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wicked_sassy's review against another edition
3.0
Well-written and brutally honest. The author survived a harsh, abusive childhood and dispels many of the myths that exist about fat people.
jojo_27's review against another edition
4.0
Breathtakingly candid. Depressing as hell in some places. Mostly I just wondered how anyone could have survived this. She doesn't paint herself as some kind of heroine; in fact, she warns the reader at the beginning that this is not one of those books where the protagonist will, through hard work and courage, become slim and beautiful and happy.
You'll be really uncomfortable as you read this. But that by no means goes to say you shouldn't.
You'll be really uncomfortable as you read this. But that by no means goes to say you shouldn't.
jettaparadis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
This was not easy to read, but I am glad I did
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault
maryehavens's review against another edition
4.0
In terms of readability - 10. I finished this book in less than 24 hours in an all-consuming tear of reading.
Moore states, many times, that she doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her but how can you help it? An unwanted, unloved child who was repeatedly rejected by her mother and grandmother turned to food for love and comfort.
Moore also states that she is quite unpleasant but I never felt that she was being particularly unpleasant. Constantly unsatisfied, yes, but not unpleasant. Moore never said that she did any kind of therapy although I hope, for her sake, that she did. Her incredible self-loathing and self-hatred was something I haven’t read in a long time, especially in non-fiction.
Her descriptions of food were incredible and her love was evident. She ends on a rather abrupt note; like the fact that she grew up absolved all the pain that she felt as a child and that she owned that pain. But I don’t think she ever did. She completely believed she was unlovable and undeserving of any love.
I felt her candidness brave (hopefully cathartic for her) and reminded me of Carrie Fisher’s works. But like Fisher, you want to embrace Moore and push her away at the same time, knowing you could never fix her and that she may not want to be fixed.
My love of addiction memoirs is one of my guilty pleasures and Moore’s is easy to consume in one sitting. But line up some talk therapy afterwards to process all the emotion that is bound to be stirred up.
Moore states, many times, that she doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her but how can you help it? An unwanted, unloved child who was repeatedly rejected by her mother and grandmother turned to food for love and comfort.
Moore also states that she is quite unpleasant but I never felt that she was being particularly unpleasant. Constantly unsatisfied, yes, but not unpleasant. Moore never said that she did any kind of therapy although I hope, for her sake, that she did. Her incredible self-loathing and self-hatred was something I haven’t read in a long time, especially in non-fiction.
Her descriptions of food were incredible and her love was evident. She ends on a rather abrupt note; like the fact that she grew up absolved all the pain that she felt as a child and that she owned that pain. But I don’t think she ever did. She completely believed she was unlovable and undeserving of any love.
I felt her candidness brave (hopefully cathartic for her) and reminded me of Carrie Fisher’s works. But like Fisher, you want to embrace Moore and push her away at the same time, knowing you could never fix her and that she may not want to be fixed.
My love of addiction memoirs is one of my guilty pleasures and Moore’s is easy to consume in one sitting. But line up some talk therapy afterwards to process all the emotion that is bound to be stirred up.
shannong's review against another edition
This was a difficult book but I’m glad I read it. Her story taught me and moved me and enraged me.
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir is so much more than growing up fat- it's about a lack of love, of terrible abuse and a need to find acceptance. Throughout the whole story, I was hoping that [a:Judith Moore|37639|Judith Moore|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] found what she was looking for as an adult, but given some of the few passages she wrote about her adult life, it doesn't seem to be the case. Some people have mentioned that certain aspects don't add up- swimming classes and her mother's alleged abuse- which does give me something to think about.
All the same, this is a good book to read, if only because it's so far beyond the other pity party memoirs out there. Moore is frank and harsh, but she refuses to wallow in her misery and keeps pushing on. She admits at points that perhaps she led herself into certain situations, though for the most part her life was out of her hands. It's also a short read, which is typically a thumbs up for me when it comes to autobiographies. Your life isn't that interesting.
All the same, this is a good book to read, if only because it's so far beyond the other pity party memoirs out there. Moore is frank and harsh, but she refuses to wallow in her misery and keeps pushing on. She admits at points that perhaps she led herself into certain situations, though for the most part her life was out of her hands. It's also a short read, which is typically a thumbs up for me when it comes to autobiographies. Your life isn't that interesting.
erinmp's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this, but I just couldn't. It's more than a little depressing, this is get out the razor and run the bathwater depressing. Moore had a shitty life. An extraordinarily shitty childhood. Her mother is the reason that people should need a license before being allowed to reproduce. But it seemed to me like she has accepted her weight to be the reason for her unhappiness in life and the book is more like a pity party than a "alright, that blew, but this is me and I love me" kind of book. I really had a hard time getting through it in the end.
liznc's review against another edition
3.0
I finished this book feeling sad as it seemed that the author is resigned to feeling horrible about herself forevermore. Depressing!
The book itself was a good read. The details of the food were over-the-top and unnecessary, in my opinion, but the childhood details explained a lot of her anguish. I just wish she'd provided details on her college years and marriages... there was so much left unsaid.
The book itself was a good read. The details of the food were over-the-top and unnecessary, in my opinion, but the childhood details explained a lot of her anguish. I just wish she'd provided details on her college years and marriages... there was so much left unsaid.
jjordankc's review against another edition
3.0
This was well-written and I defintely enjoyed the read, but it was sad, sad, sad.