Fat Chance

I'm a little sad by some of the bad reviews this book is getting. Yes it is a little simple and yes I'm not terribly happy with the fact that the message of "Lose weight be happy" is insinuated, but come on! It's just a book. This book is written from the point of view of a nutritionist (read the "About the Author" section) so of course it's going to be jam packed with all the stuff we've all heard 1,000 times before about dieting. It also mentions studies showing the obesity may not be as bad as we think make it out to be, so in all fairness, give her some credit will ya? She shows the opposite side of the spectrum and makes it an easy (super easy) book to read. I do like the "irony" that happens in various places throughout the book-if you can really call it that. The character realizes things and confirms things she may have already believed about the skinny folks. It does remind me of Jemima J (by another author), but this one seems to have been written with larger people's feelings in mind. I must mention though to those who insult this book, re-read the section where Maggie and Tamara are discussing Tamara's book (Chapter 17). I have a feeling that Ms Blumenthal may have been poking at her own book right here?

I really enjoyed this book. It's great to have a heroine who isn't perfect in every way...she's overweight and therefore someone I could actually relate to! The story is one that every woman can relate to on some level, though...the heroine spends her whole life preaching her principles (publicly, because she's a newspaper columnist) and then suddenly she's faced with a decision that makes her question everything she's ever stood for. Beneath the funny, cute style of writing, the story is really a touching, intimate look at what happens when you have to swallow your pride and examine who you really are.

"Fat Chance" by Deborah Blumenthal is a good first novel. It is light reading and fun and definitely "chick lit." Also thought the cover design was exceptionally good.Fat columnist, Maggie O'Leary is happy with her life. She has a good job; she enjoys the "perks" of wonderful food and frequent dining with her editor Tex Ramsey; she has a great friend and assistant in Tamera; she loves New York City and she feels that she makes a difference in her readers' lives with her column, "Fat Chance." In it, Maggie espouses that, "Do what you can to be healthy - but accept and love yourself if you are fat."All this changes when she receives a phone call from sexy movie star, Mike Taylor (think Pierce Brosnan). He wishes to hire her as a "diet consultant" to help him prepare for an upcoming role by understanding what challenges obese women face.Maggy embarks on a "secret diet" and her life is never the same again...The concept of this book was great and I look forward to reading more novels by Deborah Blumenthal. I especially thought the diet plan in the back of the book was helpful as well!

This book really stands out from the pack. Blumenthal is a great storyteller (I really identified with Maggie's weight issues!), and I thought that her columns - like reading her diary - added a lot to the overall enjoyment.

Everyone knows that Maggie O'Leary is the queen of fat as the author of the Daily Record's FAT CHANCE column. Rather than diet away the pounds, Maggie enjoys eating with gusto and does not care who knows it. Her popularity as the anti-diet queen has placed her in People Magazine and has made her a hot celebrity with perhaps only a dead Dr. Atkins to rival her renown as she assaults those who worship the dreaded D word.Horizon Entrainment Film Director Robert Clancy wants to hire Maggie as a consultant on his movie Dangerous Lies that focuses on weight loss clinics. Maggie is not interested until she learns that hunk Mike Taylor will play the role of a doctor to anorexia patients. To the chagrin of her editor who knows his meal ticket, Maggie joins the masses trying to lose weight as she wants to taste Mike in her bed, but doubts he will go for a full figured woman. Risking her career, her beliefs, and her lifestyle Maggie diets.Though often amusing, the serious of health is taken too lightly whether Maggie eats anything without exercising or when obsesses on losing weight. Still Maggie is likable throughout the story line, but especially when she tries to live life to the fullest without concern to her size and the support cast adds insight into what makes Maggie tick. To learn whether she got her hunk - read the book.