Unbearable lightness

By: Portia de Rossi

Narrated by: Portia De Rossi

Portia de Rossi weighed only 82 pounds when she collapsed on the set of the Hollywood film in which she was playing her first leading role. This should have been the culmination of all her years of hard work - first as a child model in Australia, then as a cast member of one of the hottest shows on American television. On the outside she was thin and blond, glamorous and successful. On the inside, she was literally dying.

In this searing, unflinchingly honest book, Portia de Rossi captures the complex emotional truth of what it is like when food, weight, and body image take priority over every other human impulse or action. Even as she rose to fame as a cast member of the hit television shows Ally McBeal and Arrested Development, Portia alternately starved herself and binged, all the while terrified that the truth of her sexuality would be exposed in the tabloids.

With the storytelling skills of a great novelist and the eye for detail of a poet, Portia makes transparent as never before the behaviours and emotions of someone living with an eating disorder.

©2010 Portia de Rossi (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Scary and Moving

Every mother who has a daughter needs to read this, It makes us aware of how we and society force negative body issues on to our girls.

This is a beautifully written book

Great insight to her slide into anorexia.

What made the experience of listening to Unbearable lightness the most enjoyable?

I really enjoy listening to the author reading the text, especially an actor. There's a level of authenticity that the reading delivers you just cannot get with a third party. Portia's account of her life leading up to and post her recovery is outstanding. Take the time to listen to this wonderful and insightful story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unbearable lightness?

Her realisation of becoming anorexic.

Which scene was your favorite?

Her epilogue of where she is now.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A must see for any young woman.

Scary and Moving

Every mother who has a daughter needs to read this, It makes us aware of how we and society force negative body issues on to our girls.

This is a beautifully written book

Amazing

Such a wonderful story. You can't even begin to imagine what Portia went through! So brave to be able to relive it. It was a joy to listen to this audio book, however heartbreaking at times!

Unbearable insecurity!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I think people who have suffered from any eating disorder will relate to this and hopefully gain some insight.

Would you ever listen to anything by Portia De Rossi again?

Probably not!

What three words best describe Portia De Rossi’s voice?

Insincere, annoying, irritating

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes, it made me love my food all the more!