Skinny

In his memoir, Jonathan Wells explores his complex relationship with his body and masculinity, as well as his experiences at boarding school in Switzerland. He reflects on the ways in which society judges and defines bodies, and how this can impact individuals' sense of self.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: ZE Books

In the 1970s, in upstate New York, a young boy named Jonathan Wells faced a relentless persecution of his body, weighing only sixty-seven pounds at the age of fourteen. This weight triggered a scrutiny that would haunt him throughout his adulthood. The attack he suffered at preparatory day school, at the hands of a teacher offended by his inability to gain weight, left a lasting impact on his self-perception. For the first time, Jonathan questioned his right to exist in the world.

Jonathan's father, seeing his weight as a sign of masculinity deficiency, created a rigorous workout regimen to bulk him up. However, despite these efforts, the problem persisted. Numerous specialists examined Jonathan, all declaring him perfectly healthy, but the truth remained undeniable: the boy was simply too skinny.

Jonathan's complex relationship with his charming but elusive mother added another layer of complexity to his situation. As the eldest son, he bore witness to the struggles of his parents' marriage, inadvertently playing a divisive role. As a result, Jonathan was sent to boarding school in Switzerland, where he sought to establish an identity separate from his father's obsession.

Despite his efforts, Jonathan's father's obsession followed him to Europe, threatening to undermine the space he had painstakingly carved out for himself. In his candid, powerful, and quietly humorous memoir, Debris, Jonathan Wells delves into the universal exploration of adolescence, self-image, the fragility of masculinity, and the places we seek solace in a world that seeks to define us.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 146 x 223 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781733540193