Abzurdah: The Perils of Young Adult Literature
Abzurdah: The Perils of Young Adult Literature
By Iara Coronel & Julieta Iacovino
Diez claves para un ayuno exitoso:
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No le digas a nadie que estás ayunando [...]
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Apagá el televisor [...]
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Háganse amigas [...]
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Date un banquete con lo que Ana1 dice [...]
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Meditá [...]
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Salí a caminar sola [...]
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Tomate un recreo, fumate un cigarrillo [...]
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Quedate quieta [...]
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No sucumbas ante la tentación [...]
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Dormí. (p. 174)
Outrageous though it may seem, the aforementioned quote was extracted from a novel that is usually encountered in bookshops and libraries under the young adult label. This book is Abzurdah, a best-selling novel written by Argentinian author Cielo Latini. It was published in 2006 as a memoir about her teenage years, during which she undergoes grievous issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, suicide attempts, borderline personality disorder and abusive, unhealthy relationships.
The narration commences with a self-conscious, eleven-year-old Cielo who discovers different ways of harming herself and others both physically and mentally, leading to a significant deterioration in her mental health. This allows for concern associated with the book: rather than serving as a mere reflection of Latini’s troubled past, it may be a dreadful influence for young adults given the fact that it promotes unhealthy behaviours.
One of the primary issues of this book is its potential to glamorise and romanticise eating disorders. Following her holidays to Punta del Este, Cielo makes a conscious decision to cease her food consumption. Contrary to comprehending the gravity of her actions, she relishes on the fact that she has become slender and more popular as a result of her weight loss. In her own words:
Cuando volví al colegio, puede decirse que era otra persona. Las personas que
antes no sabían que yo existía ahora me miraban, se daban cuenta de mi existencia. Ya
dar por enterada a la gente de que respiras es un logro. No solamente me sentía viva,
también me empecé a ver linda. Así, empecé a disfrutar de los beneficios de ser
agraciada. Me pedían mi teléfono las mujeres y me miraban los hombres. Así, empecé a
recibir llamadas de compañeras del colegio y a juntarme con el grupo más popular. (p. 23)
Essentially, impressionable young girls who encounter this narrative will believe that should they lose weight, their lives will transform for the better, regardless of the means employed.
Together with eating disorders, Latini’s book results problematic due to its glorification of unhealthy romantic relationships that some adolescents might have, but under no circumstances should stay in. It is when she meets Alejandro, a twenty-four-year-old man, that her issues aggravate. Their relationship begins through MSN, an old platform meant for chatting. Cielo describes him as a charming, malicious and manipulative man whom she cannot live without. She loses her virginity at the ripe age of fifteen without realising that he is cruelly utilising her. Cielo’s perception of love is distorted since she refers to it as something that accompanies suffering and hatred. She bitterly observes,
Así funciono, por peor que suene. ¿Cómo puedo amar y odiar a una misma persona? Fácil: Alejandro me da lo que quiero, o me da en parte lo que quiero, o me hace creer que me da lo que quiero, o me auto convenzo de estar satisfecha con lo que me da o le mendigo y acepta entregar a modo de limosna. Y por otro lado (me considero un vivíparo pensante) a veces, pocas veces, tomo consciencia de la irracionalidad de lo que hago, de la impotencia que encarno, de lo patético de mis actitudes y comienzo a pensar: situaciones, hipótesis, electricidad, etc.... y eso me hace odiarlo. (p. 95)
Que quede claro: cuando hablo de relaciones obsesivas no lo hago metafóricamente; estoy siendo más literal que nunca. Cuando digo que hubiera muerto por Alejandro, tampoco lo tomen como una metáfora. (p. 91)
The above statements serve as evidence of Cielo’s inadequate notion of romantic love. The fact that she is aware of Alejandro’s unrequited love, manipulation and mistreatment aggravates the situation, causing her acute depression and, consequently, a desire to take her own life. When expressing her feelings toward him, her painful reality is unmistakable: she does not truly feel love toward Alejandro. Unhealthy obsession is a more suitable term. The messages conveyed in the book are particularly perilous for young adults since their first experimentations with love and infatuation happen during this period of their life, and it is of utmost importance that they know that genuine love is not, under any circumstance, supposed to cause misery, agony or anguish.
Although certain books help young adults in navigating significant challenges, Abzurdah does the opposite. No book intended for young adults should encourage bad behaviour or romanticise serious matters such as abusive relationships or eating disorders. It is crucial for young adults to comprehend that authentic love should not make you suffer and your body image should not be a priority in one’s life.
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A music lover, not a reading lover.
A music lover, not a reading lover.
After reading the extracts you presented here, I dare say the movie is far milder than I thought. Although the movie portrayed some grotesque unhealthy situations, it managed to show prejudicial aspects discouragingly to raise concern about the dangers of living like Cielo did. However, these extracts seem to glorify Anorexia
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A music lover, not a reading lover.
A music lover, not a reading lover.
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I remember that my partner was forced to read this and analyze it during his career as a teacher. At that time he shared his appreciation with me. We were both horrified. I still don’t understand how this story continues to be so popular and consumed, when it is clear that the messages it leaves are harmful, disturbing and lacking in empathy and common sense.
I think what you wrote here sums up very well what everyone should know about this book.
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