Title: Fat Girl: A True Story
Author: Judith Moore
First published March 3, 2005
196 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780452285859 (ISBN10: 0452285852)
Rating: 3.26
Overview
In Fat Girl: A True Story, Judith Moore takes readers on a raw and emotional journey of self-discovery. With a writing style reminiscent of M.F.K. Fisher, Moore explores her love/hate relationship with food and how it became a coping mechanism for the pain she endured from a difficult childhood.
She candidly shares her longing for love and belonging, leaving readers stunned and moved. This book is a searingly honest account of one woman’s coming-of-age story, full of heartbreak, humor, and profound wisdom.
Augusten Burroughs calls it a “slap-in-the-face of a book—courageous, heartbreaking, fascinating, and darkly funny.”
Editoral Review
Fat Girl: A True Story is a memoir written by Judith Moore, first published on March 3, 2005. The genre of this book is memoir, and it explores the themes of body image, self-esteem, and familial relationships.
Moore’s raw and unflinching honesty makes her memoir a powerful work of literature that resonates with readers who have struggled with issues of weight and identity. The book is an autobiographical account of Moore’s struggles with obesity from childhood into adulthood.
She writes with incredible insight about the ways in which her size impacted her self-esteem, mental health, and relationships with others. Through her story, Moore also touches on broader societal issues, like fatphobia and the ways in which cultural attitudes towards body size can be cruel and dehumanizing.
The strength of Fat Girl lies in Moore’s writing, which is equal parts raw and poetic. Throughout the book, readers are exposed to the intimate details of her experiences, and her vivid descriptions allow us to understand the emotional depths of her pain.
Moore’s prose is both blunt and beautiful, and we feel the weight of every word she writes. Despite the difficult subject matter, Fat Girl is a page-turner that is hard to put down.
From her childhood experiences of bullying to her adult struggles with binge eating disorder, Moore’s story is gripping and emotionally charged. Her relationships with her mother, father, and siblings provide a window into the complex dynamics of family life, and Moore’s self-reflection is both insightful and heartbreaking.
Although the book was first published in 2005, it still speaks to the ongoing issues of fatphobia and body shaming in our society today. Moore’s story is one that many readers, regardless of body size, will find deeply relatable.
At the same time, her memoir provides an important perspective on the ways in which our culture’s obsession with thinness can be damaging and oppressive. Despite its many strengths, Fat Girl is not without its flaws.
At times, the book can feel repetitive, and the pacing can be slow. Additionally, some readers may find that Moore’s writing style is overly verbose or self-indulgent.
However, these limitations are minor in comparison to the book’s overall impact. Overall, Fat Girl is a stunning memoir that is well worth the read.
Judith Moore’s writing is vivid and gut-wrenching, and her story is one that will leave a lasting impression on readers. We highly recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with issues of body image or self-esteem, as well as anyone interested in exploring the cultural messages around weight and size.
The book receives four out of five stars.
