Good in Bed

Rating:
Summary: a plus-sized Bridget Jones
Review: "Good in Bed" is a coming-of-age story in the vein of Bridget Jones et al. Cannie is a smart, sassy, overweight journalist whose self-doubt stands in the way of her happiness, pegging her in a marginal career and an unhappy romantic position. Through the course of the novel she emancipates herself, taking hold of her personal and professional destinies and learning to love herself, extra pounds and all.

This book is in every way bigger than "Bridget Jones' Diary". Cannie, unlike Bridget, is actually overweight (and self-consciously, but not too aggressively). This renders the book less servile to the current cult of thinness but also somewhat conflicted; the apparent voice seems is that of a woman who has always worried over her weight but never had clear evidence of its being inappropriate - a voice that probably represents more women than Cannie's actual character.

In more important ways, too, "Good in Bed" is a bigger book. It deals with more serious issues - Cannie has real triumphs and tragedies, often unconnected to her love life, and she has the insight to realize when she is being silly about men. The book has a more complicated plot than "Bridget Jones' Diary", without losing the easy-to-read quality that makes little-black-dress fiction so much fun.

But being a big book has drawbacks. "Good in Bed" doesn't have the same narrative tidiness as "Bridget Jones' Diary" (an achievement more due to Jane Austen than Helen Fielding). The ending is satisfying, and certainly well-planned (perhaps too well-planned; some of the plotline is predictable), but it doesn't have the irrepressible neatness, the cyclic detachment, that "Bridget Jones" acheived.

"Good in Bed" is not another BJ knockoff. It's written in the same tenor as many of them, but it's more complex and more intelligent. I've couched this review in comparisons to Bridget's story not because I think that's the only way to look at "Good in Bed", but because I think it's the best way. "Good in Bed" is a shining example of all the good Bridget did for women's fiction, implemented in a more serious context. Cannie is, foremost, a modern narrator. She speaks the language of women today: the author is not afraid to date her writing by making references to politics and pop culture, and this gives the book a fresh, current feel. She captures the dilemma of an intelligent, confident woman who isn't intelligent or confident about everything, who's self-aware without being all-powerful. She's not just another protagonist modeled on Bridget Jones. She's a protagonist - the first I've seen - who has read Bridget Jones.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down...
Review: I was literally reading this book at every conceivable moment - while brushing my teeth, late at night, leaning on the dryer waiting for those last few damp items to get done - and was so sad when it was over.

Anyone who thinks that Cannie's personality change was too dramatic or that she was whiny and turned into a totally different person has obviously never been in the situation in which she finds herself. Without revealing the plot, I'll say that I've been there and had friends who have been there, and Jennifer Weiner nailed it. Yes, there were some unrealistic (possibly) plot twists. It's called willing suspension of disbelief. It's how life is often stranger than fiction. But the emotions and the voice are so clear, I can hear them in my own head.

The scene in the fat clinic when she sarcastically says, "Oh, now I get it, I'm cured! If you eat less you lose weight!" had me laughing out loud. The self-doubt over the break up (and many other scenes) left me weeping.

I hate when reviewers criticize something that didn't actually happen. I guess they weren't paying attention: 1) she was not thin at the end. 2)She wasn't rescued. She found happiness within herself, alone, without even the dog. 3) She didn't hate Bruce until long after I did. 4) This isn't about being fat. It's about priorities, what really matters in life, and that, despite our society's idea that you can never be too rich or too thin, neither of those things could make Cannie (or any of us) happy. Perhaps you have to have experienced some life altering moment to get it, and I sincerely wish the people who don't get it never have to learn that lesson. But for someone who's been there, this is so affirming and inspiring that I feel like a better person just for reading it.

Rating:
Summary: disappointed with life
Review: i was extremely disappointed with this book. first of all, it took me a very long time to get into it. then, when i finally did (approximately half way through), i found the main character, Cannie, to be anti-life. she was extremely unhappy and down on her herself as well as everybody else. she felt as if life had dealt her a bad deck and that was it....

she wanted what she couldn't have. even when she sold her screenplay, had wonderful friends and family who cared for her, had all the money that she needed and a beautiful place to live, and lost all of her weight, she was still yet unhappy.

i was hoping for a fun read and something light. this was anything but that for me. however, as i read over the other reviews of this book, they all seemed to think it was light and funny. however, the reviews were mostly from overweight readers. so, maybe, because i am not a plus size, i missed the whole message here.

anyway, i am looking forward to finding something fun to read. i will stick with the two "fun authors" jane green and patrick sanchez for now.......

Rating:
Summary: It's finally here!
Review: I must admit I was hesitant about another book with an overweight main character. Being a "larger woman" myself, I am getting tired of these books that go on and on about being proud of who you are and staying true to yourself, meanwhile portraying the woman as having magically lost weight and found love. I am a big girl. I found love anyway. It happens, and thank God for writers like Jennifer Weiner who can talk about it. Cannie is a great character full of life and I couldn't have enjoyed the book more. I can't wait to read "In Her Shoes"

Rating:
Summary: Cannie.. if only she were my friend!!
Review: I loved this book. I have to admit, I'm not one for big books, but they turn out to be some of the most fun to read!! I read this book in 2 days and couldnt put it down. Cannie has a life only lots of plus size girls dream of (I should know). I was crying, smiling, sighing and laughing all through out this book. I was disappointed that this book had to END!! A definate must read and pass it along to your friends and family. Its bound to be a big hit!!

Rating:
Summary: As a larger woman, I could relate
Review: I really enjoyed this book about the trials and tribulations--not to mention the successes and joys--of a larger woman. Interestingly, it wasn't just her size that troubled Cannie, though it was a significant factor in making her who she was. She had abandonment issues with her father, and that played a role in how she dealt with what can only be described as the betrayal by her ex, Bruce. (Who wants the world to know you weigh more than your boyfriend?) Some have commented on the fairy tale qualities of the story, but what I think is important is that the fairy tale things that happen to her didn't save her; she still faced a major crisis that she had to work through, and she didn't always do it well. Yes, a guy came along and "saved" her, but in a way, she saved herself. She realized she was worthwhile, not only to a man, but to herself and to her friends. And that is important.

Rating:
Summary: Title is deceiving...
Review: I was intrigued by the title of the book, wondering if it would be full of naughty tales, even getting a little embarrassed when someone asks you what you're reading or when you tell them the name of the book. However, I found the book to be quite touching, entertaining and heartwrenching reading about the many tragedies of the main character. Overall, an entertaining read which I couldn't wait to get into every evening. I found a couple things unlikely -- the fast frienship she makes with the movie star and also how the Dr. falls in love with her when there didn't seem to be much detailed character development build up between them and Cannie. It all seemed to happen so fast. Anyways, worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Not Quite As Good As I'd Hoped
Review: I could see a lot of myself in Cannie. She's a bit sarcatic at times (perhaps a bit too much) and has a tendency to hold onto things that she should be over (like her ex), but that made her more human to me. I started this novel giggling and groaning along with her.

But, as people do, she changed. And in my opinon it wasn't for the better. There came a point in the book where you could feel the definate shift in Cannie's perception and opinon, and it was done in a very abrupt manner. This threw me off a bit, and I felt there could have been more transition into this new mindset of Cannie's.

I found that Cannie started out as a character with much potential but was brought down by herself...or rather that the author let the character drown in her own self pity. I would have enjoyed this novel more if Cannie had been forced to come to terms with herself more. To learn to love herself. Not just as a "larger woman" but just as a person.

I was not particuarly happy with the ending of this book, as I found it too "Cinderella"-ish.

If you're looking for some escape to pass the time this summer, I'd recommend this novel. If you're wanting something more realistic, find something else.

Rating:
Summary: There's more to life than your dress size
Review: Few beach book authors have the guts to write about an overweight character. Although, 5'11 and 200 pounds isn't exactly humongous, it was refreshing to read about a girl who doesn't have it all.

The book deals with an insecure woman in her late twenties. She is plagued by her outer appearance, but uses humor to deal with it. She is a hilarious aspiring writer living on the east coast. She pines for a loser boyfriend, works for a second rate newspaper, and hangs out with her gay mother on weekends. Her life isn't exactly perfect, but in the end she learns a thing or two about what really matters.

The book's focus changes dramatically with each passing chapter, which really kept my interest. I literally couldn't put it down in the last 200 pages.

Rating:
Summary: Very Funny, entertaining!
Review: The main character is Cannie. She's the type of girl that could be your best friend! She's smart, successful, funny! Her one sin is that she loves food and she's overweight.

Her ex-boyfriend, who she's still in love with, writes a column in a Cosmo-like magazine called "Good in Bed". Cannie reads one of his articles and realizes that "Loving a larger women" is about her! She's devastated but decides that she's still in love with him.

Even though Cannie deals with her weight,lost love, and her abandonment issues, her quick wit and humor will keep you rolling! I loved this book and would recommend it to all my smart and successful girlfriends who aren't a size 2!