Review by Ian Keogh
As a child Rachel M. Thomas was an exemplary smart student, but earned no respect among her peers because she was fat, a term she uses herself, incidentally, rather than one applied by the reviewer. She qualified to study as a paramedic, and found the course easy until the practical work where a lack of physical fitness can’t compensate for quick thinking. When by chance on the scene of an actual emergency she’s initially able to help, but due to her weight restricting rapid movement she inhales so much smoke she falls unconscious and wakes up in hospital herself.
Dropping back then to her childhood, Thomas discusses how there wasn’t a time when she hadn’t been self-conscious about her weight before deciding the time had come to do something about it.
Anyone looking for an easy fix won’t find it in Shrink. Thomas either has to correct a lifetime of poor habits or come to terms with who she is. In an ideal world the latter wouldn’t be a matter for public comment, but our world is far from ideal. The conclusions Thomas arrives at to achieve a balance of happiness stray from medical advice, but they work for her and they may work for other readers. Then again, they may not. This is a personal chronicle.
Thomas takes us through the history, the numbers, the feelings and the assorted ignorant petty limitations society places. Oversized people wanting to head to the gym discover that gym wear isn’t available in their size, a healthy diet costs far more than one likely to pile on the pounds, and regular gym goers are likely to put newcomers off at the first hurdle. Thomas delivers everything from her own perspective, including her own prejudices, as she struggles to shed years of conditioning to reach personal goals, and slices through some presumptions in doing so. A particular grievance is having put tremendous effort into losing a fifth of her bodyweight, yet still being judged.
The art remains simple, rarely moving beyond black and white illustrations of facial expressions and bodies. An occasional blob of spot colour adds minimal change. More illustrated essay than sequential comics, as well drawn as individual illustrations are, the lack of variety may put off anyone resolutely wanting comics and not captivated by Thomas’ story.
Shrink begins as a tale of weight loss, and very gradually adds mental problems. Thomas’ perception of her demons is personified as a black splodge, but there’s a realisation as to how irrational some fears are. Why some women fear their body shape more than being stabbed in an attack is a question raised. However, there’s a contradiction at the heart of Shrink. Thomas advocates for body positivity throughout, yet her own drive is to move toward the ingrained societal norm, and with actions speaking louder than words is this just illogical or acknowledging the body shamers? She particularly hates commonplace advice from doctors advising her to lose weight, deconstructing it as veiled body-shaming, when it’s surely just medical advice about the probability of long term health issues.
As noted, this is a personal memoir, not an advice book, and the journey Thomas takes from start to where she is now is resonant and engaging while providing plenty to think about.
