*A BookMovement Group Read* Yara Zgheib's poetic and poignant debut novel is a haunting
portrait of a young woman's struggle with anorexia on an intimate journey to reclaim her life.
The chocolate went first then the cheese the fries the ice cream. The bread was more
difficult but if she could just lose a little more weight perhaps she would make the
soloists' list. Perhaps if she were lighter danced better tried harder she would be good
enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile lost just one more pound.Anna Roux was a
professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There alone
with her biggest fears - imperfection failure loneliness - she spirals down anorexia and
depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment she is
admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street a peach pink house where pale fragile women with
life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm the veteran quiet Valerie Julia
always hungry. Together they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.Every bite
causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will
require strength endurance and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street.
