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Slim to None
Abbie Jennings is Manhattan's top food critic until her expanding waistline makes staying incognito at restaurants impossible. Her cover blown on Page Six of the New York Post, her editor has no choice but to bench her—and suggest she use the time off to bench-press her way back to anonymity. Abbie’s life has been built around her career, and therefore around celebrating food. Forced to drop the pounds if she wants her primo gig back, Abbie must peel back the layers of her past and confront the fears that have led to her current life. PRAISE FOR SLIM TO "Satisfying as a Thanksgiving dinner at Mom's... Jenny Gardiner's heroine gives us a sarcastic but provocative look at our love-hate relationship with food. You'll eat this up in one sitting. � AD Hudler, bestselling author of Househusband and Man of the House With a strong yet delightfully vulnerable voice, food critic Abbie Jennings embarks on a soulful journey where her love for banana cream pie and disdain for ill-fitting Spanx clash in hilarious and heartbreaking ways. As her body balloons and her personal life crumbles, Abbie must face the pain and secret fears she’s held inside for far too long. I cheered for her the entire way. � Beth Hoffman, bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt "Jenny Gardiner has done it again - this fun, fast-paced book is a great summer read." � Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Opposite of Me
356 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2010
275 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Gardiner
50Ìýbooks513ÌýfollowersJenny Gardiner is the author of #1 Kindle Bestseller Slim to None and the award-winning novel Sleeping with Ward Cleaver. Her latest works are the It’s Reigning Men series, featuring Something in the Heir; Heir Today Gone Tomorrow; Bad to the Throne; and the upcoming Love is in the Heir. She also published the memoir Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who's Determined to Kill Me, now re-titled Bite Me: a Parrot, a Family and a Whole Lot of Flesh Wounds; the novels Anywhere but Here (soon to be re-released); Where the Heart Is; the essay collection Naked Man on Main Street, and Accidentally on Purpose and Compromising Positions (writing as Erin Delany); and is a contributor to the humorous dog anthology I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship. Her work has been found in Ladies Home Journal, the Washington Post and on NPR’s Day to Day. She has worked as a professional photographer, an orthodontic assistant (learning quite readily that she was not cut out for a career in polyester), a waitress (probably her highest-paying job), a TV reporter, a pre-obituary writer, as well as a publicist to a United States Senator (where she first learned to write fiction). She's photographed Prince Charles (and her assistant husband got him to chuckle!), Elizabeth Taylor, and the president of Uganda. She and her family now live a less exotic life in Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 17, 2011
I thought I'd like this much more than I did. But the CONSTANT self-deprecating fat jokes were exhausting. A few, sure, but they were honestly nearly every page and I just got sick of it.
Abbie occasionally seemed to get a little bit of a clearer mind and be more aware of herself and her situation but then she'd be right back into eating baklava and claiming to herelf it was a white food so it was okay, and for me it actually made the few times when she seemed sympathetic and intelligent more difficult because I knew it wouldn't last.
And for someone who kept claiming she was above fast food and junk ingredients, the recipes included in the book sure seemed to contain a lot of convenience foods.
It's especially disappointing to me because Jenny Gardiner can clearly write well. I was hoping for more depth and realism than I got.
Abbie occasionally seemed to get a little bit of a clearer mind and be more aware of herself and her situation but then she'd be right back into eating baklava and claiming to herelf it was a white food so it was okay, and for me it actually made the few times when she seemed sympathetic and intelligent more difficult because I knew it wouldn't last.
And for someone who kept claiming she was above fast food and junk ingredients, the recipes included in the book sure seemed to contain a lot of convenience foods.
It's especially disappointing to me because Jenny Gardiner can clearly write well. I was hoping for more depth and realism than I got.
January 8, 2012
The setup: Two women (one of whom is an obese clandestine food critic) are in a restaurant amidst food and service that is so bad that it seems made up by, say, a fiction writer. Then, for no reason, the restaurant owner starts fawning over them and offering half the menu for free. The food critic suspects nothing. Then, at the end of the meal, the owner asks for a positive review. The food critic realizes in (sudden!) horror that she has been exposed because of her weight and that her boss is going to kill her.
Now, this is all fine. I don't mind a heroine that is not that bright. Except--this sort of immediate understanding of the character is not vindicated in the long run. Apparently, she's a little bit Jesus. Below is an actual quote from the homage-to-saccharine ending, wherein the heroine has succeeded in dieting to get her job back, whilst 1)returning a homeless man to his family, 2) exposing Doctor British-Accented Evil, 3)Making peace with her horrible dying father, 4)agreeing at the last minute to cook a gourmet meal for dozens of people at a dinner party, 5)reuniting with her enstranged husband, 6)surviving the ordeal of her dog being hit by a car and barely surviving, and 7)triumphing at I'm not sure what else but it's probably befitting the quote:
"It's Abbie you need to applaud, because Abbie's motivations were entirely selfless, completely caring, and without a hidden agenda. Abbie Jennings showed me that family really can be so much more than those whose blood you share; rather family extends to those you care about, one way or another."
(Sidenote: I care about my family, my colleagues, the Broncos, the surviving cast members of The Brady Bunch, and some random guy in North Carolina, one way or another.)
The middle of the book (after the humiliation and before the beautification) is filled with food analogies and metaphors to describe the conflict, such as this gem, where Abbie is worrying about the near-dead dog plot line:
"I'm having yet another bad dream about Cognac's accident, turning over and over in my sleep, like a free range chicken over a spit. No, wait, more like one of those horrible-looking unidentified donor kebabs (what IS in those things anyhow?). Correction: I toss all night like a salad. With a tiny splash of oil and fig vinegar. Much more dietetic of me."
Should you read this book? That depends on whether you want to metaphorize yourself into a bowl of hot buttered noodles seasoned with salt. If you do, you won't get much nutrition and you'll load up on calories, but damn it if you won't get a terrific comfort food.
Now, this is all fine. I don't mind a heroine that is not that bright. Except--this sort of immediate understanding of the character is not vindicated in the long run. Apparently, she's a little bit Jesus. Below is an actual quote from the homage-to-saccharine ending, wherein the heroine has succeeded in dieting to get her job back, whilst 1)returning a homeless man to his family, 2) exposing Doctor British-Accented Evil, 3)Making peace with her horrible dying father, 4)agreeing at the last minute to cook a gourmet meal for dozens of people at a dinner party, 5)reuniting with her enstranged husband, 6)surviving the ordeal of her dog being hit by a car and barely surviving, and 7)triumphing at I'm not sure what else but it's probably befitting the quote:
"It's Abbie you need to applaud, because Abbie's motivations were entirely selfless, completely caring, and without a hidden agenda. Abbie Jennings showed me that family really can be so much more than those whose blood you share; rather family extends to those you care about, one way or another."
(Sidenote: I care about my family, my colleagues, the Broncos, the surviving cast members of The Brady Bunch, and some random guy in North Carolina, one way or another.)
The middle of the book (after the humiliation and before the beautification) is filled with food analogies and metaphors to describe the conflict, such as this gem, where Abbie is worrying about the near-dead dog plot line:
"I'm having yet another bad dream about Cognac's accident, turning over and over in my sleep, like a free range chicken over a spit. No, wait, more like one of those horrible-looking unidentified donor kebabs (what IS in those things anyhow?). Correction: I toss all night like a salad. With a tiny splash of oil and fig vinegar. Much more dietetic of me."
Should you read this book? That depends on whether you want to metaphorize yourself into a bowl of hot buttered noodles seasoned with salt. If you do, you won't get much nutrition and you'll load up on calories, but damn it if you won't get a terrific comfort food.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2015
I was given a copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for my review. Well what can I say from a book that has recipes, love, heartache, loads of JOY and LAUGHTER from a new to me author.
Abigail Jennings is a Food Critic with a difference. Her love of food comes from her grandmother. So what exactly did that PAGE SIX picture reveal? Well it revealed loads of things for Abbie to contemplate on her life. What happened over the years will all be revealed with recipes along the way.
I've loved every single recipe that Abbie has given us and the humor with the book flows nicely and makes you look at your own life a long the way. Definitely be reading more from Jenny Gardiner.
Abigail Jennings is a Food Critic with a difference. Her love of food comes from her grandmother. So what exactly did that PAGE SIX picture reveal? Well it revealed loads of things for Abbie to contemplate on her life. What happened over the years will all be revealed with recipes along the way.
I've loved every single recipe that Abbie has given us and the humor with the book flows nicely and makes you look at your own life a long the way. Definitely be reading more from Jenny Gardiner.
July 23, 2015
* I received this ebook at no charge from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. *
Abbie Jennings loves three things in life; her job as a restaurant critic, cooking and her husband, quite possibly in that order. Of course, being a restaurant critic requires being able to dine incognito so she gets the “regular customer� dining experience. And, being a restaurant critic also involves copious amounts of food being placed in front of her on a regular basis � and for Abbie � that equals an expanding waistline. One night while leaving a well-known eatery she is “outed�. Was this accidental as she wants to believe or has someone sabotaged her career? There is now no way she can go unnoticed into fine dining establishments to do her job because between her picture being published in a rival newspaper and her girth she is too easily recognizable. Her editor offers the opportunity to write a column for the paper (being fired is the unthinkable alternative) until she can lose some weight. He assures her the combination of losing weight and the high turnover of restaurant staff will allow her to eventually go back to her old job.
Aside from probably being politically incorrect (check with human resources), the fact is Abbie doesn’t like the idea. Losing weight has always been an issue in the past. But, because she wants her job back she is going to give it her best shot. With the support of her (long suffering) husband, her (adulterous) best friend and another (wealthy but homeless by choice) new friend Abbie embarks on her weight loss journey.
“Slim to None� is a cute book and a quick, easy read. Each chapter is titled with a recipe instruction, such as “Separate Fat from Meat with Tongs� and “Mix Two Parts Despair, One Part Rage, Serve with a Splash of Regret� and ends with a recipe that Abbie can “whip up�. I found the chapter titles amusing and the inclusion of recipes confusing (none of them were calorie friendly and/or low fat).
There is definitely a lot of humor in this book, and for anyone who has ever been on a weight loss diet, you KNOW there is not a lot of humor in that process. However, the thing that did impress me about this book � and the reason I am rating it at 3 stars instead of 2 � is that this book testifies to the old adage of “many a truth is spoken in jest�. Abbie’s feelings about her body ring true, her hatred of all things related to the dreaded scale, while funny, are also comments heard at WW and TOPS meetings all over the country. Her quest for the perfect “quick fix� diet and her willingness to try all kinds of fad diets to achieve success, are sadly, also true � if they were not, the multi-billion dollar diet industry would soon be bankrupt. My all time favorite in the book was the “Alphabet Diet� � on any given day you could only eat things that start with one letter of the alphabet, which for Abbie meant that on “M� day she could eat Mars Bars and M&M’s. It’s funny, but it’s sad! That about sums up this book, it has its sad moments, its funny moments, its touching moments and some recipes. The most difficult thing for me to get past was the fact that for the first two-thirds of the book I did not like Abbie and it’s difficult to love a book when you don’t care for the lead character.
I did enjoy Ms. Gardiner’s writing style and would pick up another of her books (admittedly, probably at the library rather than the bookstore) just for comparison sake. My opinion is that this book would have the most appeal to female readers of a certain age group (is there chick lit for the over 40 crowd?) who have at some point in their lives looked in the mirror and decided to try and “lose a few pounds�.
Abbie Jennings loves three things in life; her job as a restaurant critic, cooking and her husband, quite possibly in that order. Of course, being a restaurant critic requires being able to dine incognito so she gets the “regular customer� dining experience. And, being a restaurant critic also involves copious amounts of food being placed in front of her on a regular basis � and for Abbie � that equals an expanding waistline. One night while leaving a well-known eatery she is “outed�. Was this accidental as she wants to believe or has someone sabotaged her career? There is now no way she can go unnoticed into fine dining establishments to do her job because between her picture being published in a rival newspaper and her girth she is too easily recognizable. Her editor offers the opportunity to write a column for the paper (being fired is the unthinkable alternative) until she can lose some weight. He assures her the combination of losing weight and the high turnover of restaurant staff will allow her to eventually go back to her old job.
Aside from probably being politically incorrect (check with human resources), the fact is Abbie doesn’t like the idea. Losing weight has always been an issue in the past. But, because she wants her job back she is going to give it her best shot. With the support of her (long suffering) husband, her (adulterous) best friend and another (wealthy but homeless by choice) new friend Abbie embarks on her weight loss journey.
“Slim to None� is a cute book and a quick, easy read. Each chapter is titled with a recipe instruction, such as “Separate Fat from Meat with Tongs� and “Mix Two Parts Despair, One Part Rage, Serve with a Splash of Regret� and ends with a recipe that Abbie can “whip up�. I found the chapter titles amusing and the inclusion of recipes confusing (none of them were calorie friendly and/or low fat).
There is definitely a lot of humor in this book, and for anyone who has ever been on a weight loss diet, you KNOW there is not a lot of humor in that process. However, the thing that did impress me about this book � and the reason I am rating it at 3 stars instead of 2 � is that this book testifies to the old adage of “many a truth is spoken in jest�. Abbie’s feelings about her body ring true, her hatred of all things related to the dreaded scale, while funny, are also comments heard at WW and TOPS meetings all over the country. Her quest for the perfect “quick fix� diet and her willingness to try all kinds of fad diets to achieve success, are sadly, also true � if they were not, the multi-billion dollar diet industry would soon be bankrupt. My all time favorite in the book was the “Alphabet Diet� � on any given day you could only eat things that start with one letter of the alphabet, which for Abbie meant that on “M� day she could eat Mars Bars and M&M’s. It’s funny, but it’s sad! That about sums up this book, it has its sad moments, its funny moments, its touching moments and some recipes. The most difficult thing for me to get past was the fact that for the first two-thirds of the book I did not like Abbie and it’s difficult to love a book when you don’t care for the lead character.
I did enjoy Ms. Gardiner’s writing style and would pick up another of her books (admittedly, probably at the library rather than the bookstore) just for comparison sake. My opinion is that this book would have the most appeal to female readers of a certain age group (is there chick lit for the over 40 crowd?) who have at some point in their lives looked in the mirror and decided to try and “lose a few pounds�.
October 26, 2011
I can't believe I paid 99 cents for this. It was just OK. I am hoping a few of the recipes will be the saving grace. I bought it for Kindle, and there were A LOT of editing errors. It drove me nuts that they would switch from Abbie to Abby back to Abbie. They also had a chapter of calling Mortie, Mordie.
If anyone wants to read it, I can loan on Kindle.
If anyone wants to read it, I can loan on Kindle.
July 31, 2011
I could not even finish this book. I tried, I really did but it was like reading a cook book. So so so boring. There didn't seem to be a plot at all and the character was just wallowing in self-pity. Definitely do not understand the 4 star rating everyone gives this book.
January 4, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and may try a few of the included recipes
January 17, 2012
When the New York Post’s highly acclaimed and overweight food critic Abby(ie) loses her job for being found out on the cover of Page Six, she’s advised to drop (A LOT OF) weight to reclaim her job. How is she supposed to do that if food is all she knows, even stemming back to her childhood? Through Abby(ie)’s journey of losing weight, **POSSIBLE SPOILER** almost losing her husband, and finding out that she has a half-sister **END POSSIBLE SPOILER**, her self-esteem begins to grow, and she begins to be satisfied with herself, finally seeing that she’s the woman that everyone else does.
I was excited about starting this book because I had heard so much about it, and the title intrigued me. During the 7 days of reading…err, I mean struggling with this book, I finished it. I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I can’t lie � I didn’t! The constant self-ridiculing, the constant mention that she’s fat, and the constant immaturity from Abby(ie), I was sick of the book the first chapter. While at first I thought the recipes in the book were a cute touch, it took away from the book, and made me not focus as much on the story. We know Abby(ie) was a married woman, and had a great friend, we hardly ever saw them. (As for the friend who we meet in the first chapter, they get into a big fight, of course Abby(ie) caused it, the reader doesn’t even get a chance to get to know the friend, so there was no really point for the fight). The relationship that Abby(ie) has with her husband definitely doesn’t seem like a marriage, it’s more like they are roommates. They are mean to each other � I don’t care if she’s fat and he’s not, or whatever, but I’d like for the marriage to be the stable thing in the book � it was anything but! In the end when her husband does come back into the picture, it happened so randomly, that I was uninterested.
I read the Kindle version of this book and there were several mistakes � grammar, Abby’s(ie’s) name was spelled differently throughout, and I found that there were a lot of very unnecessary sentences.
Overall, this was one the few books that I would never recommend to anyone, even if I think that they might relate more to it, this book is not worth reading.
I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.
I was excited about starting this book because I had heard so much about it, and the title intrigued me. During the 7 days of reading…err, I mean struggling with this book, I finished it. I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I can’t lie � I didn’t! The constant self-ridiculing, the constant mention that she’s fat, and the constant immaturity from Abby(ie), I was sick of the book the first chapter. While at first I thought the recipes in the book were a cute touch, it took away from the book, and made me not focus as much on the story. We know Abby(ie) was a married woman, and had a great friend, we hardly ever saw them. (As for the friend who we meet in the first chapter, they get into a big fight, of course Abby(ie) caused it, the reader doesn’t even get a chance to get to know the friend, so there was no really point for the fight). The relationship that Abby(ie) has with her husband definitely doesn’t seem like a marriage, it’s more like they are roommates. They are mean to each other � I don’t care if she’s fat and he’s not, or whatever, but I’d like for the marriage to be the stable thing in the book � it was anything but! In the end when her husband does come back into the picture, it happened so randomly, that I was uninterested.
I read the Kindle version of this book and there were several mistakes � grammar, Abby’s(ie’s) name was spelled differently throughout, and I found that there were a lot of very unnecessary sentences.
Overall, this was one the few books that I would never recommend to anyone, even if I think that they might relate more to it, this book is not worth reading.
I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.
March 15, 2013
I was really torn about rating this one. I'd say it's more of a 2.5 read, but I'm gonna round it because I loved the ending.
The story is centered around Abby, who works as a food critic. She's got an awesome job, right? Of course, eating all day for the sake of reviewing restaurants means she's got some extra pounds, but then again, eating is basically her job...oh, yeah and writing about food.
She loves her job! I mean, of course, who wouldn't, eating in all these fancy restaurants. But one day her cover is blown and all of a sudden she's given an ultimatum by her boss, lose weight or lose her dream job! It's a tough period for Abbie, she's got few months to lose a LOT of weight and I'm telling you, she sucks at dieting. And we come to the point in the book that bothered me the most. Abbie is aware she needs to lose weight not only because of her job, but also because of her health, and yet, she can't stick to her diet plan. She tries so many different diets (and that would be 50% of the book, looking for that perfect diet that will work) and at the end of the day she would go back to her old habits.
That's the thing that annoyed me most, she just didn't seem too mature, though if I remember correctly (because I read this book couple of weeks ago) she's in her late 30s. I didn't hate her, but she didn't seem like a very loveable character.
As you can see, I didn't really enjoy the first part of the book. I didn't struggle alright, but I was waiting for something to happen. I'm glad I continued reading it, because the second half of the book I really loved. I thought the book was gonna be just about dieting and her struggle to keep her dream job, but hell no...the story has more, family issues, mending friendships and a great ending.
I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Gardiner's books, and as a matter of fact, I know exactly which book I'm gonna read next - is already waiting on my kindle.
If you're a chick lit lover and love books with plus sized heroines, I guess you will enjoy this book.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Ms. Gardiner.
The story is centered around Abby, who works as a food critic. She's got an awesome job, right? Of course, eating all day for the sake of reviewing restaurants means she's got some extra pounds, but then again, eating is basically her job...oh, yeah and writing about food.
She loves her job! I mean, of course, who wouldn't, eating in all these fancy restaurants. But one day her cover is blown and all of a sudden she's given an ultimatum by her boss, lose weight or lose her dream job! It's a tough period for Abbie, she's got few months to lose a LOT of weight and I'm telling you, she sucks at dieting. And we come to the point in the book that bothered me the most. Abbie is aware she needs to lose weight not only because of her job, but also because of her health, and yet, she can't stick to her diet plan. She tries so many different diets (and that would be 50% of the book, looking for that perfect diet that will work) and at the end of the day she would go back to her old habits.
That's the thing that annoyed me most, she just didn't seem too mature, though if I remember correctly (because I read this book couple of weeks ago) she's in her late 30s. I didn't hate her, but she didn't seem like a very loveable character.
As you can see, I didn't really enjoy the first part of the book. I didn't struggle alright, but I was waiting for something to happen. I'm glad I continued reading it, because the second half of the book I really loved. I thought the book was gonna be just about dieting and her struggle to keep her dream job, but hell no...the story has more, family issues, mending friendships and a great ending.
I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Gardiner's books, and as a matter of fact, I know exactly which book I'm gonna read next - is already waiting on my kindle.
If you're a chick lit lover and love books with plus sized heroines, I guess you will enjoy this book.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Ms. Gardiner.
October 6, 2014
An enjoyable book that I breezed through, Slim to None features a food critic who loses her job because she's so overweight that she's instantly recognizable.
This book is all about food metaphors, puns, and descriptions, so I'll frame my review in that way. This book is like a cupcake that you buy from the cute, chic, cupcake shop on the corner. It's adorable, it tastes good, you eat it quickly--including the excess frosting. There's a certain satisfaction to biting into that pure, easy-to-chew bliss. Now I wouldn't eat a cupcake every day (and reading "cupcake books" every day may not be healthy either) but occasionally I just need to indulge. This humorous book with a lovable narrator fit the bill.
(On another note, I'm not sure this is a book for many male readers--I'd never recommend this to my husband, for example. If you're the type of guy who would feel uncomfortable eating a cupcake by yourself in the middle of a cupcake shop surrounded by gaggles of girls, then this probably isn't the book for you.)
This book is all about food metaphors, puns, and descriptions, so I'll frame my review in that way. This book is like a cupcake that you buy from the cute, chic, cupcake shop on the corner. It's adorable, it tastes good, you eat it quickly--including the excess frosting. There's a certain satisfaction to biting into that pure, easy-to-chew bliss. Now I wouldn't eat a cupcake every day (and reading "cupcake books" every day may not be healthy either) but occasionally I just need to indulge. This humorous book with a lovable narrator fit the bill.
(On another note, I'm not sure this is a book for many male readers--I'd never recommend this to my husband, for example. If you're the type of guy who would feel uncomfortable eating a cupcake by yourself in the middle of a cupcake shop surrounded by gaggles of girls, then this probably isn't the book for you.)
January 30, 2012
Ok, I also bought this book as a kindle DOD, and was eager to read it. This was one that I zoomed through fairly quickly. A lot of people that have read this book are down-putting about all the depreciating fat jokes and comments that Abby makes about herself. Well, hello, she's fat!! I know from experience (past and present) that when you are presently fat -before you finally get off your a** and do something about it- you tend to put yourself down mentally and out loud on a fairly regular basis. And if you've lost your job over it, I'm sure that would safely double. So that didn't bother me; as a matter of fact, I found myself at times nodding in agreement...
I liked the characters, I liked the plot, skipped the recipes, and was entertained. That's all I really ask from most books that I read. I want to connect or relate to my characters and be entertained. I enjoyed Jenny's story and look forward to reading other novels she has written.
I liked the characters, I liked the plot, skipped the recipes, and was entertained. That's all I really ask from most books that I read. I want to connect or relate to my characters and be entertained. I enjoyed Jenny's story and look forward to reading other novels she has written.
July 28, 2011
Abbie Jennings has it all...the perfect job as food critic for the NY Sentinel, a loving husband and a sweet furbaby. But what happens when your world comes crashing down on you because you enjoyed your job just a little too much?!?
This book really could not have "fallen" into my hands at a better time. While I've not been faced with losing my job, my husband needing a break or finding out I have siblings I never knew, I am faced with that 4 letter word that no woman wants to hear...diet. While I refuse to say, Oh, I'm on a diet...I am battling the bulge, the lack of want to hit the gym but am finding myself eating healthier. Abbie is so much me and I find strength (oddly) from her to suck it up and hit the gym to not only change old habits, but create new habits.
Thank you Jenny for introducing me to Abbie and helping me find my own Abbie within me.
This book really could not have "fallen" into my hands at a better time. While I've not been faced with losing my job, my husband needing a break or finding out I have siblings I never knew, I am faced with that 4 letter word that no woman wants to hear...diet. While I refuse to say, Oh, I'm on a diet...I am battling the bulge, the lack of want to hit the gym but am finding myself eating healthier. Abbie is so much me and I find strength (oddly) from her to suck it up and hit the gym to not only change old habits, but create new habits.
Thank you Jenny for introducing me to Abbie and helping me find my own Abbie within me.
August 31, 2016
I can see the continuing eductation assignment sheet now: Take a novel that you've just read (Garlic and Saphires)and put your own spin on it.... assignment 2: add conflict; assignment 3: add subplots. This is the most poorly written book I've ever read. The plot is transparent, the food analogies are weak and forced, the conflicts magically and instantly resolved. I am shocked that this got published, more shocked to find the author has other published novels. If you haven't read it yet, buy Garlic and Saphires instead.
October 20, 2011
Actually a 4.5 stars. This book started out and I wasn't sure I was going to appreciate it....the fat jokes came across harsh, and I wasn't sure what the angle of the book was. But I ended up getting sucked right in.... Love the Abster. So much thought-provoking stuff.... A heroine with definite flaws, but you rooted for her... I cried a lot. Yeah....apparently I'm not feeling sentence complete-ish today.
December 2, 2011
Very easy, fun read. I loved that there were recipes between the chapters. Several of them looked yummy and not too difficult. As a food lover myself, this book was a fun look at a food lover trying to diet.
September 7, 2014
I would have liked to read more about the actual progression of the main character's development. The Kindle edition had quite a few typos/editing errors. Overall, it was okay.
December 27, 2011
I do not recommend this book. The author goes way overboard on the food analogies
August 24, 2013
I know it's silly, but a misspelling on page 112 really bugged me: commodian instead of comedian. Really jarring and took me out of the story.
January 7, 2016
This book wasn't great. I liked the moral part of the ending the most... I was disappointed to say the least...
December 29, 2019
I like books about people who like to cook and eat. This one seemed to have possibilities. The main character is a food critic who is so into her job that she has eaten herself into an overweight state which makes her too easy to identify, so her boss takes away her food critic job and has her writing another column while she attempts to lose weight. Her approach to dieting is pretty haphazard, but gradually she does have some luck as she ups her activity level. And her new column which addresses the plight of people trying to lose weight really seems to strike a note with the public. The guy who took her critic job turns out to be a real piece of work, but she can't seem to get anyone to believe her. Her husband takes a break to think things over. Basically her best relationship is with the dog. Still, it has a relatively happy ending, and she is likable if ditzy. I didn't find the recipes which were included to fit with her supposed gourmet interests--too much jello, canned soups and cool whip. I didn't hate it, but it could have been much better. 2.5 stars
March 17, 2017
3.5 stars
Thoughtful reading. A light comedy with serious undertones. Not too heavy to be depressing but rather encouraging. It makes one think about the issue's behind eating disorders and how they affect a person's self-esteem. It also emphasizes loving who you are and enjoying the world around you. I also love the theme of family and friends and how important they are in our lives.
Thoughtful reading. A light comedy with serious undertones. Not too heavy to be depressing but rather encouraging. It makes one think about the issue's behind eating disorders and how they affect a person's self-esteem. It also emphasizes loving who you are and enjoying the world around you. I also love the theme of family and friends and how important they are in our lives.
November 29, 2019
She voiced my thoughts!
If the author hasn't ever been the fat girl, she could fooled me! The thoughts that Abbie has about food and her relationship with it really hit close to home. Of course her thoughts dealt with five star cuisine whereas mine are much more pedestrian. I enjoyed the trip with Abbie and actually gained some insights about my own relationship with food. Nuggets of wisdom from a fictional character. Awesome!
If the author hasn't ever been the fat girl, she could fooled me! The thoughts that Abbie has about food and her relationship with it really hit close to home. Of course her thoughts dealt with five star cuisine whereas mine are much more pedestrian. I enjoyed the trip with Abbie and actually gained some insights about my own relationship with food. Nuggets of wisdom from a fictional character. Awesome!
December 6, 2019
DNF at 42%
Self deprecsting inner monologue with lot of self pity and selfishness. Boring, exhausting and with almost non existent plot. All the food analogies were overwhelming, combined with lack of dialogues made the book unreadable for me.
Self deprecsting inner monologue with lot of self pity and selfishness. Boring, exhausting and with almost non existent plot. All the food analogies were overwhelming, combined with lack of dialogues made the book unreadable for me.
December 15, 2019
This read like a personal blog, and I am not a fan of personal blogs. They're full of self-indulgent musings that delight only the blogger, who often considers himself or herself a "writer". However, I did like the second to last chapter as we could see growth and change in the narrator.
April 6, 2020
Quotes
Enjoyed the quotes that began every chapter. Nice to see Erma Bombeck quoted. Recipes concluded each chapter. Character changes her behavior and values. Book allows reader to tag along and learn also.
Enjoyed the quotes that began every chapter. Nice to see Erma Bombeck quoted. Recipes concluded each chapter. Character changes her behavior and values. Book allows reader to tag along and learn also.
July 24, 2017
Fun read
I enjoyed the book thoroughly and hope I can loan it I liked her recipes in the book. recommend book
I enjoyed the book thoroughly and hope I can loan it I liked her recipes in the book. recommend book
May 15, 2019
Witty and well written, but...
Too much trashing slender women in this novel.
Gardiner labeled them either anorexic or empty-headed. I liked Annie's quirky character
otherwise.
Too much trashing slender women in this novel.
Gardiner labeled them either anorexic or empty-headed. I liked Annie's quirky character
otherwise.
December 2, 2019
This book is certainly fabulous.
Read
October 29, 2021Started this but didn’t get past chapter 1.
April 25, 2022
This is a story about a woman trying to lose weight. There were too many references to food and it got rather monotonous. An ok read.
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