Journal Entry 1 by SheWhoReads from Athens, Georgia USA on Sunday, March 26, 2006

Pre-numbered label used for registration.

Registered for the Race to Three Million challenge.

Book Description:

Maggie and Olivia have been best friends since they were in grade school. Both overweight, they befriended each other when no one else would. Now grown up, Maggie is still shopping in the euphemism-if-there-ever-was-one "women's section," while Olivia went and had gastric bypass surgery in search of the elusive size 4, the holy grail for women everywhere. So now Olivia's thin and blond and getting married to a handsome surgeon, and Maggie's the fat bridesmaid, again, in charge of planning "The Shower" and keeping Olivia's secret: that she's really a fat girl in a thin body. Ain't life grand?

With wit and wisdom, Liza Palmer gives voice to women everywhere who wish for just once that they could forget about their weight. 

Journal Entry 2 by SheWhoReads from Athens, Georgia USA on Sunday, March 26, 2006

This was a wonderful first novel. I loved the characters -- Maggie (the narrator) in particular was just very vivid and real to me. I identified with her quite strongly, to the point where I was recognizing some of my own character flaws in Maggie's personality. I hope I have the strength to do what Maggie did at the end of the novel and take charge of my own life and change those things about myself that I don't like.

This is, as the title suggests, a book about what it's like to live life as a fat woman in modern-day America. It deals with issues of appearance, weight, and self-esteem. But it also is a novel about friendship -- about why people become friends, what friendship means, and what happens when a friendship ends. The death of Maggie and Olivia's friendship is just as sad and bitter and slow as the breakup of a marriage -- and just as poignant and important and life-altering to the people involved.

Conversations with the Fat Girl was funny, sad, uplifting, and depressing, but most of all, it was honest. This was a conversation I both and enjoyed and needed to have, and I will no doubt be rereading this book many times in the future. 

Journal Entry 3 by SheWhoReads from Athens, Georgia USA on Monday, March 27, 2006

Journal Entry 4 by SheWhoReads at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 31, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (3/31/2006 UTC) at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

I mailed this to sharalsbooks this afternoon. I sent it Media Mail. 

Journal Entry 5 by sharalsbooks from Chandler, Arizona USA on Saturday, April 08, 2006

Received today. I will start it as soon as I finish the book I am now reading the bookring currently ahead of this one. I love the premise and look forward to seeing if it's as good as it looks. Thank you for including me! 

Journal Entry 6 by sharalsbooks from Chandler, Arizona USA on Monday, May 08, 2006

Where do I begin? I absolutely loved this book! It speaks to me on so many levels and I could completely empathize with Maggie in nearly every sense of her life. This book had me laughing out loud so many times and near tears as well. I think there's a Maggie in all of us. I found all of the characters vibrant and engaging and though some of them were true and complete jerks (LOL), they are intrinsic to Maggie's life and this story.

Maggie is a character you will be rooting for and cheering for when she succeeds. Thank you SheWhoReads for giving me the opportunity to read one of the best books I've read in a long time. Like Maggie, I feel like breaking out of my own shell, so to speak and grabbing life by the horns. I have tranq1's address so I will be mailing this out today. 

Journal Entry 7 by sharalsbooks at Bookring in n/a, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 08, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (5/8/2006 UTC) at Bookring in n/a, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 8 by tranq1 from Tampa, Florida USA on Saturday, May 13, 2006

Received in the mail today. I will start it as soon as I finish the book I am reading now. 

Journal Entry 9 by tranq1 at By mail in Fellow Bookcrosser, Book Box -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, May 28, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (5/26/2006 UTC) at By mail in Fellow Bookcrosser, Book Box -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to ksreader who is next in the ring. 

Journal Entry 10 by ksreader from Frontenac, Kansas USA on Friday, June 16, 2006

Book has been received and read. I'm behind on jounaling due to business travel, but am ready to send book out to Hellie as soon as I receive her address.

-I enjoyed this story and say "Three Cheers for us 'Real Women'!!!" 

Journal Entry 11 by ksreader from Frontenac, Kansas USA on Monday, July 10, 2006

This poor book has been read and waiting patiently on my coffeetable for quite some time now. (If it could have curled up with another good book, I'm sure it would have!) The next reader would like to be skipped, then there was no answer from the reader after. I PM'd twice and waited a week- I hope that is BC/PC enough. So, I skipped on down to AgnesXNitt and shipped the book to her Thursday, July 6.

Thanks for the chance to enjoy this book! 

Journal Entry 12 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 15, 2006

A fabulous book, I loved it. As a 'fat girl' herself, I identified very strongly with the lead character and her trials and tribulations. If anything it spurred me to continue with my gym workouts!
Arrived Thursday 13th July, read the same night, ready to post on!
PM'ing Vexter for her address. Never mailed to Slovenia before - another first thanks to BXing! 

Journal Entry 13 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Posting today to Vexter in Slovenia. Hope she enjoys the book.
Have enclosed small 'hello' gift with book :) 

Journal Entry 14 by vexter from Ljubljana, Osrednja Slovenija - Okolica Ljubljane in Ljubljana Slovenia on Saturday, July 22, 2006

Both the book and the "hello" gift arrived safely to mind-numbingly hot Ljubljana. All I can do in this weather is read, so I think I'll be finished with the book quite soon. :) Thanks for sharing it, SheWhoReads!
And thank you so much for the gift, AgnesXNitt! It's fantastic! 

Journal Entry 15 by vexter from Ljubljana, Osrednja Slovenija - Okolica Ljubljane in Ljubljana Slovenia on Sunday, July 23, 2006

I wasn't thrilled by the beginning, and I had a sneaking suspicion I wouldn't really like the book. But then the plot sucked me in, and I stayed up last night to finish it!
I liked the (relative) reality of the ending - Maggie wasn't magically transformed into a skinny, super-popular, cheerleader-type girl. Instead, she made choices and took steps that made her feel better, happier. That's what we should all do, but we (too) often take the easier route.

I already have baltruma's address and will mail the book tomorrow. Thanks again, SheWhoReads, for sharing this! 

Journal Entry 16 by baltruma from Uplengen, Niedersachsen Germany on Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Wurde mir zugeschickt und ich freue mich schon sehr darauf.
Got it by post and I am really looking forward to reading it!

Nochmal ganz lieben Dank an SheWhoReads für´s Aufnehmen in diesen Ring.
Ok, nun bin ich durch und muss sagen: Sehr nett! Gute Charaktere, schlüssige Geschichte, typische Situationen, genauso ist es eben manchmal. ;-) Gut, einige kulturelle Unterschiede sind da (was ist ein blue bucket? Ein Fettnäpfchen?), bzw. die Kleidergrößen unbekannt (size 2? Wie "groß" oder "klein" ist das? L?M?S?). Aber das tut der Geschichte und dem Genuss des Lesens keinen Abbruch. Da stört mich mehr das glückstrahlende Hollywood Ende. Wieso kriegt sie ihren Job und ihren Mann erst nachdem sie eine Diät anfängt und Sport macht? Der Mann hat sie vorher auch schon geliebt und den Job kann sie auch dick machen. Darum "nur" 9 Punkte.

Once again many thanks to SheWhoReads for including me in this ring.
Well, I´m done now and have to say: Very nice! Good characters, logically story, typical situations- that´s the way it is sometimes! Well there were some cultural differences (what is a blue bucket? A "Fettnäpfchen"?), or sizes were unknown (how wide oder small is size 2? L?,M?,S?). But that didn´t disturb the story or me enjoying it reading. The merry, happy Hollywoodending is more disturbing. Why does she get man and job AFTER she starts a diet and training her body? The man has loved her long before and the job can be done in any bodyshape- it doesn´t matters. Therefore "only" 9 points. 

Journal Entry 17 by Morgaine77 from Allschwil, Baselland Switzerland on Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Arrived safely in Switzerland. Thanks!

The book will have a chat with my other Ringbooks here until its turn to be read comes. ;-) 

Journal Entry 18 by Morgaine77 from Allschwil, Baselland Switzerland on Friday, September 15, 2006

I gave this book my usual 100 pages chance. However, it failed to capture me, thus I didn't finish reading it. I was very soon very fed up with Maggies self-pity and insecurity. Eventhough I'm a fat girl myself and I know the trials she went through first hand, I could not at all identify with her.

Oh well. Thanks for sharing anyways. I'll post this on to Australia sometime next week. 

Journal Entry 19 by Morgaine77 at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Monday, September 18, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (9/18/2006 UTC) at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

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Shipped off to Australia today. Safe travels, book! :-) 

Journal Entry 20 by Melanie2474 from Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, October 04, 2006

On to the TBR pile...

Updated 23 October - starting this book today with a goal to finish by the weekend. Have PMd MooMoo for their address so I can send it on quickly once I'm done :) 

Journal Entry 21 by Melanie2474 from Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, October 30, 2006

What a fun book! I was concerned this would be another I'll-only-be-happy-when-I'm-skinny story, but it was so much more than that. I identified with Maggie for all her bad habits but thankfully also for some of the good. How many of us have similar stories to tell? The dynamic between the two childhood friends, and Maggie and her family (not forgetting the untrained but very loveable Solo) made this an engaging story of a woman who realises she can have her happily-ever-after - without being a size 0.

Got a particular giggle out of the Venus of Willendorf reference - I've used that gag myself (but for me it's a pagan thing not an art thing...)!!

I have MooMoo1977's address so will ship this off to them within the week. Thanks for sharing SheWhoReads :) 

Journal Entry 22 by Melanie2474 at Bookcrosser in Bookring, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Monday, October 30, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (10/30/2006 UTC) at Bookcrosser in Bookring, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to MooMoo1977 to finish the ring. 

Journal Entry 23 by MooMoo1977 from Lismore, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, November 02, 2006

Received from Melanie2474. many thanks! I shall start reading asap in order to complete its little journey around the world. :) 

Journal Entry 24 by MooMoo1977 from Lismore, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, November 04, 2006

I only received this book yesterday but I loved it! Such an easy read and one where you just wanted to smack that Olivia chick in the mouth (oooohhhh! How I enjoyed the end).

Many thanks to SheWhoReads who shared this great book with all of us. If anything, it's a book to give people that spirit that it's OK to be YOU and not give in to what others may think is 'in'.

Thanks again SheWhoReads. I'll be PMing you to find out your postal addy so you can get this little baby back again. 

Journal Entry 25 by MooMoo1977 from Lismore, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, November 08, 2006

my humble apologies for not getting this posted on Monday or yesterday for that matter. I worked unexpectedly on Monday and couldn't get to the PO, then as everyone knows, I was off to the U2 gig in Brisbane and wasn't able to get to the PO beforehand HOWEVER - I got there today and it's on its way to SheWhoReads.

Many thanks again to all who were kind to this little bookie, and thank you SheWhoReads for sharing such an awesome book. :) 

Journal Entry 26 by SheWhoReads from Athens, Georgia USA on Thursday, November 16, 2006

This book has made it all the way around the ring -- and around the world! -- and come safely back home again. Thanks for participating, everyone! I hope you enjoyed it! 

Journal Entry 27 by SheWhoReads from Athens, Georgia USA on Monday, December 17, 2007

Sending to 1lilbookworm. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 28 by 1lilbookworm from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, December 31, 2007

I am sure this is going to be interesting.