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Women's Fiction
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

List Price: $15.99
Your Price: $10.87
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Worthy of second reading & reviewing
Review: "The Earth, my butt, and other big round things" is one of those rare books that I've read more than once. I also plan to read it again, and again, and again.
Chock full of the insecurities I myself felt as a 15 year old gilr, like "Virginia Shreves", who is the girl in this funny but sad tale.
The main reason I like this character and this book so much as it mirrors my own teenaged life so well. Maternal denial, sisters that move away because of it, and food being stuffed thy throat. This novel is the perfect recipe for my life as a teenager.
Virginia, however, learns that lesson about life being what YOU make it and not what others make of it, learns much sooner than I did. Froth with realistic dialogue this is a book I highly recommend to girls of all ages. It is brightly written and Carolyn Mackler has earned my highest respect. Buy this one as Virginia is a friend you will want to visit again.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: the earth, my butt, and other big, round things
Review: "the earth, my butt, and other big, round things" is a tale of an overweight teenaged girl (virginia) who must face the hardships of being a teen and living up to everyone's standards. it's heartfelt and amusing. it captures the essents of reality in the high school world. Carolrn Mackler has writtin an inspiring novel that will capture the hearts of millions of teenaged girls. her relationship with froggy is that of a backstreet relationship, which is more common in high school than thought of. Mackler has a way with words to inspire teen girls.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not as fresh and funny as the title suggests
Review: After reading Carolyn Mackler's "Love and Other Four Letter Words", I borrowed this book--the author's second--from a friend. From the description and the first few pages, I thought "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things" would be a fresh, funny, and entertaining read, but I was less than satisfied.

The novel revolves around Virginia Shreves, a teeanger in NYC who feels like an outcast because her older siblings appear to be near-perfect, she is overweight and insecure about her body, and her best friend just moved cross-country. Throughout the book, Virginia deals with all sorts of teenager-ish problems, from fitting in to coping with her parents to her first experiences with the opposite sex.

Though I liked the premise of the book, it wasn't really an interesting read. Virgina spent so much time complaining about her weight that it made *me* feel fat. I don't know if the author was the most insecure person in the world, but the story's heroine didn't seem like the average teen to me, and most of her rants were very extreme; it was hard to laugh at certain parts, even if it was clear they were written to be funny.

The book did have a few honest laughs and a believable plotline, but Virginia was so angsty it was more annoying than entertaining to read her "diary entries".

Maybe I just had high expectations after I enjoyed Carolyn Mackler's "Love and Other Four-Letter Words" so much, but I didn't enjoy this book and I wouldn't reccommend it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: : ) Me while reading it, : ) Me while reviewing it....
Review: As I was perusing Amazon one night last week, I stumbled upon Carolyn Mackler's new novel, "The Earth, my butt, and other big round things." I took a 'look inside', and feel in love with Virginia Shreves, its' main character.
I've never related so well to a fictional character so vividly before. All those feelings of no self worth or confidence came flooding back to me, and it was very real to me.

Chapter one has Virginia lip locked with Froggy, a boy from school who has an hour to kill before his trombone lesson. They spend an hour in her bedroom kissing every Monday. When his hands start roaming, she pretty much sends him packing.
Being overweight, Virginia feels very uncomfortable with the idea of someone of the opposite sex seeing her body. She doesn't even look in the mirror, at least not yet.

I am not one to give much away in my reviews. I will tell you that you will laugh alot, most likely cry(i did), smile, and just love reading it. I am very happy I bought my own copy.

As Virginia's story progresses and the 'perfect' shell of a family shatters, she is transformed. I loved this 'coming of age story'....

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: cute little story
Review: at first I just thought that the book was a pretty decent story about a funny girl who is larger than average..... however the book evolves into a wonderful story about a girl who emerges from the ashes of her life and frees herself to become a girl with her own identity, who is proud to be who is she is.... a good rebellion

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A larger-than-average body and an inferiority complex
Review: Carolyn Mackler's The Earth, My Butt, And Other Big Round Things tells of Virginia, who has a larger-than-average body and an inferiority complex to go with it. Despite her desires to be a beauty, she can't stay away from the junk food, and finds herself bucking an exercise-conscious mother and a father who's a jet-setter. But her problems are only just beginning, as she faces a revelation which will turn her life around.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Two Thumbs Up!
Review: First of all, the cover itself grabbed my attention. As I began to read the first couple of pages, I couldn't seem to put the book down. I think this book can relate to a lot of teenage girls especially in this day and age where image and social status seem to be the main concerns of these girls. This book touches subjects such as eating disorders, date rape, insecurity, and depression. This book may appeal to mostly girls, but I think it can relate to everyone because these issues do not happen to just girls.

Besides the serious subjects this book displays, it can be highly entertaining and funny. Virginia is a funny character. Her ability to look past her looks and finally become content with herself sets off an empowering vibe that should inspire girls to do the same.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: excellent book!
Review: GREAT BOOK! Virginia is someone every girl can relate to in some way. I loved this book and definitely would reccomend it to any girl dealing with weight issues, and every girl who ever felt fat.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: extremely overrated and not funny at all
Review: I adore this book. The title was first caught my eye, but I began reading it in the book store, and before I knew it, I was 30 pages in! It is defitely a book for readers who aren't feeling very sure about themselves and where they stand in the world. Virginia is a truly funny character and by the end of the book you will love her and think of her as an actual person! Carolyn Mackler did an amazing job.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A little mature for people under 10, but a great read...
Review: I currently read this book, and would definitely put it under one of my favorite re-reads. It is a combined book that teaches you many different lessons like don't compare your body to other people, never compare your self to other family members, and so many well taught lessons.
Virginia Shreves is not you "skinny as a pencil" kind of person. She isn't like other teenagers, she wouldn't know what to do without the web, eats junk food like it is good for her, and lives by the "Fat Girl Code of Conduct". She also isn't your "most popular" person in the world, even if fact the school, but she will live.
Virginia's bff just moved to Walla Walla, Washington for a year, and just like her computer, she doesn't know what to do without her. Since she is on the "lager-than-average" size, she doesn't have friends. Her only friend is Shannon, and now she is gone. Virginia thinks that her life is ruined but maybe not....
I think that Carolyn Mackler did a fantastic job on the plot and this book deserves a medal. You can relate to Virginia, she is like your average teenager, except with some problems. You can understand how she feels in the book, or at least I know I did. I felt that I was right next to Virginia, and feeling and seeing what she did.
This is a great book, and I recommend it to everyone. Why? It is written extremely well, a great plot, and you can relate. Now that is some pain points that I look for in a great book, and this is one of them.


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