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Elena Vanishing
- A Memoir
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Categories: Teen & Young Adult, Health, Lifestyle & Relationships
Publisher's Summary
Seventeen-year-old Elena is vanishing. Every day means renewed determination, so every day means fewer calories. This is the story of a girl whose armor against anxiety becomes artillery against herself as she battles on both sides of a lose-lose war in a struggle with anorexia.
Told entirely from Elena's perspective over a five-year period and cowritten with her mother, award-winning author Clare B. Dunkle, Elena's memoir is a fascinating and intimate look at a deadly disease and a must-listen for anyone who knows someone suffering from an eating disorder.
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What listeners say about Elena Vanishing
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pratistha
- 25-05-19
An educational experience
It was very disturbing for me because I didn't know the first thing about eating disorders. This audiobook has been eye opening and made me conscious about this disorder. I cried, laughed and felt better through the listening time. I am glad Elena found her path at last.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 12-03-19
Good but...
I would not recommend reading this book if you are currently battling an eating disorder. It’s a good story and offers valuable insight.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shelley
- 02-02-17
Awestruck
I don't write many book reviews but I have to say how much I appreciate all of the ones other people write. Therefore I cannot leave this book without leaving a couple of my thoughts. This was an absolutely beautiful book...amazingly well written, powerful, thought provoking, sorrowful, painful, uplifting and brutally honest. The performance is one of the best I e ever heard! You will never forget Elena once you've read this memoir.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Susie
- 16-09-15
Eaten from Within
Elena Dunkle's memoir re-lives her struggle with anorexia, when it was a separate force consuming her, a demon working against her. This might be the truest portrait of this disorder out there.
She gives a vivid account of the state of mind that anyone with psychological problems, from depression to addiction, can recognize, highlighting the inner voice that constantly counteracts any acknowledgement, any progress toward a healthy mindset. It's a harrowing story that gives you a clear understanding of the disease eating up a victim.
When Elena finally starts to come around, she is again, so honest and so accurate, that you know that recovery is not a straightforward path, it will be a lifetime's work.
The extraordinary Lauren Fortgang does a bang-up job as narrator. She makes it nearly a dramatization, giving the memoir an extra layer of meaning.
12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Mays
- 18-07-17
So powerful
This honest memoir is heart wrenching and beautifully written. What Elena and her family went through was beyond any words I could write in a review. Anorexia steals the lives of so many, and almost stole Elena's. Regardless of whether you or a loved one has battled (or is battling) anorexia or if you just want to know what it's like from the inside this is absolutely worth a credit. If you love the book as I did, check out Hope and Other Luxuries by Clare B Dunkle and Elena Dunkle for the story of Elena's mother, Clare's battle to save Elena from the monster that is anorexia.
Lauren Fortgang is an incredible narrator who I have enjoyed listening to on this and many other books before. She always gives an amazing performance.
Happy listening!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adeline Ong
- 29-01-17
Compelling
Compelling story that opens our eyes and ears to what ED sufferers and their carers go through. While everyone has a different story, Elena's story certainly touched my heart and helped forged a deeper understanding of ED.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Desiree
- 21-05-15
Amazing, all of it.
This memoir is truly amazing. It brought tears, anger, and small moments of laughter out of me. I have struggled with an eating disorder myself. Nothing to this extent or extreme, but it took up a chunk of my life and my "critical mind" was nasty too. She still is sometimes and books like this one have helped squander her voice. Helped me to want a healthy mind and body. The author is so brave to share her story. I believe her story could help save lives.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Winter
- 30-07-16
The most beautiful and touching story I have ever read
I bought this book expecting just another eating disorder memoir. I was touched beyond words.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alyssa
- 18-04-18
Captivating
As someone who is battling an eating disorder, this book was spot-on. Her pain and emotion and feelings toward recovery are things I can relate to, and it’s refreshing to know I’m not the only one. Excellent book - even if you don’t have an eating disorder.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Svetlana LeedsÂ
- 14-02-18
Realistic
This ia a great example of how hard it is to treat am eating disorder and the tole it takes on families. It is a a message of hope that proper, kind amd empathic treatment focused on healing rather than blaming can lead to positive growth.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ashley Sawyer
- 07-02-18
A nice sequel
This was a nice sequel to Hope and Other Luxuries. I thought it was very interesting to hear Elenas side of the story and to understand what she was going through.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Alison G.
- 18-07-19
I almost fell asleep listening this
I almost gave up listening to this but kept thinking that it has to improve at some point. Unfortunately it never improved, it is extremely boring and repetitive and would not recommend you buy this.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Twiggy
- 31-10-18
very interesting read
This book kept me interested throughout. it was interesting to compare it to Elena mother's version.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Globetrotter
- 12-03-18
Feels authentic
This book felt like a very honest account of a long lasting struggle with ED. The narration was very good as well. Even a few aha moments during the account of therapy sessions towards the end.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- SimonD
- 17-12-17
Review
Before listening to this book it helps to listen to her mother’s memoir hope and other luxuries it helps provide a timeline and give the full picture, both sides of the story. Both books are worth reading.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kate
- 26-10-19
Anorexia in all its reality.
Eating disorders are incredibly tricky things, hearing other people stories including this one in it's well written and captured raw, heartbreaking sorrow is what gives light to those who suffer and those who have died fighting. My new #1 favourite eating disorder memoir. The fighting, the emotions, the evil inner voice, the sympathy from loved ones as well as their frustration. All captured and performed beautifully. 10/10 cried in public listening
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Debby
- 04-05-19
A good book for carers.
This is a good book for parents/carers of a person with an eating disorder particularly anorexia and bulimia. It is very descriptive on techniques used by the illness to hide eating and purging. So it has educated me on what to watch out for with my daughter suffering from anorexia nervosa. I wouldn’t recommend this book to people with an eating disorder.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-01-19
loved loved loved!
I have read many books relating to this topic and this has got to be one of my favourites if not my favourite. A very honest account. I could empathise to a fair bit of the book. I couldnt stop listening. Thank you for your raw account, I laughed and cried throughout. Beautiful reading too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-07-18
A truly unique story
I loved every second of this beautiful story, so very touching. By far one of my favourite books.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 26-10-17
My favourite eating disorder books
This book and her mums together make up the best ED books I've ever read and I've read nearly all of them. Well worth investing in both elena vanishing and her mums hope and other luxuries.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Emily Martin
- 11-09-17
Good performance, okay book
Book gets somewhat confusing through out due to large time jumps. Could be more concise.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amanda
- 09-07-16
Great to hear this from the viewpoint of the ED sufferer
So much better than the parent's viewpoint imho. I recommend reading the one written by her mother, then read this. Hearing the same story from both sides was great. The mother's account is better read as the narration was horrible. Narrative in this is much better.