I’m stuck on Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. And I’m bored. And I keep looking longingly at Atwood’s “The handmaid’s tale”, which is next. :lol:

Newbie jumping in: Kuffel's "Passing for Thin"
 

Hi there. Just joined 3fc last night. Mette saw one of my comments about "Passing for Thin" by Frances Kuffel and suggested I head on over here where books reign supreme.

I know Mette was fond of the book...I thought it was a good read, but to me, Kuffel doesn't sound grounded and healthy mentally. She's so judgmental, which surprises me for someone who has gone through her struggle (losing 188 pounds).

I wanted to like her better than I did--after all, we share a fondness for some of the same things: "The Truth about Cats and Dogs"; we have both worked in publishing.

But, for example, when describing how she scans the room, contemplating whom she should approach to sponsor (at a 12-step program), she confesses that she wants a "pretty" sponsee (the italics and bold below are mine):

"Maybe I could help someone face the prettiness she's swallowed along with all the Sara Lee."
"Pretty women needed sponsors as much as drab ones."

Here's how she describes her choice: "The only woman who had what I wanted to encourage was that blonde, the Zaftig who cam in late....She was pretty sociable, spoke with a tough humor, and was miserable about her big weight. I decided to tell Pam how to lose weight." :eek:

I don't care if you've lost 188 pounds. That attitude is a real turnoff. Her methods (no sugar, no flour, measure everything--and by the way, did I mention that she DIDN'T EXERCISE!?!) wouldn't work for everyone, and it's a mistake to assume they would.

I probably need to write an article about my reaction to this. It's that strong. And I'm not alone. For other opinions, check out some of the comments on amazon.com.

I know I'm taking a chance by leaping on in with such a forceful opinion when ya'll don't even know me. But I've just decided to damn the torpedoes and go with it. No offense intended to anyone!

On the other hand, here are some of the other books I've read this summer:
"The Man Who Warned America"--about a former top FBI guy who chased Bin Laden for years and then, ironically, died in the WTC just after taking the job as head of security and operations there.
"Homesick" --by Jenny Lauren. Now HERE'S a book about food issues and health that was really something else. Extreme, yes. But I liked it a lot.
"A Circle of Quiet" by Madeline L'Engle--about artistry, writing, living a good life, philosophy, family.

It's nice to be here. Thanks, Mette, for letting me know about this part of 3fc! (To know more about me, check the "buddy" intro section or the 100lb group area.)

Cheers-
LLS

Welcome LLS! :)

Those books sound interesting. I think I will have to print a copy of this thread and take it to the library as my reading list! :lol:

LLS, I'm so glad you've decided to join us! Welcome! :wave:
We're fine with forceful opinions. ;)

Hi LLS, and welcome to the Alternachicks! Glad you found your way here!

I must say that I absolutely loved “Passing for thin”. I do agree with you that Kuffel doesn’t come across as the most sympathetic person, but I found her refreshingly honest and frank. Although I too think she's judgmental – I have to admit that's a thing I can relate to sometimes. But I'm not sure whether I would have the guts to publish it (and not serve it as fiction).
What I really loved about the book was that her writing was so beautiful – the scenes from when she was fat I found absolutely heartbreaking and breathtaking at the same time. She describes and names things I know and recognize but haven’t names for. I also liked her imagery a lot – ‘leaving the planet of fat’ – ‘orbiting and landing on the planet of thin’ – and then the ‘planet of girls’. Again – I think it relates back to me – as all the books I really love do. How to get along on the planet of thin and the planet of girls – these are the things I’m trying to learn too - it’s like being the new kid all over again: not knowing the rules, not knowing the norms, not knowing what’s normal!
I liked that she didn’t write a diet book, that she really didn’t talk much of the diet and how she did it, but concentrated on feelings, thoughts, experiences. The fact that she was so honest – or that I perceived her as honest at least – and talked about both positive and negative sides. I really, really liked that.
So yes. I had strong feelings for the book too. ;)

And if you ever write that article: let me know. I would love to read it!
And like mauvaisroux and ellis said: we like forceful opinions here! :D

Tell us more about “Homesick", why did you like it so much better?

I just read "Lullaby" by Chuck Palahniuk in about 3 days. And now I am 2/3 the way through his "Invisible Monsters". I finished up "Breakfast of Champions" while I was out in CA, so I decided to nab one of the books the boy had told me so much about. I LOVED Lullaby. The boy was so impressed I finished it so quickly. :)

Originally Posted by mette:
Ah. The Sandman series. :D Wonderful books! I’m not going to be able to keep this short!
There are 10 books/novels in the series; great stories mixing mythic entities with ordinary people. The main focus is on “the Endless” – they are 7 siblings – 7 mythic and unchanging forces in everybody’s lives: death, despair, destiny, destruction, desire, delirium and dream. Gaiman – the writer - personified these forces in very real characters. The main character is Dream – or Morpheus – or Sandman. He is, as are all the Endless, known under different names in different cultures throughout history. His sisters Death and Delirium are personal favorites of mine. (heh...)

This sounds so much like a series that I loved in college...Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony? Loved that premise.

I'll definitely have to look up the Sandman!

Right now, I'm almost through The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (who is a man...what man would ask to be nicknamed "Wilkie"?? ;) ) I requested it from the library because Sarah Water, one of my favorite authors, recommended it. It's marked as one of the first detective novels and is written from the perspective of many different characters. The beginning was very slow going, but now that I'm almost through, it is fast paced and very intriguing!

Originally Posted by mette:
I’m stuck on Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. And I’m bored. And I keep looking longingly at Atwood’s “The handmaid’s tale”, which is next. :lol:

Holy crap, Mette, put down 1984 and run, don't walk, to the Handmaid's Tale. It is AWESOME!!! :D I've read it three times and it just gets better and better! I liked 1984, but I LOVED Handmaid! :hyper:

I have been reading a two book series by Stephen Donaldson called Mordants Need. The first book "The mirror of her dreams" was just interesting enough to keep me reading and just slow enough that it took me like a month to do so. His writing style is frustrating, too many similies that don't make any sense and sentences that are fragmented or half-thoughts. However, the story is interesting enough that I could half-close my editors eye and follow it. :) And then, when I finally got through the pain of the first book, it got really really interesting at the end and I had to read the second! Grrr. :) The second book has a much better flow and is much more interesting, I'm actually hooked. :) I would say if you have patience and like an interesting sci-fi/romance type of genre you may enjoy it.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks is pretty good (way better than the movie) and The Color of Water is an awesome book, but I cant think of the Authors name...

Originally Posted by beachgal:
Holy crap, Mette, put down 1984 and run, don't walk, to the Handmaid's Tale. It is AWESOME!!! :D I've read it three times and it just gets better and better! I liked 1984, but I LOVED Handmaid! :hyper:

Yeah. I think you’re right! I’m not going to get through this book anytime soon.
The thing is that I don’t understand what happened – I read this book 10-15 years ago and I *liked* it! This time I’m just bored. It could be that I’ve become less patient. I know I’ve become less depressed - maybe it’s a book best read when depressed? ;)

I also have this thing about finishing books (I don’t like unfinished books – once I’ve started reading one, I want to finish it) – but yeah – heh – you’re right - running, not walking – to the Handmaid’s tale!
Chapter one: “We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. The floor was of…” Oh yes. I feel much better now! :D