As far as I knew, literary characters already came in all different shapes and sizes, but apparently there's a "publishing phenomenon" sweeping America like a fad diet: curvy chick lit characters who fully accept their weight.
The UK Guardian explains that average-sized women want to relate to the heroines they read about — and they don't want the stories to be all about dieting. Titles that fit under the "big chit lit" umbrella include The Wife's Tale, a book about a woman who turns her life around (not by losing weight!) after her universe shrunk "to a well-worn path from the bedroom to the refrigerator," and Last-Minute Proposal, the story of cake-baker Tilly and the man who loves her cozy curves.
Do you think books like these will help women love their bodies more? (And if you're looking for books of any genre to add to your reading list, check out our list of November must reads.)
Issa
You know, I'm just not a fat of chick lit. The whole genre seems somewhat condescending to me, as if the assumption is that women are only interested in reading about shopping and wedding planning. I don't think including an overweight main character is going to make people feel better about themselves, but that's just me.
1I love Chick Lit! I've read everything Meg Cabot has ever written. Her books "Size 12 is not Fat" and "Size 14 is not Fat Either" are SO funny! The main character is basically a fat former pop star turned Nancy Drew. Cabot got the idea from watching Britney Spears get fat.
I can't get on board with the fat-acceptance movement, because I think it promotes the American obesity epidemic, but I do think fat women can be funny protagonists!
2I guess I've never read too much chick-lit to begin with since I have no clue what it is. I prefer non-fiction or if it's fiction, something based on history like Dorothy Dunnett.
3Off topic, but Yogaforlife, if that's your dog in the pic, that little face is adorable. Melts me every time I see it.
4That's my little girl, Maiabelle. I was having trouble sleeping one night while she and I were visiting my parents (who lived a few states away at the time) and started to do situps at like 4 am and she peered down at me from atop the bed with this look like "really? Can't you just try to let me sleep?"
5Those books actually sound pretty entertaining, Spacekatgirl. Maybe I need to give chick lit a chance after all . . .
6"I can't get on board with the fat-acceptance movement, because I think it promotes the American obesity epidemic, but I do think fat women can be funny protagonists!"
7gee spacekatgal thanks so much for allowing that even us fat chicks can be good for something.
I get so sick of people assuming that because a person is fat they are unhealthy or of less value than all you women out there who do nothing but worry about how you can lose those last 5 pounds. If I want to be happy with my body at any weight how does that offend you? I have some news for you. Whether you like it or not, there is absolutely nothing wrong with us. We live, think, love and breathe just like the rest of you so let's stop pretending that it's about being concerned about someone else's health (which is by the way none of your business), and let's just call it what it is: socially acceptable prejudice
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