Caroline Knapp was an intelligent presence in contemporary nonfiction. Her lyrical self-questioning voice will be missed. What I found myself missing most from Appetites was more of the straightforward personal narrative that appeared in her earlier works. Appetites combines this type of narrative with a more academic look at the causes of and institutions that reinforce anorexia. Knapp, when she is bravely telling her own (not so unique) story, is at her best and the writing is both beautiful and painful. The more general parts of the book could have (and have) been written by any numbers of writers.

Oh, Caroline Knapp will be missed.
"Appetites" is a powerful and profound exploration of her battle with anorexia in her twenties. She weaves the stories of other female bulemics and anorexics throughout her own-and also of other women with deep obsessions and cravings that lead to such behaviors as promiscuity, alcoholism, spending wildly, and shop lifting. What are they really hunger for, she asks. Love, acceptance, security? She writes with grace and force. The reader confronts these issues with her, but she eases them into the debate. And then he or she is engaged.
Knapp explores the emotional, psychological, and cultural reasons that drive American women to such behaviors. She has a softer, gentler voice than most feminists and she does not indict men for the most part. But she does blame society. It's interesting-most pop psychologists would diagnose some of the behaviors she describes as examples of an "obsessive compulsive disorder" (anorexia is a manifestation of it in many cases). Yet she doesn't use that term once in the book-in many ways, she digs even deeper for the causes than simply a diagnosis. She analyzes what triggers the disease.
I would recommend this book for most women, even if you haven't had an eating disorder. We all have appetites. I wouldn't recommend it for most men, except those who like women issue books or know someone who is anorexic.

There are plenty of anorexia memoirs, but Knapp's "Appetites" is much more thought-provoking than most. She uses her own experiences not only to generalize about her disease, but also to explore the many types of desires that women suppress and the effect that suppression has on their ability to feel joy and live fully. The book ultimately poses more questions than it answers, but it does at least hold out some hope that women can improve their lives by finding ways to satisfy their personal needs while banding together to discover common solutions to common problems.

This is the book I pick up whenever I need a quick pick-me-up. Whatever I'm feeling, I know Alice K. (not her real initial), will be going through something worse. The best book I've read that thoroughly captures the insecurities, delusions and humor of the 30something female mind!

This book hits home to the feminine experience. I can sympathize and empathize with Alice K.. The book kept a smile on my face. I was inspired to read this after reading Drinking: A Love Story, another great book by Caroline Knapp. I recommend it!

This is a book any female (and male, to understand us better!) should read, but especially when you're 33, single and illogical! Alice K. (not her real initials) is someone you can relate to.

Once I started reading it, I had trouble putting this book down (kind of like my experience with alcohol!). This book is powerful and compelling. Alcoholism claims many victims, as any Friday night visit to an ER will show. However, this book gives a most insightful look at the emotional and physical damage this disease causes to the alcoholic and loved ones closest to them. Non-alcoholics may not "get" the descriptiions of compulsions, mind games, and sense of powerlessness felt by alcoholics, but they can certainly understand the pain caused to lovers, parents, and others close to the addicted person.

This book is sometimes funny, often sad, occasionally verges on shocking - pretty standard experiences of alcoholics, but often misunderstood by others. Although it drags a bit in the middle, time will likely make this work a classic narritive of the alcoholic experience.

I encourage anyone who has been touched by this disease, either alcoholics or those close to them, to read this book. Due to the detailed description of drinking situations, I would not suggest someone in the first few weeks of recovery to read this, however.

Thank you Caroline, for your courage to share your experience, strength, and hope with us.

I read this book on the recommendation of a close friend who said it was one of the "eye-openers" for her when she started to realize that she had a drinking problem. Anyone who knows someone that may have a problem with alcohol (or other addictive substances or habits such as anorexia) can gain a better understanding, through this book, of the "logic" behind alcoholism and why some people find themselves succumbing.

Knapp is a very compelling writer, and her style made the book an "easy read" -- no fighting to get through sentences, paragraphs, or pages. Although the book does get a little repetitive in the middle, Knapp effectively used separate "theme" chapters (such as "Double Life" and "Sex") to describe the different facets of her experiences and keep you reading. She also successfully avoided the the tendency to make this autobiographical subject entirely chronological, instead mixing and matching! her observations and experiences from before, during, and after her most "liquid" days.

I have recommended this book to several friends, and hope they find it as interesting and enlightening as I did.

I was browsing in a bookstore waiting for my comet photos to be developed when I saw this book on the "New" shelf. I started reading, and then put it back when it was time to pick up my pictures. But I couldn't stop thinking about this book, so I went back and bought it. I read it at the kitchen table while drinking a glass of wine. Alarm bells kept clanging and clanging. When I got halfway through, I realized I was just like her--a highly educated writer with a drinking problem. She has a great line in there--that sometimes insight is just a reversal of cause and effect. I don't drink because I have all these problems, I have all these problems because I drink! With horror and tears, I called a friend I knew in AA who brought me to a meeting. I've been clean and sober now for 5 years. I read in the NY Times today that Carolyn Knapp died yesterday from lung cancer at only 42 years of age. That makes me very sad. I feel very grateful to her and her wonderful book. It changed my life.

I loved Drinking a Love Story as well as this book, but I'm not sure why. Caroline Knapp writes well but there is never an order to anything. It's like conversations with a daily friend that always hit the same topic. But still, I have to say I was anxious to read all the anecdotal tales of all the dogs and there owner projections. Just made me miss my dog and want to get home.

A Pack of Two describes a woman who has had struggles with alcohol, emotionally unavailable parents and ultimately their deaths of cancer. Having difficulties relating to people, she adopts a puppy and finds a way to finally create an intimate bond. Although I think she analyzes the dog's emotions a bit too much, I think the dog has helped her analyze her own weaknesses in which she can address them better now. I have a german shepard myself & understand fully how much joy a dog can bring into a person's life. I love my Cleo more than most people I know. I think she did a great job at writing this book & it is one of the best books I have ever read. I hope she does well at her quest for human intimacy.

last month, my maltese dog, priscilla, died. i had gotten her when she was 6 weeks old, fell in love with her instantly, and stayed in love with her for the next 16 years. my husband bought Pack of Two after reading a book review. in the review, the relationship between caroline knapp and lucille reminded him of myself and priscilla. my husband's concern was that my reading it might be too upsetting for me. on the contrary, knapp's insights into the interdependence between people and their dogs was enlightening, entertaining, and heartwarming. the strenght of the book lies in the psychological assessment of why we bond so strongly to these animals. knapp has really done her homework, citing interviews with psychiatrists, psychologists, veterinarians, and pet owners, as well as reporting research done on the human companion-animal bond. what results is a book that explores the connection we make with dogs. we fall in love with our dogs and they accept us for w! ho we are. we relive our past lives through our dogs and they bring out the best in us. they provide us with constancy and companionship. as i read through the pages, i kept repeating "yes, oh yes, i know houw you feel". i will grieve for my priscilla for a long time to come, but the comfort i derive from these shared experiences found in the pages of this book help ease my pain. bravo to knapp!! this book is bound to become a classic for dog lovers everywhere.