45 Pounds (more or less) by K.A. Barson
Let me start out by saying that this book needs to be read
by every woman in America
(15-80). Ann Galardi is an overweight teen
the blurb says she is 16 and a size 17.
I can relate because I remember in my 4th grade God Bless America play we
had to wear a red white or blue dress and my mother taking me shopping just to
find that there were not any dresses in those colors that fit. I ended up getting a maternity navy and
white striped shirt and wore it as a dress. I will never forget that day, my
mother had to alter the pregnancy panel and I didn’t understand why she bought
a new dress for me and had to sew it back together. As a matter of fact she made a lot of my
clothes, but I just thought that I was special, not fat. That was in the late
80’s early 90’s. I don’t know what I
would have done if I was born any later with all the body image issues of
today. Needless to say that I can relate
to Ann, hell I was her.
So as I am reading about all the body image issues Ann has
and all the shopping mishaps, I am laughing because I have had them too and
they are right on point. From getting
stuck in clothes in the dressing room to eating when nothing fits. Fortunately my weight came off some into high
school, but as soon as college started I blew up again. So where I did have
body image issues, I did not have to deal with all the bullying and ridicule
that most have to. Although I was never smaller than a size 10 in high school.
Ann does a good job in the novel dealing with the ridicule and had a good
attitude with the stress.
It is true about the shoes, us fat girls tend to have a shoe
fetish because 90% of the time that is all that we can go into a store and
buy. Working in the fast food joint was spot on too that Ann
did not eat anything because of her size she did not want anyone seeing her eat
or thinking that she ate there made her self conscious. And Ann’s mouth, foul as it may be, is spot
on at least for me. I tended to get
angry, loose my temper, and cuss like a sailor.
Of course, then I had kids and had to cool the mouth. So the author was either fat herself, had
great insight, or did some great research (which I commend on whatever route it
is).
I thank God everyday that my mother being a size 4, was not
anything like Ann’s mother because I don’t know if I could have handled it
gracefully. Ann’s mother, Suzy, is
always watching what Ann eats, monitoring her portions, giving her diet tips,
and telling her what foods make her fat.
This lady’s whole life seems to be revolved around what to put in her
mouth and what not to. My mother did by
me diet pills once and it tore me to pieces even though I took them, I felt
like a failure just like Ann.
This book was hilarious, great, and enjoyable bringing back
memories of my teen and early adult years, so I encourage every woman out there
to read it. Young or old, skinny or fat,
bully or nice girl you must read this book!
If you are not the main character in this book, then trust me you know
someone who is and I commend the author for writing something that will
hopefully encourage girls and women off all ages.
This book touches many taboo subjects and when is all said
and done makes a great statement: no one is perfect no matter how you see
them! Bravo Ms. Barson Bravo!
