Helpful Score: 3
A fantastic biography and story of her struggle and then acceptance of being, well, fat. She's a great comedienne and a good writer as well. I enjoyed this very much!
Helpful Score: 3
I just love this book. Camryn Manheim writes very well, and keeps the reader involved. This book really makes you feel more positive about yourself!
Helpful Score: 3
I really enjoyed this book. I watched Camryn Manheim on The Practice and became a fan of hers. I knew she was a very talented actress but didn't realize she can write too. This book was very easy to read as she wrote it like she was having a conversation with the reader. I liked how she was upfront about some of the struggles she has faced. I also liked how she added in humor as that likely helped her deal with some situations. I highly recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 3
A funny, affirming memoir by one of our most talented contemporary actors!
Helpful Score: 2
this reads just like the Cameron we see on TV. Funny, loud, opinionated!
Helpful Score: 2
Pretty good. It's a memoir of the actress's life up through when she won her Emmy for her work on The Practice. It was interesting to read of her struggles trying to make it as an actress in a subculture that values thinness and good looks above all else. She seems like a really interesting person.
The book, however, suffers mightily from punctuation errors - not the kind that could be dismissed as personal style or a way to create a tone (though there are those, and they really needed to be toned down a bit), but the kind that are just simply wrong. Did this book not go through an editor? If so, did the editor have the flu at the time? It was really annoying.
The book, however, suffers mightily from punctuation errors - not the kind that could be dismissed as personal style or a way to create a tone (though there are those, and they really needed to be toned down a bit), but the kind that are just simply wrong. Did this book not go through an editor? If so, did the editor have the flu at the time? It was really annoying.
Helpful Score: 2
a spunky, articulate woman. Lots of photos and empowering quips.
Helpful Score: 1
Should be read by everyone that has ever had self-hatred issues, for whatever reason.
Helpful Score: 1
A candid and funny look at Camyrn Manheim's beginnings up through her winning an Emmy for The Practice. Very real and moving--significantly tells the story of how fat people are percieved in a country that values slimness.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book. I watched Camryn Manheim on The Practice and became a fan of hers. I knew she was a very talented actress but didn't realize she can write too. This book was very easy to read as she wrote it like she was having a conversation with the reader. I liked how she was upfront about some of the struggles she has faced. I also liked how she added in humor as that likely helped her deal with some situations. I highly recommend this book.
This book was published in 1999, and seems like forever ago. Mainly because it was. I joined PBS in 2007, so I can not tell when I acquired this book or why. I can tell you Why NOT. I didn't know this actress, I was not familiar with her award winning TV drama, The Practice, set in Boston. I was not familiar with her character, Ellenor Frutt I do vaguely remember her winning, but still not know her name. AND I don't watch dances with stars where her son Milo was finalist, but not winner.
I am pretty sure I picked this book to linger on my TBR, because of her size, the title and I vaguely remember headlines about her winning The EMMY and saying "this is for all the fat girls".
I really don't think this book is flawed. Nothing she had to say about being fat, rubbed me the wrong way. She is an excellent writer, and very real. Nothing too angst or over the top. No tell all, name dropping, I slept with.... so and so. It was about her being fat, hating herself for being fat, and starting to be an advocate for fat people to stop being discriminated for being fat. She comes to terms with the fact that she has other flaws but only the fat, was the cause of all her problems, and that was faulty thinking. There are several stories where she stood up to folks, and said things, along the lines, "this shaming that you are putting on me, is shameful on your behalf". My words not hers. And she was right. No one needs others to tell them they are fat, fat folks do know they are fat, and they don't need your put downs, they have enough of there own. Some of the stories are very well done, and I wont reproduce them here, but you really need to read, the one about her Apt manager being put in his place, The salad buffet manager, with Lisa Kudrow coming to her aide, her mother in the dressing room, her father suggesting that she start smoking cigarettes again to lose weight, her standing up to the producers of the show the Practice to change they way they wanted to do things for her Fat character.
We are taken through her life up to the afterdays of Her winning an Emmy for best supporting actress. I plan to now watch some of her old TV shows, and movies. I want to know her more. I wonder how she has changed since this book. I also want to add that she has lost some weight over the years, but this about her saying I accept that I am fat, and I plan to stay this way but more about I accept that I am fat, and I still love me in any shape or size.
Read her book and take your own fat journey. Feel free to read it while riding a stationery bike, we won't judge you.
I am pretty sure I picked this book to linger on my TBR, because of her size, the title and I vaguely remember headlines about her winning The EMMY and saying "this is for all the fat girls".
I really don't think this book is flawed. Nothing she had to say about being fat, rubbed me the wrong way. She is an excellent writer, and very real. Nothing too angst or over the top. No tell all, name dropping, I slept with.... so and so. It was about her being fat, hating herself for being fat, and starting to be an advocate for fat people to stop being discriminated for being fat. She comes to terms with the fact that she has other flaws but only the fat, was the cause of all her problems, and that was faulty thinking. There are several stories where she stood up to folks, and said things, along the lines, "this shaming that you are putting on me, is shameful on your behalf". My words not hers. And she was right. No one needs others to tell them they are fat, fat folks do know they are fat, and they don't need your put downs, they have enough of there own. Some of the stories are very well done, and I wont reproduce them here, but you really need to read, the one about her Apt manager being put in his place, The salad buffet manager, with Lisa Kudrow coming to her aide, her mother in the dressing room, her father suggesting that she start smoking cigarettes again to lose weight, her standing up to the producers of the show the Practice to change they way they wanted to do things for her Fat character.
We are taken through her life up to the afterdays of Her winning an Emmy for best supporting actress. I plan to now watch some of her old TV shows, and movies. I want to know her more. I wonder how she has changed since this book. I also want to add that she has lost some weight over the years, but this about her saying I accept that I am fat, and I plan to stay this way but more about I accept that I am fat, and I still love me in any shape or size.
Read her book and take your own fat journey. Feel free to read it while riding a stationery bike, we won't judge you.
It was funny and realistic.
an honest and fun read from a down to earth actress
I love this book. Camryn Manheim is funny. I like the way she tells her story with humor. The way she takes on the subject of weight with truth, honesty & without being whiny about it. She is an incredible wombmyn & this a very enjoyable book.
Wonderful audiotape book humor in self accepting and how it shapes one's life but really affects many..great book..
I love this book! She is brutally honest and hilariously funny! Her story inspires you while making you laugh. I highly recommend it.
decent. but it DOES make you wonder, now that Camryn has lost weight-did she really mean what she said about size acceptance in this book?
