5 comments about Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office.

1. Need a break from your usual type of read? You've found it! Perhaps I love this book so very much because I thought I was reading my autobiography..... either way, it's FABULOUS, it's HILARIOUS, it's FUN, it's WHAT YOUR NEXT READ SHOULD BE!!



2. A fun, enjoyable, made me laugh and brought back memories of my own experiences kind of book. I am almost 60 years old (but thats only a #) and loved reading this book. Very candid and real, saying a lot of the things some of us think but are too timid to say so if you are the shy and polite type this book will give you a big boost, and most likely some wide eyed surprises.
   
   Her story reflects the true and sad effects of corporations telling you that you are a valued employee and assuring you that your job is secure only to boot you out the door the next day with only a cardboard box full of your stuff. The endless "game" of interviews, users and rejections are put in a perspective that only Jen could do to make this the best seller that it is.
   
   I smiled and laughed and absolutely enjoyed the entire book.



3. Book club selection. Felt compelled (for unknown reasons) to finish. Painfully bad. Not funny and as a Chicagoan, the picture painted in this book of my city is unrecognizable. Watching beige paint dry would be more enjoyable than this book I have to say...



4. I actually read this book for a book club, and I'm so glad we picked this book! This book is made up of short stories that give you a very real and funny look into Lancaster's life after she is fired from her job. During this time she applies at every company imaginable, gets married, adopts a couple of dogs, and even loses her apartment steps! This book was laugh out loud, and I can't wait to read her other books!



5. While I loved the book and found myself laughing out loud, I really felt like I would despise her in person. She comes off spoiles and entitled. But, I felt like I was listening to a funny friend talk about life. I would recommend as a beach read.

5 comments about The Six Wives of Henry VIII.

1. If you want to read about Henry VIII's six wives, there are more titles out there that you can ever read. A lot of the material is a combination of guesses and conjecture, with a slant toward the prurient. This book, however, is very different. Alison Weir spent a lot of time looking at primary sources from the Tudor period. She obviously did her homework, and her fictionalized historical accounts are likely the closest to the truth that we will ever find.
   
   Unlike most accounts that paint Henry as a man driven by lust, Ms. Weir paints him as a deeply religious man driven by a combination of duty and fear. He truly believes that the fate of the Tudor dynasty depends entirely on the appearance of a legitimate son. Henry had at least one illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, whose last name is a sly poke at his bastard status. (FitzRoy = Son of the King, get it?) As time passed, Henry's sense of duty became magnified and overwhelmed by fear that he would die before a legitimate Tudor prince was born. His son Edward was sick and weak from the beginning, and it was apparent to Henry that he needed a healthy, strong son to take on the mantle of leadership should Edward die. He himself only became king because of the untimely death of his sickly brother, Arthur. His treatment of his wives was based on these twin factors.
   
   Alison Weir takes the dry facts and weaves them into a compelling and interesting narrative, and the tragedy of Henry's relationships with all of the women he encountered becomes stunningly clear. I found the book impossible to put down, and although I knew the bare bones of what happened from history books, I had to keep reading to see what might happen next. This is a wonderful introduction to Ms. Weir's books, and if you read this one, be sure to have the others in your shopping cart. You won't want to waste any time getting your hands on them.



2. Watching the Tudors on Showtime got me interested in Henry VIII. I purchased this book because of the depth of its research and historical accuracy. It was excellent. I could not put it down. I tend to be more of a fiction reader, when I read for enjoyment. This was as engrossing as any novel.



3. This is an excellent account of Henry and his many wives. Well researched, very well written - there's hardly a boring passage.



4. Henry VIII is a fascinating man of history. He took six wives, arranged to exchange one wife for another, murdered two, lost one to childbirth, rejected another and died before he could find a way to get rid of wife six. A man of wit, intelligence, excess and greed. He had an enormous appetite for pleasure, riches and love. You'll feel as if you're reading exceptional fiction but it really happened.



5. 
   Alison Weir's well-written, easy to read book about the Six Wives of Henry the VIII is an outstanding work of history about England in the 1500s, Henry's six wives, and the role they play in English politics and international relations with Spain, France and Germany. It is definitely a five star work of scholarship and entertainment.

5 comments about Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood.

1. Authentic childhood story. The emotions ring true. Brings back to life the tragedy of a great civilization torn apart, first by the Shah, and then by the Islamic madmen.



2. Our local community college is using this book as a common book experience for all incoming freshmen. It's a good choice for three reasons: 1) the subject matter (a young girl's experiences in revolutionary Iran) is timely and meaningful for coming-of-age college freshmen trying "to find themselves" 2) the graphic novel format is immediately engaging and easy to digest, and 3) the protagonist's story lends itself to myriad thematic explorations. In all, I was interested in and satisfied with this book. In fact, I couldn't put it down--I read it in an hour and a half. Apparently, there's a movie, too. That's next on my list.



3. This book was a very easy read. Unfortunately, the plot was a little too easy to follow, and certain parts have nothing to do with the rest of the book. The illustrations, however, have a quirky charm, and the story telling is sweet and entertaining.



4. Although this book is written like a comic book, don't take it lightly. The story is a deep and meaningful one. It is a pretty fast read but not as fast as you'd think...I highly recommend it!



5. I feel I learned more about the history of Iran through the eyes of a little girl who was practically forced to become an adult by the age of 14 than most textbooks. Marjane Satrapi, or "Marji" captured my attention, thanks to the successful marriage of her "crudely-drawn" panels and approachable narrative. While I have yet to read the sequel, I feel I know this individual on a personal level as the book fills us in on her deepest fears and hopes and conflicts.

5 comments about An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness.

1. It is a very informative book if you want to understand the personal experience of someone with Bipolar illness.



2. As someone who has only recently been diagnosed, reading this book helped me feel less alone. Because the author so clearly describes her experiences and her feelings about them, it has also helped me better understand which of my symptoms may be attributed to this illness versus other conditions and recognize things that I never thought were out of the norm.



3. Not as good as I had heard. A little excessive drama in the descriptive elements of the text. I would have liked more about her feelings and motivations.



4. Brilliant mind and character candidly exposes memoirs; richly sensitive, the unquiet mind brings clarity and treats a difficult subject with competence and affection.



5. Mind-Opening. Sad. Comical. Frightening. Genuine. Interesting.
   This is an Excellent portrayal of Manic Depressive/Bipolar Disorder. I recommend this book to anyone who has (or loves anyone who has) this illness - - You will either find yourself nodding your head or you will find your eyes opening for the first time about this illness. . . or Both!

5 comments about Escape.

1. How do you take a young girl and convince her that marrying a man nearly three times her age is the will of God and will allow her access to the highest celestial kingdom-- add a little bit of brainwashing, a whole lot of intimidation and keep her pregnant 8 times in 15 years so she doesn't know whether she's coming or going.
   
   Jessop articulately retells her story beginning with the dreams of a hopeful child to the harsh reality of living in a loveless, polygamous marriage to an abusive man and ultimately to her fearless flight out of the only life she has ever known. Jessop gives hope to women who have been made to believe that their only value is in their ability to bear children and keep their mouths shut.



2. EscapeI found this book both harrowing and obsorbing, I couldn't put it down, I just wanted to see what happened next. Carolyn Jessop is a great Autheress and she write a very deep and moving account of her life in a Polygamist cult. I would strongly recommend this, it is a very hard hitting and brave account of a lady who was determined to get herself and her children to safety. I want to read it again, I am full of admiration for this lady and the gripping story she tells of her amazing survival and experience. Sandy West



3. I know that there are two sides to every story, but I still felt a great compassion for the poor ladies stuck in this lifestyle. This was an excellent read, and it definitely left me wanting more!



4. Amazing story. As I read the descriptions of the abuse and power culture in the FLDS I was reminded of similar forces I've seen at work in a fundamentalist Islamic country I visited a few years ago. While the Islam I saw came no where close to approaching the depth or scope of the FLDS it does seem that religions that teach male dominance (which can be, but is not necessarily expressed through polygamy) naturally develop a culture of abuse. The cycle of abuse leads to more abuse which flashes out from time to time in acts of horrific violence.
   
   This is a story about one lady in the FLDS, but it's not just her struggle. It's a struggle felt by millions of women around the world It's a struggle for rights that every humane person in the world should deeply feel and fight for. I highly recommend this book.



5. As a mother, and an independent and happily married woman, I found it very difficult to read. The abuse of children by the other mothers, the abuse by husband and "sister wives", the abuse by parents, cousins, uncles etc. was sometimes more than I could read. And Jessop was not very descriptive and purposefully vague of the horrors she could only hint at. Her awakening comes when "evil doers" on the outside show her and her children more compassion and tenderness than her own family and community. Her child's cancer is blamed on her "rebellious nature". She firmly believed in FLDS but came to see the monster her husband and Warren Jeffs was making of what her beautiful faith should have been (or was promised to be). See it is never clear if Jessop loses faith altogether or loses faith in the FLDS leaders. But her courage, her reserve of strength, and her determination was an inspiration. But I still found it difficult to live her life through her eyes (veiled as she made it for the reader).

5 comments about Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

1. I am probably being redundant when I say this, but this was a profound book. This was a rare look into the life of a Jew living in hiding during Nazi occupation that shaped the worlds understanding of this dreadful persecution. Anne begins as a spoiled and restless child, but her time in hiding definitely changes her. She becomes more precocious and reflective, sharing her insightful thoughts with her diary. She comments on her parents, her living conditions, her learning pursuits, politics and the war, her desire to be loved, among many other things. Of course, there is great conflict in the "Secret Annex" with eight people living in such close quarters for over two years, but it reveals the fragility of human nature when confronted with such tension. Anne's descriptions allow the reader to easily imagine their plight and her writing matures throughout. Anne's diary is a timeless and necessary piece of literature. The tragedy of her death is nothing compared to her devotion to humanity.



2. Sometimes you wonder to what purpose a person releases the details of a love ones life after death. This is just such a case. I will admit, I did not read the book as instructed in school, or many of the books forced upon us. As an adult, I went back and read many of them to see what I had missed (like the Red Badge of Courage, Uncle Toms Cabine, Tom Sawyer, etc.). This book from the hype would seem to be a literary masterpiece, rather, what it turns out to be is a rudementarry, and purposely selected piece of a little girls journal. If the purpose of the book was to delve into the mind of a teenage girl of the 1940's who does not get on well with her family or others, and seem a bit spoiled, it is a glowing success. The problem here is that it is meant to showcase a little girl in hiding from the Nazi's during WWII. To this it fails in that it merely touches on those issues (other than the ad nauseum complaints that Anne Frank makes about her inconveniences). I also get the feeling that this was severly edited to make the father look better than he was (in that he released the book), while making everyone else the villan. I guess this book is timeless in that most teenagers today have the same rants and raves. If you are reading it looking for historical perspective of a Jewish teen in hiding, you will not get much more than the backdrop which leaks through every now and again, since all the rest could truly be the rants of a teen of any generation. I know this review will be unpopular since this book is considered a modern day classic from our generation, I just feel there are numerous books that are far better at demostrating the attrocities, and difficulties of living through World War II, and going into hiding as a Jew during that time period. I was dissapointed.



3. I am presently living like a refugee, so I can say from experience this is a good way to understand what it means to be stuck in a room for four years, having done that myself.
   
   This is what happens when wars get out of hand. Required reading for government workers.



4. a wonderful story told by an innocent child.
   it is a must read for all generations



5. I knew that the Diary of Anne Frank was the second most purchased book in the world, the Bible being the first, but I still wasn't sure if I wanted to read it.
   In our eighth grade class, our teacher is big on the Holocaust. And when she first mentioned that we would be learning about it, I was excited; to a point. I know that most kids my age think 'ooh blood and guts and gore' and think it's cool or funny or a joke. They all watch horror movies that almost make them immune to real life experiences that involve real horror or real tragedy.
   So before we started learning about it, I wanted to know more in depth about how it was like to be a teen during the Holocaust. So, I summed up the guts and checked it out at the library. When I started reading it, I couldn't stop. Anne and I are so similar. She's always happy-go-lucky despite the terrible circumstances; she's very curious, careless, and sometimes a trouble maker. And even though I'm not Jewish, I think it's extremely easy to worm your way into her shoes. You learn so much, and it's really emotional, knowing that Anne Frank, this person you've grown attatched to, and her family, everyone except her father Otto Frank, has been killed. Slaughtered innocently by the Nazis, a cult led by Hitler that cornered them just because of their religion or their looks.
   I think that if anyone wants to learn about the Holocaust, this is a must read; it's an amazing journey that might not end so happily, but Anne never ceased to hope. It has such vivid details of everything that sometimes it's hard to believe that something like the concentration camps and Hitler and everything existed. The fact that it's in diary form makes it all the better.
   This non-fiction diary is amazing, and I think everyone, at some point, should read it.

5 comments about Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.

1. This book was recommended by my doctor who is an avid reader. I was afraid to read it at first. I thought it might really make me sad because it is about the Rwandan Holocaust. It was totally amazing! The story is true and is one of the most inspiring I have ever encountered. Immaculee's faithfulness and her trust in God during the most painful of experiences gave my spiritual life a giant shot in the arm!
   I could not put the book down-read it and grow in grace!



2. It was difficult for me to put the book down and I finished it quickly even though I had already seen the author interviewed on three different EWTN TV shows. What an inspiration to overcome evil with good! It reminded me of some of the miracle stories of prisoners of war in Vietnam. Her descriptions of the country and the events left me feeling like I had visited the country in person and gave me a much clearer understanding of the situation in Rwanda. Most important of all it is continuing to help me to forgive others (with God's help) in every circumstance.
   
   Bobbie Lewis



3. I started reading this book before bed, big mistake on my part. I stayed up entranced by this book and continued reading until I couldn't stay awake. The first thing I did the next morning was pick this book back up and finished it. (Which only took a half hour)
   
   I am absolutely amazed at Immaculee's ability to maintain her connection with God while surrounded by such hate. Immaculee shares her story of how she not only survived the Rwandan Holocaust, but how she forgave the killers of her family. This is an inspiring book which confirms how great humans really can be.



4. This book was truly life changing for me. When I find myself sweating the little things in life (i.e bills, pregnancy woes, hot weather)I remember Immaculee holed up in this tiny bathroom just praying and pleading for her life. She painted such a horrific picture I simply cannot forget. The killers were calling her name! What a humbling and amazing story she has to tell I literally could not put this book down..at the same time I was educated about how the Rwandan Holocaust all came to be..I had no idea what these poor people went through, the Hutus and the Tutsis became real to me. Who would have thought something like this still happens but this was just the 90's. In the beginning of her book, I smiled through tears as she described the tight knit Catholic family she was reared in--how strong and wise her daddy was, how much she loved her brothers with everything in her being, and how her mother was there until the end to protect her "babies". I was fortunate a few weeks after reading her book to see Immaculee speak at a local venue in Dallas. She was beautiful in person and her joy could light up an entire room. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and it was obvious how humbled she has been. I just kept thinking this woman has lost her entire extended family and she even had the grace to forgive those who killed her own. Forgiveness is the message I took from the book. Life is too short to carry the burden of not forgiving others who we think have wronged us. Excellent read with a message that will keep you thinking long after you read the book!!



5. I had never heard of Immaculee Ilibagiza before I picked this book up in my local book store. I bought it after reading the back cover and I will never look at life the same again. Immaculee's ability to forgive is something we all should strive for; however, I think none will find the ability within themselves. It can only come from God, just like Immaculee's did. This book will make you cry, it will make you smile but most of all it will make you discard those petty little things that used to irritate you. I will keep this book and will probably read it again and again.

5 comments about Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--And the Journey of a Generation.

1. 
   I couldnt get enough of this book! I thought it looked too long to read in a weekend, but, I did. The beginning was a little slow, because three childhoods are a little more childhood than you would necessarily desire to know Except that by the time I got to the middle, everything about the childhoods made sense. But the reason I could not put the book down was that there were so many things in here that I did not know and I consider myself someone who is a fan. The author went to people I hadnt heard about, not even people in the music business per se. Carly's best friends. People Carole knew in Idaho (and I had no idea she had that life in Idaho). And while I consider myself someone who basically listened to almost every Joni record she made including Shine, there was much revealed for the first time. I am definitely waiting for these women to write their own biographies, and maybe they will tell a different story, who knows. But in the mean time, this is for sure a front row seat. Also it is sympathetic even though theres a lot of gossip.



2. If you're old enough to have been singing along with the "Girls Like Us" - Carole King, Joni Mitchell & Carly Simon - , then you are probably old enough to remember the TV program *Sing Along with Mitch* (Miller and his gang.) In that TV program, probably a precursor of karaoke, there were words printed on your TV screen and you would "follow the bouncing ball" that bounced merrily along on top of the words as each was being sung.
   
   Sheila Weeler's book on the "girls" needs a bouncing ball to keep track of where she is, and which "girl" is doing what with which boy (often men were serialized through the gambit of the "girls.")
   
   Loosely chronologically organized by "girl"- e.g. a beginning chapter on each, then "Carole: 1961 - 1964," "Joni: 1961 - Early 1965," Carly 1961 - Late 1965," then Coming Around Again to "Carole: 1964 - Early 1969," "Joni: March 1965 - December 1967," Carly 1965 - 1969" etc.etc., the book chronicles the saga of these singer/songwriters in the context of the times - sometimes to great length - almost ad nauseum, and sometimes to short shrift. Weller is at her worst when she pretends to be a music critic and starts opining her own (often odd) meaning to the now-interwoven-tapestry-of-our-own-lives words "the girls" wrote and sang.
   
   Over-all the book is informative, sometimes to too-oft repeated choruses due to Weller's "organization*" of the material, and sometimes downright mystifying - as when the reader is told that James Taylor thought Carly was messin' around with Mick because of Jagger's guest appearance "adding his unmistakable cracking voice" on the "Don't you? Don't you?"s in the recording of *You're So Vain.*
   
   This reviewer has gone back and relistened to YSV repeatedly, & I can't find Mick! Maybe because my Momma was right and listening to all that loud music *DID* ruin my hearing? ;-) /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer
   
   * There is no bouncing ball, but there is a poorly organized index in the back.



3. For women - and men - who both participated in and reflected upon breakout feminist musicianship, this book comes with a soundtrack you will discover you have embedded in your minds and hearts. While reading, I was taken back to dancing and singing in the den of my parents' house with my friend to "I feel the earth move." I remember going to a James Taylor concert in Boston Garden with Carol King opening for him. I sat again in my college dorm with friends singing and aching to Blue, and I remember wondering who "Your so vain" was really about. At that time, I didnt know anything about these women or even imagine what their lives were like, I was too consumed with living mine and indulging in the freedoms they offered to girls like us. Girls Like Us is a great journey back and into the harsh and joyful reality of talent and hard earned success. I now feel more appreciative and compassionate for what theses brave women created for this world.I love this book for its historical analysis, social commentary, and touching insights into three amazing musicians. I recommend it without reservation to any man or woman who ever listened to, envied, sang along with, were inspired by, or wondered about King, Mitchell, Simon and their gifted circle of friends.



4. I have never written a "bad" review on Amazon-when I write a review I do so both to acknowledge the author's accomplishment and to alert other readers to a potentially enjoyable book.
   
   So I debated quite a bit before writing this but I would hate to see others spend their money for this book without being forewarned.
   
   What a great concept for a book!!!! For those of us who grew up in that era, a book about Joni, Carole and Carly is such a captivating subject. And the author clearly had done significant research not just in uncovering so much detail about the three singer songwriters but also truly capturing the era both from the perspective of the music scene and the changing role of women at that time in history.
   
   Two factors, however, made this book the most difficult, unenjoyable reading experience that I have had in recent memory. First of all, the organization of the book was incredibly confusing and difficult to follow. Chapters jumped from person to person in the loosest of chronological order making following each women's story near impossible. I was constantly shifting back and forth trying to piece the information together in some logical pattern. Worse than the structure, though, was the actual writing. Sentences went on forever. Thoughts, references and opinions were jumbled together randomly with no apparent connection. Rather than finding the footnotes helpful, I found them distracting and incomplete. Where were the editors for this book? It is hard to imagine that this book was allowed to be released without someone questioning the convoluted, heavy writing and structure.
   
   I brought this book on vacation so had several hours at a time to read. Frankly, it unfortunately became a chore rather than a pleasure but I was determined to finish and can report that not only did the book not improve, but the author rushed through the later years so quickly that I did not feel a sense of closure.
   
   Truly a disappointment.



5. You didn't have to grow up when Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon dominated the airwaves to appreciate this compelling book. Sheila Weller has done an incredible job of weaving together the stories of these influential and talented women into not only a highly readable history of their lives and music, but into an emotional and penetrating portrait of an era and a generation that is as welcoming and inclusive and resonant as the music itself. A labor of love that is truly more than the sum of its parts. Play their albums while you read for the complete 3D experience!

5 comments about Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China.

1. Before leaving for my 2004-05 sojourn in China, I naturally sought to acquaint myself with the culture in which I was about to live and work. Of the various books I read (which ranged from Chinese history to essays from American expats to descriptions of "the Asian mind" as applied to Western business people), it turned out that this book was BY FAR the most helpful in my day-to-day interactions -- both social and business -- with my Chinese associates.
   
   Spanning the early 20th Century when author Chang's grandmother was given as a concubine to a warlord general, through mid-century when Chang's parents joyously risked their lives in the Communist takeover, to 1978 when Chang herself left China, WILD SWANS paints a vivid picture of the China of today. I found that the information in this book, told in first-person story form, gave me far more understanding of my Mainland Chinese colleagues than any journalistic writings ever did, or could have.
   
   Since China is already a major force in western economies (especially America's), and will only become more central to the global economy, I consider it useful to share the observation of my personal experience: Understanding the RECENT LIFE EXPERIENCES of a nation's citizens is even important than understanding its customs. The good news is that history--told well--is a fascinating read! And Jung Chang's story is hard to top.
   
   Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)



2. A wonderful narrative of the pre-1949 and cultural revolution China told through three generations.
   
   Though Jung is anti-Mao, her book does a great job of providing a relatively unbiased personal account of this pivotal period in Chinese history.
   
   Jung's colorful family history gives her fodder for intriguing anecdotes and the reader a perspective into the life of a "well-to-do"/politically active Chinese family.



3. This book is amazingly moving and well written. Anyone who is even remotely curious about the life of ordinary Chinese women throughout the 20th century should read this work. It not only describes the stories of three generations of Chinese women, but it transports the reader to world that the author is describing. I definitely recommend this book. Often I will sell biographies after reading them, but this book is a keeper.



4. I have mixed feelings about the book Wild Swans. It certainly was not a page turner, rather it was a book I could lay down at any time, and even walk away from for a couple of days, which I did a number of times. It didn't read like a novel, as some memoir/biographies do, rather it was as though the author, Jung Chang was narrating to me the history of her family, beginning with her grandmother. The narration is well written, but long, and ends when she is 26. A short epilogue at the end then updates you as to what she has done with her life in the 10 years following the writing of the book. So if you are looking for a wildly entertaining book you can hardly put down, this is not a book for you.
   
   Having said this, I do not consider reading the book was time wasted. If you are at all interested in the history of China, especially what it was like under Mao's years in power, you would find many fascinating passages in the book. Of course most of us know that Mao was not good for the people of China, but I was truly surprised at what all went on under Mao and his wife. Some of it was so strange, that it seemed down right bizarre to me, such as when Mao determined that grass and beautiful things should be removed from the cities. People all over China were pulling up flowers and grass. Students even spent school time out in the yard pulling up the grass. Reading the book was a learning experience about a time that it turned out I really knew very little about.



5. I won this great book when I was 18 years old. Until today, after almost two decades, I can still remember the story very well. Every page in this book is so alive with senses! I could really see the transitional period from one generation to the next; from the warlord era to the cultural revolution. It's simply amazing. At one point, I cried reading the hardship of the Chinese people. I also felt bravery in them. The unity of the people as well. Although it's not a history book, it gives an insight, a quick one, into the history of China.

5 comments about Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest To Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass LookBig, Or Why Pie is Not The Answer.

1. I've never read Jen Lancaster so I was excited to pick up this Kindle title. Irregardless of the title, this book as very little to do with losing weight. It is packed with one-liners that Ms. Lancaster uses to hit you over the head so you don't realize this book has little to do with weight loss.
   
   But thats just me.
   
   Her sense of humor is good, but I could only read this for short periods of time because her constant narcisscism made my teeth hurt.
   
   And a note about the Kindle format - it is SO full of typos it's appalling. For this reason alone I would've thrown it against the wall but my Kindle doesn't bounce.



2. 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 people that love humor, sarcasm and have ever tried to loose a pound or two (and gained five!).
   
   Oh and I'm so glad I'm not the only one with crazy neighbors ;)



3. Oh Jen- When you went to the health fair for your friend? Tears were rolling down my face. I am so sorry to laugh but I like to think I am laughing with you, not at you.



4. I really enjoyed Such a Pretty Fat, and read through it in only a few days. This is my first Jen Lancaster book, and I will definitely pick up the others. The book is written a la Bridget Jones or an informal blog format (which I love). I felt like I was listening to Jen talk while watching Project Runway and drinking big glasses of wine together. It's a fun, light read that isn't meant to be taken seriously.
   
   I will agree with other reviewers that at times I found myself saying, "You didn't actually say that, Jen. You probably thought of that great comeback later." Sometimes her bitter sarcasm hits you over the head, sometimes the comebacks are unrealistic,and sometimes it seems like Jen filled in some scenes with what she wished had happened. But you love her enough to let her brag a bit and get away with it.
   
   I happily recommend Such a Pretty Fat to any woman who has ever tried a diet and failed, or to any woman period. Pick it up and get ready for a few laughs and a new friend.



5. I was laughing so hard I started snorting and had to put the book down. The laughter that Jen Lancaster brings to such an intimidating subject is so fresh and motivating. It's worth a second read!