Such a Pretty Fat

One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, Or Why Pi e Is Not the Answer

By: Jen Lancaster

Narrated by: Jamie Heinlein

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

A NOTE FROM JEN LANCASTER:

"To whom the fat rolls...I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hopes of a fabulous new life. And I hate the message that women can't possibly be happy until we all fit into our skinny jeans. I don't find these stories uplifting; they make me want to hug these women and take them out for fizzy champagne drinks and cheesecake and explain to them that until they figure out their insides, their outsides don't matter. Unfortunately, being overweight isn't simply a societal issue that can be fixed with a dose healthy of positive self-esteem. It's a health matter, and here on the eve of my fortieth year, I've learned I have to make changes so I don't, you know, die. Because what good is finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult onset diabetes?"

©2008 Jen Lancaster (P)2009 Penguin

Hilarious Commentary on Weight Loss!

This book is so funny! Jen Lancaster has an attitude and a great sense of humor! Following her struggle to lose weight and get fit is inspiring and honest. She doesn't lie or sugar coat her journey, but tells it like it is. By the end of the book I felt like I had a new friend! One word of caution: She does cuss a lot. It didn't offend me, but does make me curse more while listening. :) Kinda funny, but maybe not to you!

Everything I always wanted to say about fat

This was an extremely funny, yet edgy book nailing the feelings every woman has about the struggle of losing weight. As the reader, Ms. Lancaster's cutting, sarcastic, and ironic style is just what the book needs. I listened to it in the car, and occasionally had to pull over as tears of laughter were running down my face. It's a book I will definitely listen to again.

Small bites help

Jen Lancaster is funny, pithy and deliciously wicked..in small bites. Her endless ranting becomes a bit grating if you listen to it like a piece of fiction. I tend to think of her as my neurotic friend that is occasionally so funny she makes me shoot latte out of my nose, but the rest of the time she whines and complains incessantly.

All three of her memoirs tend to read like a late night comedic monologue, and are best absorbed and enjoyed in three minute increments.

Always a fun time!

This is my third Jen Lancaster book and I'm still entertained! I thought it was great to hear about the struggles of weight loss (been there, down 30 pounds and hovering) and it was actually pretty inspiring. The only gripe I have about the narration, is the consistent mispronunciation of words: "Re:" is not pronounced "Ray". "Re:" is "in response to" or "in regard to", so should be pronounced "Ree". Also, she should check her pronunciation of "chorizo". The "i" is pronounced as "ee", not "eye" or "ih". I know this sounds really petty, but it was so odd considering what a perfectionist I thought Jen Lancaster was to have the narrator mispronounce these things.

Love!

I loved this book. The narrator is fabulous, the book is funny, fast paced, and truthful. Great listen.

An honest portrayal of dieting and weight loss

As someone who has been to the diet rodeo several times in the past few years, I relate so much to "Such a Pretty Fat". I've read it a few times but recently decided to listen to it because I've been struggling to continue losing weight and I thought it would give me the motivation to keep going. Happily, I was right. My experiences with WW meetings mirror Jen's and I laughed the hardest at the characters she encountered - people who are afraid of office birthday cakes are everywhere! This book is an honest look at the various diet programs out there (Jen tries Atkins, Jenny Craig, and WW) and the day-to-day struggle involved in losing weight.

Jamie Heinlein is a great narrator. She has Jen's snarky undertones down pat and I love that she doesn't try to put on a male voice for Fletch. Thanks to her, I enjoyed listening to this even more than I've enjoyed reading it in the past.

Fun!

Any additional comments?

Jen Lancaster is so honest and bitchy at times, but there's also a tender side to her writing too. Mainly, she cracks me up.

Just plain tiresome

I really hung in there with Jen Lancaster. I have great empathy for anyone struggling with this issue, but halfway through, four hours of listening later, I felt like screaming, would you get to the point?! and by the way, your endless conversations with Fletch about nothing are not that amusing. Was it Lancaster or was it the narrator that made this feel like Chinese water torture?

funny but sometime a bit much

it took me a bit to get through this book because some of the hatred and white privilege was a but much a times...hilarious other times. There were times the author was blatantly racist and just really needed to find a little peace in her life. The anger can be a bit much
I was hoping it ended with a little heart...but her overly white republican privilege really showed...and no heart was to be found.

Not funny

I know she was trying to come off as sassy and funny, but she came across as just a self centered jerk.