Does the narrator love Rachel because of her food problems or in spite of them? ( )

I read this book about a decade ago shortly after it was published. That it still resonates in my memory speaks to the power of the writing of Jonathan Rosen. The story is of a young couple facing a battle with an eating disorder - she experiencing it and he trying to save her. This is not the stuff of the usual romantic story, but it is powerful and full of questions about the nature of life and love.

Early in the novel, for example, the narrator, Joseph, describes his lover's effect on him this way:
"Ruth's kiss was sinking through me, spreading concentric circles of fear." Her need for him is figuratively eating him up. The story gradually unfolds and the characters grow, but the questions remain. This is not a book for everyone, but an intriguing read for those willing to take the risk. ( )