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wishfulfillment's review
5.0
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#ownvoices review
I was going to go through each of these essays and give them separate ratings, but by the time I got to the middle of the book, they'd all been 5 stars. This essay collection handles #ownvoices intelligently by focusing on having fat folks talk to us about fat politics, rather than about individualized personal experiences of being fat. Idk how this seems to you, but I have read too many essay collections claiming to be about an #ownvoices topic, but then being just about how a handful of people think and feel. The authors here and well-versed on the topic. They pay attention to what the audience as a whole needs to know, and not just what they want to say, even those authors who wrote letters to their teenage selves. When focusing on an identity and the politics, hatred, and positivity around it, the editor and collaborators created an educational work that is a must-read more than just a dip in the experience pool of the fat identity.
If you're wanting another synopsis:
The editor makes clear in their introduction and throughout the work, the fat folks who wrote these essays are not just size 12 cishet white women! They are trans, nonbinary, queer, bisexual, black, asian, indigingeous, Mexican, survivors of rape, in recovery from eating disorders, disabled, AND SO ON. They discuss how sometimes one or two of their other identities are treated the exact opposite way than their fat identity. One of them even discusses what it's like to meet fatness standards only in their ethnicity but not by US standards, and another discusses what having white-passing privilege is like! I could go on and on!
#ownvoices review
I was going to go through each of these essays and give them separate ratings, but by the time I got to the middle of the book, they'd all been 5 stars. This essay collection handles #ownvoices intelligently by focusing on having fat folks talk to us about fat politics, rather than about individualized personal experiences of being fat. Idk how this seems to you, but I have read too many essay collections claiming to be about an #ownvoices topic, but then being just about how a handful of people think and feel. The authors here and well-versed on the topic. They pay attention to what the audience as a whole needs to know, and not just what they want to say, even those authors who wrote letters to their teenage selves. When focusing on an identity and the politics, hatred, and positivity around it, the editor and collaborators created an educational work that is a must-read more than just a dip in the experience pool of the fat identity.
If you're wanting another synopsis:
The editor makes clear in their introduction and throughout the work, the fat folks who wrote these essays are not just size 12 cishet white women! They are trans, nonbinary, queer, bisexual, black, asian, indigingeous, Mexican, survivors of rape, in recovery from eating disorders, disabled, AND SO ON. They discuss how sometimes one or two of their other identities are treated the exact opposite way than their fat identity. One of them even discusses what it's like to meet fatness standards only in their ethnicity but not by US standards, and another discusses what having white-passing privilege is like! I could go on and on!
marieintheraw's review
4.0
I love a good collection that contains all types of voices, like this one. And as far as collections go this one is one of the best, but I didn't jive with every single piece so I can't give it a full five.
kleonard's review against another edition
5.0
A stellar collection of essays, poems, prose poems, cartoons, memoirs, and other work on being fat and learning to love your body. I wish I’d had this book around when I was 12 and at the beginning of being continually fat-shamed by my family. The diversity of viewpoints, including men’s, women’s, and enby voices, queer, IPOC, ace, ace, aro, and others is fantastic and much-needed. In addition r the writings in the book, it offers links to shops, blogs, Twitter accounts, and more that are helpful for and supportive of fat people. Give this to fat kids and their parents. Give it to your fat friends and your not-fat friends. Let it help you teach folx that fat is not something to be ashamed of, that fat people deserve the same expect as thinner folx, and that being fat doesn’t mean you have to be unhappy or limited in what you do.
achilleanshelves's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a wonderful collection that I am so happy that I've read. I adore how this book explored the intersections of different marginalisations when paired with being plus-size. I've definitely found some new creators to follow and I can't wait to explore all of their content.
You should absolutely read this!
You should absolutely read this!
macybay947's review
5.0
How I wish I had access to this kind of literature as a teenager! This anthology is opening doors for fat activism as well as self love and happiness.
As always with anthologies, some works were stronger than others, but coming away from it as a whole I cried many times and often had to set it down to contemplate parts of it. The poems were my favorite parts, along with several of the later essays. I really appreciated the diversity of experience in this book, which really make it feel like it could fit any fat teenager regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ability, etcetera.
I've been on a deconstructionist journey in my own life and reading literature that supports my thoughts for once was really refreshing. Obviously my favorite pieces were the ones focused on analyzing literature (which has not had a very good track record for fat representation). It was so interesting to dive into others' perspectives on body representations in literature and I could read whole books on those discussions alone. Definitely a bit younger target audience than me, but well written and thought out nonetheless.
As always with anthologies, some works were stronger than others, but coming away from it as a whole I cried many times and often had to set it down to contemplate parts of it. The poems were my favorite parts, along with several of the later essays. I really appreciated the diversity of experience in this book, which really make it feel like it could fit any fat teenager regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ability, etcetera.
I've been on a deconstructionist journey in my own life and reading literature that supports my thoughts for once was really refreshing. Obviously my favorite pieces were the ones focused on analyzing literature (which has not had a very good track record for fat representation). It was so interesting to dive into others' perspectives on body representations in literature and I could read whole books on those discussions alone. Definitely a bit younger target audience than me, but well written and thought out nonetheless.
gdulecki's review
4.0
Love love loved this! As with most anthologies, there were pieces that resonated with me more than others, but overall this was really good. I didn’t get to read all of it because I had to return it, but I adored the 3/4 that I read.
jaldep91's review
4.0
Actually kinda liked this one. There's still a lot of " boo hoo look at me. I'm such a victim". But several of the stories were actually very moving.
lesbrary's review
4.0
I think this is an essential addition to any high school library, or any book collection teenagers have access to. Between the poetry, anecdotes, advice, and humour, there will be something here for anyone to connect to. This is really a book that could change lives, and I hope it gets into the hands that need it.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
Full review at the Lesbrary.