In the end Kendal says "I believe this today."

Do you believe this? Are you struggling to believe this? You are not alone - this world is masterful at feeding women lies about ourselves...and it does start in the mind. We must be walking daily with the King, saturating ourselves with the truth of his word and praying over every trial and temptation. Then and only then, can we have freedom in Christ Jesus.

To purchase this book go to Lulu or to Kendal's blog here.


Walk with the King!

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5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful! and THANK YOU! Although I dont have an eating disorder, I have other mental concerns and stomach issues...some days I love food and some days due to my mental concerns and stomach issues, I hate it and it makes me violently sick to my stomach. This REALLY helped me out...and I will be making a purchase of this book! Thank again Courtney for this post. Its a HUGE help to me! And it came on the perfect day, because I have an appt with someone today, about my issues and concerns. Your review could not have come at a better time! Amazing! Bless you & yours. Thank you for all the wonderful things you have helped me with, through your blog. Your an amazing woman & someone I look up to!

April 6, 2010 at 7:26 AM  
Blogger Joy @ SAH Missionary said...

Courtney,
Thank you SO SO much for sharing, not only about this book, but for being honest about yourself. Those voices taunt every one of us from time to time. I think that you gave a voice to many today, to stand up and be strong against the power of the enemy in this arena. Good for you!
Blessings,
Joy

April 6, 2010 at 7:50 AM  
Blogger livinginbetween said...

Yes! This is a struggle for me!

It's funny, but that's my weight too. It's about my normal weight (at 5'9"), BUT I carry the fear with me that I will gain weight and lose what little figure I have left after 3 kids.

I attach my worth to my weight. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I'm in the process of reading So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore, and I love this verse that she suggested, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty" (Pslam 84:1). When applied to yourself, it's a beautiful thought. The fact that God stores His treasure in our jars of clay is what gives us beauty and worth. No matter how big or little those jars are! ;)

Thank you for your transparency in this!

April 6, 2010 at 8:55 AM  
Anonymous Michelle said...

I was dangerously close to this at one point in my life.

The irony of it was that I was the thinnest and most physically beautiful I had ever been and yet
I was becoming obsessed. Mine wasn't a voice though, it was an image of a person I knew always saying, "You'll never look like me!" i would look in the mirror and just think that if I could be skinny enough, then maybe i would at least come close!

Strangely enough, I am currently overweight and DO want to lose all the extra, but I am much more content with myself now than I ever was.

Sometimes you get into a cycle when your best will never be good enough.

it took years before I was free from those strongholds of thinking that I would be a better person; including a better Christian if I could just become someone else.

It was a dark and lonely prison, Courtney and one I never want to return to. I praise Jesus Christ for freeing me and helping me to accept who He made ME to be and how He continually transforms me into His Image!

April 6, 2010 at 6:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had an eating disorder in college (bulimia and anorexia) but am currently well, thanks to healthy eating habits and regular exercise.

One thing I thought of as I read this post:

I've heard countless women say that they're going to be so "good" by eating healthy foods (or at least foods they perceive as being healthy) and berate themselves for being so "bad" by eating dessert earlier.

Why can't they just say they use the words "healthy" and "unhealthy" instead of associating eating choices with morality? Could it be that Satan has us fooled into believing that we are "bad" or "good" based on our food choices (ie, works)?

April 7, 2010 at 5:22 PM  

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