Write an essay that connects Lori’s illness to the specific societal pressures placed upon women—especially those regarding appearance, weight, and affect. What feminine standards does Lori sense, and how do these standards impinge upon both her full apprehension of her illness, and her recovery? Cite at least one gender theorist in your response, and connect your citations to specific quotes from the book.

Examine the effects of Schilling’s choice to format the book as a series of chronologically-arranged vignettes, from a multitude of voices. How does this formal choice affect and/or posit the book’s ultimate message?

Take a position on Schilling’s overall focus on the “soft” (psychological and emotional) elements of her illness and its roots. Do you think that the general absence of scientific data or insight helps or harms the overall power of her work?