My Good Bright Wolf
A Memoir
A memoir exploring the complexities of thinking, reading, and the relationship with food, this work reflects on the formative experiences of Sarah Moss's childhood. Growing up, she grappled with societal expectations surrounding the female body and mind, navigating the pressures of 1970s austerity and second-wave feminism. She learned to maintain a slim figure while avoiding vanity, to be intelligent without anger, and to possess practical skills deemed frivolous. Clever girls were encouraged to be ambitious, yet women were expected to remain small. Years later, her struggle with self-control escalated into a medical emergency as her teenage anorexia resurfaced, prompting a confrontation with the denial of her body's needs and her mind's turmoil. This memoir delves into contested memories of girlhood, the relentless voices that influenced her thoughts, and the literature that provided her escape. With its beautiful, audacious, and humorous narrative, this work examines the intricate ways the mind can turn against itself and ultimately find a path to recovery. A compelling exploration of womanhood and resilience, it showcases Moss's compassionate writing about human frailty and the search for identity.










