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happy_reading_heather's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
caaaaaaaaaaassie's review against another edition
5.0
I’m not sure why, but I responded so much more to Jes Baker’s second book. Maybe since it was written more as a memoir, the points made hit more of an emotional punch. I pulled so many quotes from this book to put on post-it notes around my room as reminders.
stepnic's review against another edition
3.0
I would like to thank NetGalley and Perseus Books, Da Capo Press for allowing me early access to this novel in exchange for a review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
This was a book that I felt I was in the right demographic for, even though I may not have been entirely. As someone who struggles with their weight and the pressures that involve being fat in society, I thought this book would be geared toward me. And, truthfully, it was for the most part. There was so much I could relate to within these pages. There were moments when she hit the nail on the head so hard that she busted right through the drywall.
One of the moments that sticks out to me is the chapter regarding people asking if she's ever tried dieting. Jes goes into recounting all of the diets she had been on since she was 12. I, too, started my first diet when I was 12 and have spent the rest of my life obsessing (and 'failing') at staying on these programs. It's a spiral that messes with your head. No matter what, you're never good enough on these systems. Even if you are, some programs bank on you to fall off so you'll pay them money when you come back.
Jes also discusses her experience with PCOS, which I also have. There were moments in the chapter of PCOS (the shaving story, mostly) that I definitely could relate to in a comical way. She was real and honest, which I immensely appreciated.
Despite relating to various aspects of the memoir, I found a spark missing because I had no idea who Jes Baker was prior to reading this. Because I had no idea who she was or what she does, I felt a disconnect from the memoir. Yes, I could relate, but I didn't understand certain things that a regular follower would instantly get.
Still, I can't say I didn't enjoy this memoir. In the end, I found myself highlighting so many passages to read back to myself later on. This is an uplifting memoir, though there are heartbreaking and tough moments along the way. If you're a fan of Jes Baker, I'd definitely recommend checking it out. If you're interested in reading but have no idea who she is, I'd recommend learning more about her before diving in.
This was a book that I felt I was in the right demographic for, even though I may not have been entirely. As someone who struggles with their weight and the pressures that involve being fat in society, I thought this book would be geared toward me. And, truthfully, it was for the most part. There was so much I could relate to within these pages. There were moments when she hit the nail on the head so hard that she busted right through the drywall.
One of the moments that sticks out to me is the chapter regarding people asking if she's ever tried dieting. Jes goes into recounting all of the diets she had been on since she was 12. I, too, started my first diet when I was 12 and have spent the rest of my life obsessing (and 'failing') at staying on these programs. It's a spiral that messes with your head. No matter what, you're never good enough on these systems. Even if you are, some programs bank on you to fall off so you'll pay them money when you come back.
Jes also discusses her experience with PCOS, which I also have. There were moments in the chapter of PCOS (the shaving story, mostly) that I definitely could relate to in a comical way. She was real and honest, which I immensely appreciated.
Despite relating to various aspects of the memoir, I found a spark missing because I had no idea who Jes Baker was prior to reading this. Because I had no idea who she was or what she does, I felt a disconnect from the memoir. Yes, I could relate, but I didn't understand certain things that a regular follower would instantly get.
Still, I can't say I didn't enjoy this memoir. In the end, I found myself highlighting so many passages to read back to myself later on. This is an uplifting memoir, though there are heartbreaking and tough moments along the way. If you're a fan of Jes Baker, I'd definitely recommend checking it out. If you're interested in reading but have no idea who she is, I'd recommend learning more about her before diving in.
amyl88's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Perseus Books for providing this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.
While I have never been subject to public name-calling or harassment, or anything like that (unless it was done behind my back, which hey, entirely possible), I could totally relate to Jes Baker's life. SO many things here are so me, that it's really too personal for me to put out there. Size issues, dad issues, memories of being the fat kid when I wasn't even fat as a kid (I just always heard it from people, mainly just my grandfather, but I wasn't), childfree-ness... even the travel anxiety! I highlighted so many places, but my Kindle just died, so I can't list them all here.
The message of body liberation is such an important one. I don't know if I will ever get there.
I did have some problems with the formatting of the footnotes, especially when they popped up during passages that consisted of a numbered list. That could just be my Kindle, or maybe it just hasn't been formatted correctly yet.
While I have never been subject to public name-calling or harassment, or anything like that (unless it was done behind my back, which hey, entirely possible), I could totally relate to Jes Baker's life. SO many things here are so me, that it's really too personal for me to put out there. Size issues, dad issues, memories of being the fat kid when I wasn't even fat as a kid (I just always heard it from people, mainly just my grandfather, but I wasn't), childfree-ness... even the travel anxiety! I highlighted so many places, but my Kindle just died, so I can't list them all here.
The message of body liberation is such an important one. I don't know if I will ever get there.
I did have some problems with the formatting of the footnotes, especially when they popped up during passages that consisted of a numbered list. That could just be my Kindle, or maybe it just hasn't been formatted correctly yet.
answertherairai's review against another edition
3.0
Okay now hear me out.
I'm a BIG Jes Baker fan (pun only semi intended), and I enjoy her work. However, I strongly advocate consuming this in audiobook form. She narrates it herself, and gives gravitase to the stories she's telling.
And that essentially is the 'issue' with the book - it is not so much answering the questions in the title, as it is sharing her experiences. Which is fine, but, in the written word, I can see how one would think 'this isn't what I ordered'.
This reads more like a memoir with some how-tos inserted. Don't get me wrong, the content is still fabulous, I just think it would have been even more fabulous with a bit more structure.
I'm a BIG Jes Baker fan (pun only semi intended), and I enjoy her work. However, I strongly advocate consuming this in audiobook form. She narrates it herself, and gives gravitase to the stories she's telling.
And that essentially is the 'issue' with the book - it is not so much answering the questions in the title, as it is sharing her experiences. Which is fine, but, in the written word, I can see how one would think 'this isn't what I ordered'.
This reads more like a memoir with some how-tos inserted. Don't get me wrong, the content is still fabulous, I just think it would have been even more fabulous with a bit more structure.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
What I loved most about this were the sincere moments of vulnerability and authenticity. Jes is someone I could listen to -- and she narrates the audio, which is fantastic -- because she doesn't have all the answers. She's making mistakes and messing up and is herself messy. But that's who she is and she embraces it.
I was especially moved by the PCOS chapter, and I really am onboard with her beliefs about body liberation vs. body love. As someone who has always been fat but who has also lost a significant amount of weight in the last year and is no longer "plus size," I struggle with where I fit into the movement of body and fat acceptance. It was nice to be reminded that when labels are placed upon people who were, then weren't, within a certain status, that's as much about shaming and blaming as anything. The problem is diet culture and, ultimately, capitalism. It's not the individual who makes choices about how they operate and live in their bodies.
I was especially moved by the PCOS chapter, and I really am onboard with her beliefs about body liberation vs. body love. As someone who has always been fat but who has also lost a significant amount of weight in the last year and is no longer "plus size," I struggle with where I fit into the movement of body and fat acceptance. It was nice to be reminded that when labels are placed upon people who were, then weren't, within a certain status, that's as much about shaming and blaming as anything. The problem is diet culture and, ultimately, capitalism. It's not the individual who makes choices about how they operate and live in their bodies.
carireadsbooksandtarot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
3.5
Jes Baker paints a candid picture of her life in a fat body on and off the internet. She touches on her Morman childhood, sex and relationships, mental illness, and dealing with fat-phobia.
renee_pompeii's review against another edition
5.0
I had assumed this book would be funny AF and an empowering feminist read (check!) and wasn't disappointed. HOWEVER, I was NOT expecting it to be such a thought-provoking, insight-producing dissection on our current socio-cultural War Against Bodies. Regardless of whether those bodies are fat, non-white, queer...whatever flavor of body, everything is on the table here and that was what truly makes this a must read. Certainly waaaay more than I expected, this was a book I couldn't put down at all because there was so much being said and it all mattered. Jes Baker uses her incredibly varied personal experiences to break down what seems to be the overarching issue of our day-why some (OK soooo many) feel entitled to dictate to everyone else how they must live in their bodies.
sayevet's review against another edition
4.25
"It makes perfect sense that because many fat women are desexualized, undesirable, and perceived as lazy in every way, we would attempt to prove all of those things wrong by performing the most obvious form of desirability a woman can: turning ourselves into sex objects. This helps us hold on to the currency that we are still trying. We know we're fat, but look at our attempts to fit your mold anyway! Do we fall on the right side of 'good enough' yet? The answer, until we change our cultural perceptions about fat bodies, will always be no."
lisajh5858's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good read but super emotionally heavy
It took me a long time to get through because I would have to take long breaks from reading it. It really reminded me why I own a copy of Roxane Fay's Hunger but haven't yet braved reading it yet.
Definitely worth the read though.
It took me a long time to get through because I would have to take long breaks from reading it. It really reminded me why I own a copy of Roxane Fay's Hunger but haven't yet braved reading it yet.
Definitely worth the read though.