''Abzurdah'' is a 2006 autobiographical book by Argentine author
Cielo Latini. It was adapted to an
eponymous film in 2015.
Creation
The book was written as an
autobiography
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories, and insights. This genre allows individuals to share thei ...
of
Cielo Latini, who was a teenager at the time. Born in
La Plata
La Plata () is the capital city of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. According to the 2022 Argentina census, census, the La Plata Partido, Partido has a population of 772,618 and its metropolitan area, the Greater La Plata, has 938,287 inhabit ...
, she started and dropped studies of Journalism. She fell in love with a man, and developed
anorexia
Anorexia nervosa (AN), often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by Calorie restriction, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin.
Individuals wit ...
and
bulimia
Bulimia nervosa, also known simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating (eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, often feeling out of control) followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induc ...
in her attempts to improve her physical image. She was the webmaster of a page that encouraged girls to stop eating. She attempted to commit suicide when her boyfriend left her, but was stopped, and started a treatment to be cured of her bulimia and anorexia. She told her story at , and got a new boyfriend. This gave her the idea to write a book about her eating disorders, her rocky relation with her old boyfriend, and her attempted suicide.
Reception
The book was a big success, and Latini was interviewed at several TV and radio programs about it, including ''
Almorzando con Mirtha Legrand
Rosa María Juana Martínez Suárez (born 23 February 1927), known by her stage name Mirtha Legrand (; from the French , "the great"), is an Argentine actress and television presenter. With an 80-year career, Legrand is one of the most recognize ...
''. She then started tours to present the book in other Latin American countries.
The film renewed the interest in the book.
The book received mixed reviews, as some reviewers considered it an intelligent treatment of eating disorders, while others thought that it made an apology of anorexia instead. Latini pointed that she is well aware that anorexia is an eating disorder.
Adaptations
The book has been adapted by
an eponymous film, starring
María Eugenia Suárez
María Eugenia Suárez Riveiro (born 9 March 1992), better known as China Suárez or La China, is an Argentine actress, singer, and model.
Early life
María Eugenia Suárez Riveiro was born on March 9, 1992, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She i ...
.
The film was made a decade after the release of the book, and Latini was not involved with the production. She praised the work of actresses Suárez and
Gloria Carrá
Gloria Andrea Curra (born June 15, 1971 in Banfield, Buenos Aires, Argentina) better known as Gloria Carrá is an Argentina, Argentine actress, singer and composer. She changed her real last name on the advice of the actor Darío Vittori.
Musi ...
, and director Daniela Goggi. She pointed that the film is more focused on the love story, while the book has more detail about the eating disorders.
References
Argentine autobiographies
2006 non-fiction books
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