Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie is Not the Answer
by Jen Lancaster
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie is Not the Answer.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1231)
Read in July, 2008
This was the first book by Jen Lancaster I've read, and I'm not sure I would have enjoyed her caustically comedic style in either of her other books, but when used in discussion of dieting and the diet industry, it definitely worked, at least for me.
_Such a Pretty Fat_ is the story of Jen's personal quest to get healthier. Part of what makes the book so charming is that, unlike other protagonists of dieting books/memoirs, she doesn't hate herself, hate her size, or hate food. She loves and...more
_Such a Pretty Fat_ is the story of Jen's personal quest to get healthier. Part of what makes the book so charming is that, unlike other protagonists of dieting books/memoirs, she doesn't hate herself, hate her size, or hate food. She loves and...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
diet fanatics, fiiiine looking women everywhere, those that want to slap their personal trainers
Lots of women have the realization at one point in their lives that they are overweight or unhealthy. Every single one of these women also has a story about the desperate attempts to lose weight and resemble Kate Moss. Usually the commen theme in all these stories is self-loathing of fat and a vicious cycle of binging and hating. What I found so refreshing and lovely about this book is the fact that Jen Lancaster never allows herself to sink into a pit of self loathing. She will tell you herself...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
LOVE Jen. Love, love, LOVE Jen. This is not a weight loss guide. This is Jen describing how she did not mind being called a fat bitch, since she is absolutely both of those things. But the thought of all the health-related things that could happen due to her weight did bother her. A lot. A stroke that marred her sparkling smile? Unthinkable! Then she realized that her weight was symbolic of her refusal to grow up, and then she begins seriously working out and watching her food intake. (...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
Ladies looking for a little laughter and inspiration
<3 this one! I immediately connected with the author's viewpoint that her weight really wasn't a reason to have low self-esteem... and the fact that she pities all those poor shlubs who are a perfectly healthy weight who are obsessed with losing more. I've never understood those people... and typically I just want to hit them or feed them (as does Ms. Lancaster!). SO I knew that I would be interested in hearing her journey towards being healthier... not obsessive.
Actually she describes h...more
Actually she describes h...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
I'm pretty sure that if you're laughing out-loud 39 pages into a book, you can state, fairly accurately, that you like it...A.LOT. But, I'll let you know the rating when I'm finished...prolly in about 3 hours!
Three hours and the book is finished. You know how when you're getting ready to ride your bicycle up a hill? You get up as much optimal speed as you can and you start up the hill at a good rate, but then pedal by pedal you start slowing down until you're about 2/3 of the hill and you d...more
Three hours and the book is finished. You know how when you're getting ready to ride your bicycle up a hill? You get up as much optimal speed as you can and you start up the hill at a good rate, but then pedal by pedal you start slowing down until you're about 2/3 of the hill and you d...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
Page before the prologue page
quote 1. that stupid weight watchers quote
Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels."
quote #2. by the author
"Weight Watchers can kiss the fattest part of my ass."
I THINK THIS IS ONE DIET BOOK I AM GOING TO LOVE.
Don't you just want to stab Kirstie Ally in the eye with a fork?
Just bitch slap too cute and cuddly Valerie Bertinelli?
DIETS DON'T WORK!!
We all know it -- we've all been on at least five in our lifetime.
While Jenny C...more
quote 1. that stupid weight watchers quote
Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels."
quote #2. by the author
"Weight Watchers can kiss the fattest part of my ass."
I THINK THIS IS ONE DIET BOOK I AM GOING TO LOVE.
Don't you just want to stab Kirstie Ally in the eye with a fork?
Just bitch slap too cute and cuddly Valerie Bertinelli?
DIETS DON'T WORK!!
We all know it -- we've all been on at least five in our lifetime.
While Jenny C...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
fattie phat chicks
so like this book is hilarious! there are many instances when i like was seriously laughing out loud (which never happens when i'm reading ever). though you might not receive the full amazingness of this book unless you are fat. cause if you're fat then you can go I KNOW RIGHT!!! and HAHAHA IT'S SO TRUE!!! while you're reading. but if you're like skinny and like have never needed to lose serious pounds...and i mean like upwards of like 30-40 pounds not like that extra 5 that you picked up vis...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
Fans of Laurie Notaro
This was a good read for the mountain weekend with the girls during which I read it, but much of the material had already appeared on the blog that Lancaster writes, and her favorite prose devices? Are getting tedious. (Anyone who reads Lancaster knows she loves her some question marks followed by sentence fragments.) Still, I hate to paint her with the broad, dismissive "chick lit" brush, and her first memoir, "Bitter Is The New Black" is quite funny. The problem is that she...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in May, 2008
I wanted to like this book better, really I did.
But the author's writing style grates on me after a while and I really feel so much of this book was filler. She proposed a book about her experiences with weight loss, and then spends too much of the book talking about her book proposal. For most of the book she's failing miserably at her goals. Then in the last third of the book she finally kicks into gear. I appreciate how she makes fun of the weight loss experience, but sometimes I want...more
But the author's writing style grates on me after a while and I really feel so much of this book was filler. She proposed a book about her experiences with weight loss, and then spends too much of the book talking about her book proposal. For most of the book she's failing miserably at her goals. Then in the last third of the book she finally kicks into gear. I appreciate how she makes fun of the weight loss experience, but sometimes I want...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
recommended to Monica by:
Ivonnerecommends it for: all of my girlfriends
Jen finds herself in a world of never ending dieters. As she takes us through parts of her adult life, most women can agree that she has her reality set in the same realm as ours.
She puts an hilarious spin on things that are everyday but can sometimes be out there and down right annoying.
I laughed from the first page to the very last sentence seeing that she and I life, for the most part, parallel lives.
get the book and read it and then share with your friends. I could relate to almost all...more
She puts an hilarious spin on things that are everyday but can sometimes be out there and down right annoying.
I laughed from the first page to the very last sentence seeing that she and I life, for the most part, parallel lives.
get the book and read it and then share with your friends. I could relate to almost all...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
Definitely not one of those books that I "couldn't put down," which is why it took me so long to read. The author specks each page up with really funny "footnotes" though(only one of which are an actual footnote in the research sense. Only like-minded cynical sarcastic bitches would even come close to understanding their humor. Lancaster is equally sarcastic/funny in her struggles with America's top 3 diet plans; if you've even done ww, jenny, or atkins, you can relate to ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Everyone who loves chick lit
And she does it again! Made me laugh so hard that I almost wet myself. Now I don't have a weight problem and this book was a blast. It is more about self-esteem then dieting and reminds each of us that even a confident, smart, sexy woman like Jennifer Lancaster can get sucked into the seedy mafia-like underworld of diet companies and gimmicks ("it's our way or sleep with the fishes").
At a time in my life when I really, really need to laugh, Jennifer Lancaster's books are just th...more
At a time in my life when I really, really need to laugh, Jennifer Lancaster's books are just th...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
I was considering giving this book a two but it was better than that. While I really enjoyed Lancaster's writing style and sense of humor, at times I became frustrated by her excuse making during her journey. This could be because I have not experienced her battle but nonetheless, I sometimes found myself feeling as though I could easily have solved her mystery for her simply by identifying the fact she was not truly motivated. It certainly was a page turner and I was happy to hear her tone c...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Not nearly as good as her first two. BUT I was feeling hungry when she was hungry and I felt really motivated when she was too. It was a good push for me but simply not so laugh-out-loud funny like her first 2 books. Perhaps less swearing for her equals fewer laughs. Still good though. She simply needs to get her sassy, witty, snob back in gear. Umm HELLO! You think you are WAY better than everyone else REMEBER?! This "I'm so great" attitude is what was so hilarious about Bitter and Br...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
vikki
I am a total blog stalker and what I love most about Jen's books is how they really come off as real life. She doesn't glamorize loosing weight or make it sound easy and there is some classic Jen Humor moments that I just LOVE about her memoirs. I feel like she's a friend and oftentimes that she's in my head... good thing that she's never came near here to do a book signing because I'd be one of those weird people that want to be her friend that she hates! Definately a must-read for all peopl...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This was the first book I read by Jen Lancaster, as I came to the party a bit late.
I LOVED this book! Jen is sarcastic, outspoken, opinionated, and funny -- all of the things I hope people would say about me.
This isn't a book about how to lose weight, but rather, the funny side of what happens when you start to make a change in your life.
I'm a huge Jen Lancaster fan, especially after getting the chance to meet her in person at a book signing. She's a wonderfully genuine, good...more
I LOVED this book! Jen is sarcastic, outspoken, opinionated, and funny -- all of the things I hope people would say about me.
This isn't a book about how to lose weight, but rather, the funny side of what happens when you start to make a change in your life.
I'm a huge Jen Lancaster fan, especially after getting the chance to meet her in person at a book signing. She's a wonderfully genuine, good...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
This book was ALMOST as good as her other two, and it gave me the laughs I was hoping for. I didn't laugh out loud as many times in this one as I did in her other two, but still totally worth reading. I have to wonder if this is really how Jen is in real life, because if she is, I would love to be her best friend. She puts a funny spin on everything, and when most people would get completely pissed off or wallow in hatred for others, she changes the mood simply by making fun of the situation....more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
any one, those who aren't a perfect size 6.
I really enjoy Jen's books. And Such a Pretty Fat is not exception. I think this book was easy for me to relate to, and I loved that there was a plot and an ultimate goal that she was trying to reach. This book made the author seem more real (and more likable). As a random side note, I bought this book forgetting that I had won her postcard contest back when Bright Lights came out...and was pleasantly surprised to find my name in the acknowledgments! I can't wait to meet the author at her b...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
anyone who doesn't hate food:)
Gotta love the Weight Watchers logic! Lancaster does it again. Makes me laugh, that is. If you enjoyed either of her first two, then you'll like this one as well. This is a sarcastic saga of one woman's attempt to drop some pounds, get healthy, and to not die prematurely. The difference between Jen and most weight loss stories is mainly that she has far higher self-esteem than you might expect. It's a different look at getting healthy. Plus, her tales of Ambien-induced interent purchases ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
This book is for anybody who has ever failed at dieting. I really enjoyed the book because it was good to hear about someone else that has (had) the same weight problems as me. I am probably exactly in the same place the author was at the beginning of her book. But I won't bore you with my weight/exercise issues. Jennifer Lancaster paints a realistic view of diets, exercise and growing up and taking responsibility for your life. And she does while still being snarky, bitchy and funny!!!! Go...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.14 (558 ratings) number of reviews: 176popular shelves
other editions
quote
""I'm not lazy. I'm simply judicious about excess movement.""
more quotes »