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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This book was amazing. I loved the way the author flawlessly tackled body image issues, which is something that I have struggled with for years. This book has made me realize that it's okay to love yourself and that you don't have to be perfect to do so. This place holds a special place in my heart :)
4.5, some small things that bothered me but other than that, it was good.
Strong character development:
Yes
I heard this book had been updated in anticipation for the sequel release, but I borrowed it from the library, and am pretty sure I read the original version, since they talked about the colored iMacs (which I loved!).
That said, I found it really incredible and sad, that the events and issues explored in this book are still in the forefront today. The book focuses largely on body image, but there was also a date rape subplot, which had a huge impact on Virginia.
I was a fat kid, thin teen and twenty-something, but have struggled with my weight as I got older, so I related to Virginia in so many ways. I felt all those feelings, and thought all those things. I understood where she was coming from, and thought her portrayal was very realistic. Therefore, I cheered with each positive step she took. I was excited when she spoke up for herself. I loved being part of her journey, and even though it wasn't complete, she made a great deal of progress.
Her family also undergoes some big changes, and that was also where I saw a lot of growth in Virginia. Her brother fell from the pedestal she set him upon, and she sort of started to notice all his cracks, that were there well before. She also began to call her father out on his behaviors, and it's not like he did an about face, but at least she made her point of view known. Her family was a work in progress, and still need time for all the changes they need to undergo.
I don't know. I feel like a black sheep, because I liked this book. As someone, who struggle with my weight and disordered eating, I related to Virginia, and I enjoyed seeing her find her power.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
That said, I found it really incredible and sad, that the events and issues explored in this book are still in the forefront today. The book focuses largely on body image, but there was also a date rape subplot, which had a huge impact on Virginia.
I was a fat kid, thin teen and twenty-something, but have struggled with my weight as I got older, so I related to Virginia in so many ways. I felt all those feelings, and thought all those things. I understood where she was coming from, and thought her portrayal was very realistic. Therefore, I cheered with each positive step she took. I was excited when she spoke up for herself. I loved being part of her journey, and even though it wasn't complete, she made a great deal of progress.
Her family also undergoes some big changes, and that was also where I saw a lot of growth in Virginia. Her brother fell from the pedestal she set him upon, and she sort of started to notice all his cracks, that were there well before. She also began to call her father out on his behaviors, and it's not like he did an about face, but at least she made her point of view known. Her family was a work in progress, and still need time for all the changes they need to undergo.
I don't know. I feel like a black sheep, because I liked this book. As someone, who struggle with my weight and disordered eating, I related to Virginia, and I enjoyed seeing her find her power.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Read this review on my blog!
I first read this book many moons ago (near a decade) when I was a young shy, fat teenager. I had never read a book or seen a movie about a fat teen who was the hero, not the sidekick, and whose problems weren't magically solved by losing weight. This book made such a big impression on me at that age. Mind, this was all long before the body positive movement became more mainstream, long before 'health at every size'. For me this was such an important book (and still is). I didn't turn my life around like Virginia, but I do believe this book put the first seeds of resistance in the back of my mind.
Because this novel is such a rebellion against diet culture and fatphobia. What mostly struck me was how Mackler manages to get so much of it so right. She doesn't only show how bullying/prejudice can ruin a person's self esteem (although there isn't an amazing amount of bullying going on in The Earth) but also how ingrained fatphobia is in society/people and how much damage it can do to people. Even when they know better, like Virginia's mom who is an adolescent psychologist, just can't shake the notion that Virginia needs to be thin to be happy due, to her own childhood insecurities. And this idea and the way her family treats her because of those ideas actually make Virginia very miserable.
The Earth targets that very idea; that you need to be thin to be accepted/happy/healthy (feeling well is what matters, not your size!) This destroys that completely throughout this book, by showing how learned obsessions with weight can last till late into your adult years or even cause serious eating disorders or just plainly make your life miserable because you're never "allowed" to really live. It shows how being thin doesn't automatically make you happy or successful, and that size doesn't really matter for those who truly care. That's such an amazing message for impressionable young teenagers who are constantly bombarded by friends, family members, tv ads, magazines, books and movies that tell them they need to be thin to be healthy/succesful/happy. Fatphobia is so flipping ingrained in our society that many would rather be dead than fat. That's just terrible. This book shows all that, without sugar coating it, making you realize how ridiculous and awful that is.
But this book also discusses other very important things, like mother and daughter relationships, dealing with your problems, self harm, self hate, rape, being yourself, and putting people on a pedestals and the consequences of that. It also is just in general a great book about how the most important thing is to be yourself, to do what you want to do in life (without hurting anybody else) and not let people walk over you. This book teaches how important it is to stand up for yourself and that you're allowed to create a life for yourself that makes you happy.
Otherwise it's also just a really great book. The characters feel so life-like and Virginia is an amazing protagonist. It's really funny and heartfelt and real and true. I love her character development, and love how she's this really tough and colorful character, once she allows herself to shine. She's such a great role model for young teenagers (and adults)! There are just so many things in this book I'd like to write about and shout about because they're so spot-on and so amazing, but I also don't want to completely spoil the book for everyone. It's just such an amazing book that really struck a chord with me all those years ago, and still does now.
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things is an incredibly funny, heartfelt, encouraging book about weight and diet culture and feminism, but most of all being yourself. A wonderful and complex book that I would recommend to anyone! And there's going to be a sequel too!
I first read this book many moons ago (near a decade) when I was a young shy, fat teenager. I had never read a book or seen a movie about a fat teen who was the hero, not the sidekick, and whose problems weren't magically solved by losing weight. This book made such a big impression on me at that age. Mind, this was all long before the body positive movement became more mainstream, long before 'health at every size'. For me this was such an important book (and still is). I didn't turn my life around like Virginia, but I do believe this book put the first seeds of resistance in the back of my mind.
Because this novel is such a rebellion against diet culture and fatphobia. What mostly struck me was how Mackler manages to get so much of it so right. She doesn't only show how bullying/prejudice can ruin a person's self esteem (although there isn't an amazing amount of bullying going on in The Earth) but also how ingrained fatphobia is in society/people and how much damage it can do to people. Even when they know better, like Virginia's mom who is an adolescent psychologist, just can't shake the notion that Virginia needs to be thin to be happy due, to her own childhood insecurities. And this idea and the way her family treats her because of those ideas actually make Virginia very miserable.
The Earth targets that very idea; that you need to be thin to be accepted/happy/healthy (feeling well is what matters, not your size!) This destroys that completely throughout this book, by showing how learned obsessions with weight can last till late into your adult years or even cause serious eating disorders or just plainly make your life miserable because you're never "allowed" to really live. It shows how being thin doesn't automatically make you happy or successful, and that size doesn't really matter for those who truly care. That's such an amazing message for impressionable young teenagers who are constantly bombarded by friends, family members, tv ads, magazines, books and movies that tell them they need to be thin to be healthy/succesful/happy. Fatphobia is so flipping ingrained in our society that many would rather be dead than fat. That's just terrible. This book shows all that, without sugar coating it, making you realize how ridiculous and awful that is.
But this book also discusses other very important things, like mother and daughter relationships, dealing with your problems, self harm, self hate, rape, being yourself, and putting people on a pedestals and the consequences of that. It also is just in general a great book about how the most important thing is to be yourself, to do what you want to do in life (without hurting anybody else) and not let people walk over you. This book teaches how important it is to stand up for yourself and that you're allowed to create a life for yourself that makes you happy.
Otherwise it's also just a really great book. The characters feel so life-like and Virginia is an amazing protagonist. It's really funny and heartfelt and real and true. I love her character development, and love how she's this really tough and colorful character, once she allows herself to shine. She's such a great role model for young teenagers (and adults)! There are just so many things in this book I'd like to write about and shout about because they're so spot-on and so amazing, but I also don't want to completely spoil the book for everyone. It's just such an amazing book that really struck a chord with me all those years ago, and still does now.
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things is an incredibly funny, heartfelt, encouraging book about weight and diet culture and feminism, but most of all being yourself. A wonderful and complex book that I would recommend to anyone! And there's going to be a sequel too!
I don’t even remember this book (changes rating). But due to further research, I recall it being about a “fat” teen who feels that everyone is against her because of her weight.
Being a “fat” woman...and I’ve been a range of slightly chunky to obese....is not a bad thing. Some people who are deemed “fat” are very healthy.
Plus, the way she “got over” her weight bashing was somewhat unrealistic.
Being a “fat” woman...and I’ve been a range of slightly chunky to obese....is not a bad thing. Some people who are deemed “fat” are very healthy.
Plus, the way she “got over” her weight bashing was somewhat unrealistic.
spoiler
there were a lot of moments i felt there was skinny shaming going on. and a line about Brie’s eating disorder saying “who is she to judge” felt like mental illness shaming.
there were a lot of moments i felt there was skinny shaming going on. and a line about Brie’s eating disorder saying “who is she to judge” felt like mental illness shaming.
There are spoilers in this review. Only read this if you're okay with some spoilers, starting in the second paragraph.
The teen girl with weight concerns offers readers a realistic view of how off-the-cuff comments can harm a person's self-esteem, and how absenteeism parenting contributes to mental health issues in our society. I found myself disappointed in the ease with which the narrator let a teen girl wander through a city...it was unrealistic far too often. That's where the absenteeism parenting worked in...but in a strange way...
I found myself "leaving" the story to wonder, "wait...who lets their teen kid be alone all weekend every weekend?" or "what kid buys a plane ticket in defiance of her parents and doesn't get grounded for it?"
I think the opening scene of a girl making out with a kid (while her parents are still at work) she doesn't really think she cares for, just because she wants to practice making out, set me off on the wrong foot. I disliked Virginia from there and she had to win me back...
I also found the girl's "forgiving" of the date rape completely unbelievable.
It also felt remarkably "fast" of Virginia to start up a blog with kids who weren't giving her the time of day prior to winter break, when her only interests prior to winter break were eating and texting her BFF.
The teen girl with weight concerns offers readers a realistic view of how off-the-cuff comments can harm a person's self-esteem, and how absenteeism parenting contributes to mental health issues in our society. I found myself disappointed in the ease with which the narrator let a teen girl wander through a city...it was unrealistic far too often. That's where the absenteeism parenting worked in...but in a strange way...
I found myself "leaving" the story to wonder, "wait...who lets their teen kid be alone all weekend every weekend?" or "what kid buys a plane ticket in defiance of her parents and doesn't get grounded for it?"
I think the opening scene of a girl making out with a kid (while her parents are still at work) she doesn't really think she cares for, just because she wants to practice making out, set me off on the wrong foot. I disliked Virginia from there and she had to win me back...
I also found the girl's "forgiving" of the date rape completely unbelievable.
It also felt remarkably "fast" of Virginia to start up a blog with kids who weren't giving her the time of day prior to winter break, when her only interests prior to winter break were eating and texting her BFF.