Customer Reviews

Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer

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Jen Lancaster just may be the funniest writer ever! I've read all three of her books, and each of them made me laugh so hard that I nearly wet myself. (I guess you really didn't need to know that, did you? Too late.)

In Jen's most recent memoir, "Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest To Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, Or Why Pie is Not The Answer" (love those ridiculously long titles!), Jen tackles her biggest challenge yet: her weight. Screw unemployment and psychotic Chicago neighbors: Nothing is scarier for a woman then stepping on the bathroom scale. In Jen's case, she wasn't happy with the numbers she saw on that scale, so she decided to do something about it. Well, actually, she sold a book proposal about trying to lose weight, so she kind of HAD to do something about it. But that's not the point. Jen never used to be the type of woman who would go to the gym every day (or at all). However, she decided to face her fears and give her physical well-being the same kind of attention she devoted to other important aspects of her life: her husband, her pets, her drinking, her shoe fetish, etc.

"Such a Pretty Fat" is a very honest look at what it took for Jen to get herself in shape. Nobody said it was going to be easy. She stumbled plenty of times along the way and gave nearly every diet plan a try, from Atkins to crash dieting to Jenny Craig to Weight Watchers. In the end, Jen finally realized that most diets are B.S. The key to losing weight and being healthy is to make responsible choices and (duh!) exercise. And that's exactly what Jen did.

I think "Such a Pretty Fat" is Jen's best book to date. (My only complaint is that certain chapters gave me monstrous cravings for things like ribs, Twinkies, and Olive Garden bread sticks...damn you, Jen!) Not only is the book chock full of Jen's snarky humor (and the footnotes...I LOVE the footnotes!), but it's also an inspiring true story about a plus-size woman's determination to lose weight. I really admire Jen for her honesty, her dedication, and her results. In addition to losing a lot of weight, she became a fitter person and felt much better about herself, which is really what being healthy is all about.

... well not really. Fat @$$ is still there, but I swear my abs are a little tighter now.

Before choosing a book without a personal recommendation, I always look at the negative reviews. Sometimes, they actually make me want to buy the book, but in this case, they (along with the titles of her other books) were almost enough to make me say no. If I weren't nearly desperate for reading material, I'd never have bought the book. I learned that it disparages Weight Watchers (which more-or-less saved my life), and that the author is too self-centered to even be funny.

Well, all I can say to those who wrote negative reviews is "Get a sense of humor!" This book is one of the funniest things I've ever read. Yes, Jen is self centered -- about as self centered as most of us -- but more honest about it (and a lot funnier.)

Jen loves shoe-shopping, fashion, and (if I get the context right) overpriced purses. I'm a fashion retard, and hate shopping, especially for shoes (and almost as much for purses.) In the first chapter, she disparages the town I live in, which I actually like (for the most part.) She reviles the soccer moms with minivans, and I do own a minivan (although I try very hard never to actually drive the monstrosity), and my son does play soccer.

So why, when I'm reading this book, do I feel like it's me talking? My husband picked it up and read a few paragraphs from the middle. He says, "Tell me the truth. You're secretly writing books now under the pen name Jen Lancaster, aren't you?"

Jen speaks her mind (saying what plenty of women wish they had the guts to say), and she's freakin' funny. I'm not so sure about the title, though. Sometimes, I'm pretty sure pie IS the answer...

Such a Pretty Fat is Jen Lancaster's third memoir. In it, Lancaster takes on weight loss--through eating right and exercising. At first, it seems like your typical weight loss memoir, except for the fact that its Jen Lancaster writing it, with her trademark good humor and see-the-forest-through-the-trees approach to her subject matter. Jen's not an expert, but she definitely knows how to entertain, which is why I keep coming back to her work time and time again.

What I love about Lancaster's work is that she knows when to laugh at herself, and at others' foolishness, without going over the top. For example, there's brilliant scene in Such a Pretty Fat where she goes to Jenny Craig and then Weight Watchers, where the meeting participants discuss of the evils of food in the work place. Birthday cake is always, always mentioned, and Jen harps on that theme mercilessly.

In all, I thought the authors' message was a positive one for people struggling with their weight (though I'm not one of them). The message that some weight loss programs endorse is that food is evil; but Lancaster challenges that theory outright, saying that food is not, in fact, the enemy; food is in fact good for you if you eat right. Jen's weight loss resulted as a result of wanting to feel and look good, not because of outside pressures, which I also thought was an important message.

This book can best be explained by describing the author, Jen Lancaster. Considering the fact that the readers are going to be in her head the entire time, it's important to note what that entails. Jen's style of humor is heavy on the sarcasm and snark. She sounds like the "friend" that would talk about all her other friends behind their backs in an almost cruel way, but she would get away with it because it can be passed off as a joke.

The author isn't very compassionate towards her fellow human beings. A lot of times during reading, I would have to take a break because her view of the world is so short-sighted. It's almost like her world is full of 2-D people whose only feelings are the obvious ones. It's all like a cartoon. It feels like everyone in the world is just there to be judged or bring her pleasure.

Actually, come to think of it, I think she's a good example of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. She is "unwilling or unable to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others". An example of this would be towards the end of the book when she met a homeless woman who was suffering from the effects of long term drug addiction (she was shivering in the heat). The woman came over to her and complimented her on her towel. It was a shabby one, but I think the woman thought it might keep her warm. Jen got angry at the sickly woman for approaching her, also because she might have been late to swim laps. Lancaster interrogated the woman, not because she wanted answers, but to shame the lady when she said "Number one, I'm not going to give you dime so you can continue slowly killing yourself, and number two, even I were to take pity on you--which I'm not--I'm wearing a bathing suit and running shorts. Where exactly do you think I'd be storing money for Junkies fund? In the coin purse up my ass?". She leaves the woman stammering, unable to answer.

If you're thinking about buying this one, read about NPD so you know what you're in for. "Rarely acknowledges mistakes and/or imperfections", she mentions in the title that she's a narcissist, but it goes far beyond that.

As for the book in general, only a third of it can really be considered about weight loss. Most of it are just her memories and conversations with people within the same time frame (i.e: How she hired maid service, talking about watching lots of reality tv shows). I suggest skimming through those parts, because it gets tedious. Also, the only person mentioned in the book I really liked was her trainer Barbie. Barbie was like breath of fresh, non-snarky, air. It's a shame she wasn't mentioned more often. Everyone else just had neutral attitudes, despite Jen's constant fault-finding. It seems like Jen is the only toxic person in Jen's life, which is good for her I guess. Although, probably not so good for those around her. All in all, there are some points of humor and she tries to take the edge off of her sometimes cruel statements by turning them into jokes (i.e: Miss Melanoma), but the book is just energy draining. There are better weight-loss memoirs out there, without the nasty aftertaste.

Both of Jen Lancaster's previous memoirs have been enjoyable and compulsive reading, but this one has a charm all its own. Perhaps its the ever appealing (if sometimes appalling) subject of growing up (and not out) that made this book endearing, or perhaps its the wit and winsome way the tale is told. Perhaps it is simply all the references to cheese! Lancaster's tale offers readers a glimpse of womanhood and its possiblities at 40, and unapologetically tells them to embrace it.

I have read all of Jen Lancaster's books and "Such A Pretty Fat" is a funny diet book! I love Jen's sarcastic, smart-alecky way of looking at people, things and life. She takes us down the road of Atkins, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and personal trainers and makes us laugh while we are rooting for her to lose the pounds. My favorite part if where Jen's husband Fletch is eating some French Toast and she can't have any because she is on Atkins. You'll laugh till you cry. If you've never read Jen's books before, personally, I would start with "Bitter Is The New Black" and read her books in sequence. You don't have to but I think the story flows better if you read them in the order she wrote them. Jen, I hope you continue writing more books about your life.... can't wait for your book when you hit menopause in your 50's. I'm sure it will be a riot as you deal with hormonal changes!!! Anyway, back to her current books, buy Jen's books and read them in order. They are hilarious.

Jen Lancaster fans beware: Kindle edition deletes all the wonderful footnotes that make Lancaster's books so much fun. Sadly, this is the last copy I'm buying on Kindle. Since I don't want to store my favorite mind candy on my shelves, I'll just go for the library copy.

Okay, people, if you didn't like Jen's previous books, why did you read this one and complain about it? Come on, you're wasting our time here. There aren't that many really funny women writers out there--and only another woman understands our problems--so don't be putting Jen down. I have to buy her books because every once in awhile I need reinforcement and running to the library to find one of hers doesn't work well since they're always in circulation. If you don't agree 100% with Jen's views, then tell me, how many of your friends and/or relatives DO you always agree with, including your husband and/or significant other? She's still the best thing this side of Vegas, and furthermore, laughing beats grousing any day, and is better for your heart.

Jen Lancaster has a deft comedic touch. That much is clear. She is unwaveringly honest and has no reservations about poking fun at herself, which makes this a very funny read at times. I will give her that.

However, the sheer self-centeredness of this book, and the constant whining can be overbearing. I grant you that I should have known and expected this since Lancaster openly admits to being a narcissist in the title. However, I was not prepared for just how narcissistic she was, and was hoping that she would open up the book to a larger perspective on why she's doing what she's doing and the whole health movement in general. Instead, we get page after page of her saying she's going to try, then not trying, then complaining. Rinse and repeat.

This sort of read like a blog gone completely haywire, then put onto the written page. I would recommend reading it in small doses, because Lancaster is very funny at times. But if you try to read it all at once, you will find it extremely annoying.

Jen Lancaster began telling this story in such a humourous way. I was crying by the end of the first chapter. This lasted for approximately the first half of the book. I don't know what happened to the Jen Lancaster who began the first half, but the second half sounded as if it was written by someone "trying" to be funny. As Jen goes about losing weight, beginning to make progress, she turns into an angry she-wolf who is downright mean in her descriptive assessments of characters. To make fun of people with disabilities and skin imperfections is not what I deem to be funny.

This book had so much potential in the beginning. Did she lose her editor and get stuck with someone new? Whatever the circumstances I will not spend one penny purchasing another of her books. I will not be a part of enriching the lifestyle of a woman who looks down on those who cannot help the way they look nor the hand life has dealt them.

It would appear that with every pound of flesh she lost she lost the ability to be funny. While her ego appears to inflate as the story progresses, her talent for making me laugh diminishes.

And why oh why did you get such a "potty mouth" during the second half of the book. It did more damage than good...adding wasted words to fill in those blank pages and empty thoughts.

While I cheer for this lady for her success in losing weight I long for the Jen Lancaster who appeared at the first half of this book.