What an amazing book. The topic itself is extraordinary, a group of people who get the idea into their heads that food is bad for you until one of them starves themselves to death. It is based on a true story, but the author describes it as fiction in that she has only relied on press reports for the general outline and has let that inspire her for the rest of what goes on.
It is equally amazing for the innovative way that it switches perspective in each short chapter. In principle that is a common structure, but this time the new perspectives are not only from various characters, but also all sorts of objects. That also builds up a sort of suspense, waiting to see what the next perspective will be. I really enjoyed that new way of thinking.
One of the chapters is about dementia. I must say that that is one of the best pieces I have ever read attempting to explain what it is like. The book is worth five stars for that sympathetic chapter alone.
In another chapter, the reader is addressed directly. That can hardly be described as innovative; early novels like Tom Jones (1749) did that as well, but that also added a welcome extra dimension.
In that same chapter, the author advises us to read the text carefully. I think that means that I'll be reading this book for a second time.