Book 17 One to Watch

 

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London fulfilled the prompt “Book that Discusses Body Positivity” for the PopSugar 2021 Reading Challenge. In this novel, a plus-sized fashion blogger becomes a contestant on a reality dating show.

I’m so happy I chose this novel for the body positivity prompt. The main character Bea Schumacher is a fashionista and not a size 4. In fact, she’s above average (which is sixteen for American women) ranging in the size 20s. She blogs about her struggle with her image, posts all sorts of pics of herself in various outfits, and is never embarrassed by her looks. She takes the good with the bad and lets ugly comments and trollish remarks roll off her back. Until she posts about a dating show. She mentions how they never have anyone her size, either male or female. Then boom, she’s asked to be on the show.

Of course, the producer starts with total commitment to the “we can find love for any type of body.” Then she’s given an array of bachelors who look like models. Well, except one guy. Bea is uncomfortable with the fitness and glamor of these men. She doubts anyone could ever date her. And on the first day, a male contestant walks off. A rating trick, but nonetheless, it hurts Bea.

I could go on and on about the ugly things that happen to Bea throughout this book. She’s an amazing character and tries hard throughout the novel to maintain her message, “I’m perfect as I am.” She, like every plus-sized woman, has doubts, worries what others will think, and tries to embrace the “this is who I am and what I look like.” Her family is super supportive, as are her friends. The men though…

I’m gonna throw this right out there, and you’ll probably never read my blog again. I hate reality shows with a passion. They are scripted junk. These “bachelor” type shows about falling in love and getting married. Please, oh please leave me out. I hated she went on the show (the entire premise for the book), hated how the men and producers treated her, hated that she had to choose one of those losers in the end. She was better than ALL of them by far and deserved better. (I’ll live with her choice, relieved she did not choose a certain other guy…)

Anyway, the story was about body positivity, but it was also about being large and dealing with a world that hates you as soon as you show up. I can relate to this. I’ve been heavy for about thirty years now. I’m okay with who I am and how I look. But at my age, I have some perspective. Younger women who deal with these issues have the double-edged sword of being told “be yourself” and “be rail-thin” at the same time. No wonder all young adults are so depressed.

The novel is technically a romance, as it has a happy ending for Bea and her chosen guy. Personally, I wish the author ditched the romance genre, made this woman’s fiction, and have Bea find a real man to love.

It sounds like I didn’t love the story. I loved it very much but wanted a different ending for my bestie, Bea.

I give One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London Four Super Fabulous Plus-Sized Bikinis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book 16 Texts from Jane Eyre

 

Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg fulfilled the category “Book in a Format I Do Not Normally Read” for the PopSugar 2021 Reading Challenge. This was a tough category for me. I typically have an e-book, audio, and print story going at all times. (Yes, three different titles.) I read graphic novels all the time too. The Facebook group helped suggest other formats. I checked out a Webtoon (Freaking Romance), a novel in verse (Booked), and a nonfiction behind-the-scenes photo book of The Umbrella Academy. I figured you all have already heard enough about my obsession with the show. Then Texts from Jane Eyre appeared in the return bin at work.

Done.

The 240-page book is an imagining of great literary icons texting each other. It’s hilarious. It’s divided into five parts and seems to be organized by timeline. The oldest references are first, though the last is dedicated to young adult and children’s books. (But Atlas Shrugged was in there. Maybe it was more modern characters.) Not that it matters. You can skip around and read in any order. Many characters have multiple conversations within their section. As a reader, we can listen in to Jane Eyre, Ismael, Harry Potter, Hamlet, and many more. Some sections focus on the author rather than the characters, such as the Leaves of Grass texts.

A small warning. I, an English major and avid reader, didn’t know all the background of the characters used. Some I had to look up, some I just read with the knowledge I wouldn’t understand everything behind the jokes. The book is very much for the literature nerd who’s read Harry Potter and the Babysitter’s Club. When I bragged about picking up the title for the prompt, a few in the PopSugar FB group warned me it was high-toned, super nerdy. I scoffed, thinking I knew it all. Nope. I don’t remember my Gilgamesh or Daisy Miller among the several others.

I liked this book on its own merit but also, as I am now homeschooling a junior in high school, I liked it as a teacher. What a great activity to do with a reluctant reader to have them create texts about literary characters. It can also check understanding. Did she laugh at the Gatsby joke, or should we review Daisy’s character again? Anyway, it had some great deep insight into these classics with fun jokes and pokes at authors.

I give Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg Four Literary Classic Texts. (See what I did there?)