Dumplin' (Dumplin', #1) in Better Read Than Dead Book Club

Jan 06, 2016 Grace Lucy rated it really liked it

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I read this novel as a part of the BRTD Bookclub! Come join us for monthly YA reads and discussion :)

3.5 stars

Those of you who follow my reviews know that contemporary is a genre that I never get particularly excited about. However, I have recently had amazing luck with contemporary novels, so the times might be a-changin'! Books like All the Bright Places and Frankie struck a chord with me, and now so has Dumplin'. I was pondering why these books in particular resonated with me My Blog | Twitter

I read this novel as a part of the BRTD Bookclub! Come join us for monthly YA reads and discussion :)

3.5 stars

Those of you who follow my reviews know that contemporary is a genre that I never get particularly excited about. However, I have recently had amazing luck with contemporary novels, so the times might be a-changin'! Books like All the Bright Places and Frankie struck a chord with me, and now so has Dumplin'. I was pondering why these books in particular resonated with me, and I think it's because they deal with important issues in a light(ish) way. There's a lesson, but you don't feel like you're being taught.

Anyway, I digress. Dumplin' makes a lot of great points about body image, which is an issue I have always struggled with, and perhaps that's why I enjoyed it so much. This is the kind of book I wish had existed when I was a 15-year-old, because Willowdean is a perfectly realistic combination of confident and insecure. Some days she does not care what people think of her appearance, and other days she cares far too much. Some days she defends people who are mocked, and other days she is just as judgmental as the bullies. That, in a nutshell, is what I liked about her. Protagonists that are either totally likable or totally hateable (I'm making up words now) feel unrealistic, because nobody is that one-sided.

While I definitely loved the body image aspects of this novel, Dumplin' was more than a little fluffy. The plot itself did not really excite me - "unconventionally attractive woman enters beauty pageant" has been done before. Even the romance aspects of this novel were a little 'meh'. Most of the characters (besides Will herself) were not that interesting. I enjoyed hearing Aunt Lucy's story, however. I think everyone has at least one image issue that causes self-doubt and stops us doing what we love, so this made me instantly relate to her.

It's hard to define exactly what it was that I liked about this book, beyond the body image stuff. I think it was the realism. Murphy never glossed over Will's self-doubt, and she did not end the book with everyone holding hands and suddenly accepting fat people. I especially enjoyed the ending because it was so open-ended - anything else would have been a disservice to Willowdean's character.

Overall, this was a light read with a poignant and realistic representation of body image issues. I'd recommend it to anyone who cares about this issue, and does not particularly mind if the plot is secondary to that. ...more

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Jan 05, 2016 Melissa rated it really liked it

I don't know where to start. First, I'm not "twiggy". Even with a few extra pounds, most would probably say I'm on the slimmer side. But, I've never been super skinny. I might not know how it feels to be plus sized or, "fat". But, most of us have our something. An insecurity. It could still be body related. Even if you aren't a bigger person in a thin obsessed country.

I do wish that Dumplin' explored the relationship with her and her mom more.
A former beauty queens relationship with her bigger I don't know where to start. First, I'm not "twiggy". Even with a few extra pounds, most would probably say I'm on the slimmer side. But, I've never been super skinny. I might not know how it feels to be plus sized or, "fat". But, most of us have our something. An insecurity. It could still be body related. Even if you aren't a bigger person in a thin obsessed country.

I do wish that Dumplin' explored the relationship with her and her mom more.
A former beauty queens relationship with her bigger daughter could have added something.
I also wish we could have heard a little bit more about aunt Lucy.

A lot of people have idiosyncrasies. That's why it wasn't... Odd to me that Willowdean was insecure one minute, and not the next. That she talked about Millie (and others) even. It was mean. But insecure people talk about others to make themselves feel better.

The love triangle could have been done differently. Especially her treatment of Mitch.
Bo and Mitch were both interesting characters. Other than that, I liked the idea that there were two guys interested in a girl that isn't some people's view of "ideal". I'm hoping it happens more often than we think.

I could see this as a movie. I'm happy there was no plan for her to lose weight for the pagaeant.

I've been a teenage girl. I've been best friends with the same person for 25 years.
If I even thought for a moment someone I was also friends with was snarking or being nasty to her, it would have been ugly.
El's friend Callie wasn't just taking El's time away from Willowdean. She talked about her when she thought she couldn't hear her and was downright nasty. El was oblivious and, acted as though Willowdean was totally at fault.
Instead of acting like a 9 year old (calling names and almost throwing a tantrum), Willowdean should have told El. It would have made things a little more believable. They were supposed to be closer than close. It ran a little deeper than "I'm jealous that you're making new friends."
Her flipping out about El joining the pageant was also a little much.

I did really enjoy Dumplin'. I raced through it. I noticed that it said #1. Do I dare to dream that there is a #2 in the works? ...more

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