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cassandralovesfeta's review against another edition
3.0
Meh, convoluted but okay. Great idea for a novel but it sprawls out 6 different ways and doesn’t ever fully recover.
gayle_carr's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh! All around—ugh. That is characters, character development, dialog, plot development. Need I go on?
The premise is intriguing, but it falls apart after that.
I think the author took a 180 on stereotypes to create her characters. That being said, they were so anti-stereotypical that they actually were stereotypical and nonbelivabale because of that.
The characters lacked depth and were completely forgettable. Although the book primarily centered on two characters—Daphne and Alice—they were completely forgettable. I had to use mnemonics to remember which was which and this persisted throughout the book.
Also, what’s up with Susan Jane, Sarah Jane, and SJ for character names. Really? Talk about a Whose on First moment. I’m still not really sure who is who in that mess. And not sure the author didn’t interchange them mistakenly at least once.
The dialog was poorly written, but who really cares as it was pointless and didn’t advance the plot anyway. So just forgetaboutitalready.
The author spent a chunk at the beginning of the book on the characters backstory. A fruitless activity as it didn’t advance the story, add interest, or help in understanding the characters or their motivation. May have helped the author in writing the book, but is of no worth to the reader.
It seems like the climax of the book—the video—is so minute it is a letdown. Even the author must know this as she spends such little development and time on what should be the climax of the plot. And then the book limps along after that as it winds its way to the end with a weak as broth finish as Alice and Daphne end the book grinding to a boring non-finish. Even the end is a non-end it’s so weak.
I think the author had some point in writing this book, but lost in the poor execution.
The only good thing about this book? It’s over.
The premise is intriguing, but it falls apart after that.
I think the author took a 180 on stereotypes to create her characters. That being said, they were so anti-stereotypical that they actually were stereotypical and nonbelivabale because of that.
The characters lacked depth and were completely forgettable. Although the book primarily centered on two characters—Daphne and Alice—they were completely forgettable. I had to use mnemonics to remember which was which and this persisted throughout the book.
Also, what’s up with Susan Jane, Sarah Jane, and SJ for character names. Really? Talk about a Whose on First moment. I’m still not really sure who is who in that mess. And not sure the author didn’t interchange them mistakenly at least once.
The dialog was poorly written, but who really cares as it was pointless and didn’t advance the plot anyway. So just forgetaboutitalready.
The author spent a chunk at the beginning of the book on the characters backstory. A fruitless activity as it didn’t advance the story, add interest, or help in understanding the characters or their motivation. May have helped the author in writing the book, but is of no worth to the reader.
It seems like the climax of the book—the video—is so minute it is a letdown. Even the author must know this as she spends such little development and time on what should be the climax of the plot. And then the book limps along after that as it winds its way to the end with a weak as broth finish as Alice and Daphne end the book grinding to a boring non-finish. Even the end is a non-end it’s so weak.
I think the author had some point in writing this book, but lost in the poor execution.
The only good thing about this book? It’s over.
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Alice and Daphne both have lives that many would envy - careers, husbands, families, but with each carrying around a bit of extra weight they decide to make a big change and go to a remote Vermont mansion to hopefully send their lives in new directions.
The experience at Waisted was an interesting behind the scenes. It reminded me of the tv show The Biggest Loser and although I didn't watch that show religiously I caught it a few times and I wondered how close some of these women experiences were to that show. To hear how hard they were working and what little change they would see in their bodies was so hard to read.
Alice and Daphne both have lives that many would envy - careers, husbands, families, but with each carrying around a bit of extra weight they decide to make a big change and go to a remote Vermont mansion to hopefully send their lives in new directions.
The experience at Waisted was an interesting behind the scenes. It reminded me of the tv show The Biggest Loser and although I didn't watch that show religiously I caught it a few times and I wondered how close some of these women experiences were to that show. To hear how hard they were working and what little change they would see in their bodies was so hard to read.
stephanitely's review against another edition
2.0
Do you ever finish reading a book and then feel super confused? That's how I felt with this one. I wasn't quite sure what message the author wanted the readers to come away with.
Like do we still hate our fat bodies or no?
Also there were way too many things this book tried to focus on. I think it would've been way more interesting if it focused solely on the Waisted Documentary process and that whole scam. That's the only reason I kept reading. I was hoping that at least that scenario would leave me fulfilled but I was disappointed. This book was just... alright.
Like do we still hate our fat bodies or no?
Also there were way too many things this book tried to focus on. I think it would've been way more interesting if it focused solely on the Waisted Documentary process and that whole scam. That's the only reason I kept reading. I was hoping that at least that scenario would leave me fulfilled but I was disappointed. This book was just... alright.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
2.0
Alice and Daphne has issues with their weight and agrees to join a weightloss program that are going to be aried on TV. But its not at all what it seems. I didn't enjoy it. Didn't think it was tastefully done and left more to be wished for the story. There was a lot of hateful language in this book especially about weight and some blaming. But maybe I should have realize it would contain that. But I wanted more from it
karenleagermain's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a copy of Randy Susan Meyers’ novel. Waisted, in exchange for an honest review.
Weight gain has been a life-long struggle for Alice. However, she met her husband, Clancy, when she was going through an tough time in her life, which resulted in weight loss. Now, over the years, which included giving birth, the pounds have piled back on and Clancy feels that his wife is not the woman that he married. Through this strain in their relationship, Alice runs off to participate in a weight loss reality show called “Waisted.” She does not tell Clancy until she has left for the show, because Clancy is in the documentary film industry and “Waisted” is being produced by his biggest rival.
During the filming of “Waisted,” Alice becomes fast-friends with her roommate and fellow contestant, Daphne. Daphne has a supportive husband, but she has a negative body image from her overbearing mother. Daphne has even tried bulimia to keep the pounds off.
From the first day of filming it is clear that “Waisted” is not the show that was originally pitched to the contestants. Rather than a wellness retreat, “Waisted” is more of a hardcore bootcamp. The women are stripped of their possessions, including phone access, and are made to wear unflattering jumpsuits. They are belittled, starved, and exercised to exhaustion. When they are given amphetamines to push their weight loss goals to unsafe levels, the women seek to find out the truth about the production and what they discover is shocking.
Meyers tackles heavy themes of self-love, body acceptance, and family dynamics. I found her overall message to be positive and uplifting. I especially like a scene in the novel where Daphne, a make-up artist by trade, helps an disadvantaged teenager build her self-confidence, by giving her skin care and make-up tips to cover extreme acne. I liked how it showed that it is okay to both love yourself and acceptable to use fashion or make-up: the two don’t have to be separate. Earlier in the story, Daphne hides behind her make-up, using her skills to create a distraction from her body, highlighting features like her beautiful eyes. However, as soon as Daphne lets go worrying about her body, her make-up becomes part of her self-expression, rather than a shield.
Alice and Daphne are two strong, female protagonists and the story is structured to alternate between their lives at home and their time on “Waisted.” The weight issues aside, I think many women will find aspects of these character’s lives and emotions to be relatable. I was rooting for these characters to succeed, especially Alice dealing with her emotionally abusive husband. I found Daphne’s desperation, including the use of pills and bulimia, to be heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, the plot for Waisted is very messy. An exciting story opportunity was missed with the reality show aspect. “Waisted” is quite horrific and we learn that the aim of the show is to expose the extremes that women will go to in the name of weight loss. Its purpose is to be shocking and not to actually help these women meet their goals. The concept of this could have made a potentially intriguing story, especially holding a mirror to the way our society gobbles up these types of shows. I have no doubt that if a real version of “Waisted” aired on American television, it would be both a sensation and crucified. People would not admit to enjoying it, but they would secretly watch it and the ratings would be high. We live in a time where it is both still socially acceptable to shame fat people and one where we promote the idea of having a positive body image. I think things will shift towards being more body positive, but we are not there quite yet. Meyer had a real opportunity to play with the larger societal impact of a show like “Waisted” and that would have been intriguing.
Unfortunately, the women’s participation in “Waisted” fizzles. They leave the show and make efforts to expose the producers, but there is not a truly satisfying conclusion to this issue. I was let-down. I felt like the story was heading in the direction of making a real statement against the reality television production, but the plot meandered and focused more on the individual relationships that the main characters have with their families. This was important too of course, especially in the area of character development and growth, but it was far less interesting than the fallout from “Waisted.”
Waisted is strong in character development, but weak in plot. Often, I can overlook weak plots if the characters are great, but in this case, I can’t overlook the missed opportunities in the storyline. Although Waisted tackles important and sensitive topics, it only skims the surface and goes for cliches. For this reason, I can’t recommend it.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
Weight gain has been a life-long struggle for Alice. However, she met her husband, Clancy, when she was going through an tough time in her life, which resulted in weight loss. Now, over the years, which included giving birth, the pounds have piled back on and Clancy feels that his wife is not the woman that he married. Through this strain in their relationship, Alice runs off to participate in a weight loss reality show called “Waisted.” She does not tell Clancy until she has left for the show, because Clancy is in the documentary film industry and “Waisted” is being produced by his biggest rival.
During the filming of “Waisted,” Alice becomes fast-friends with her roommate and fellow contestant, Daphne. Daphne has a supportive husband, but she has a negative body image from her overbearing mother. Daphne has even tried bulimia to keep the pounds off.
From the first day of filming it is clear that “Waisted” is not the show that was originally pitched to the contestants. Rather than a wellness retreat, “Waisted” is more of a hardcore bootcamp. The women are stripped of their possessions, including phone access, and are made to wear unflattering jumpsuits. They are belittled, starved, and exercised to exhaustion. When they are given amphetamines to push their weight loss goals to unsafe levels, the women seek to find out the truth about the production and what they discover is shocking.
Meyers tackles heavy themes of self-love, body acceptance, and family dynamics. I found her overall message to be positive and uplifting. I especially like a scene in the novel where Daphne, a make-up artist by trade, helps an disadvantaged teenager build her self-confidence, by giving her skin care and make-up tips to cover extreme acne. I liked how it showed that it is okay to both love yourself and acceptable to use fashion or make-up: the two don’t have to be separate. Earlier in the story, Daphne hides behind her make-up, using her skills to create a distraction from her body, highlighting features like her beautiful eyes. However, as soon as Daphne lets go worrying about her body, her make-up becomes part of her self-expression, rather than a shield.
Alice and Daphne are two strong, female protagonists and the story is structured to alternate between their lives at home and their time on “Waisted.” The weight issues aside, I think many women will find aspects of these character’s lives and emotions to be relatable. I was rooting for these characters to succeed, especially Alice dealing with her emotionally abusive husband. I found Daphne’s desperation, including the use of pills and bulimia, to be heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, the plot for Waisted is very messy. An exciting story opportunity was missed with the reality show aspect. “Waisted” is quite horrific and we learn that the aim of the show is to expose the extremes that women will go to in the name of weight loss. Its purpose is to be shocking and not to actually help these women meet their goals. The concept of this could have made a potentially intriguing story, especially holding a mirror to the way our society gobbles up these types of shows. I have no doubt that if a real version of “Waisted” aired on American television, it would be both a sensation and crucified. People would not admit to enjoying it, but they would secretly watch it and the ratings would be high. We live in a time where it is both still socially acceptable to shame fat people and one where we promote the idea of having a positive body image. I think things will shift towards being more body positive, but we are not there quite yet. Meyer had a real opportunity to play with the larger societal impact of a show like “Waisted” and that would have been intriguing.
Unfortunately, the women’s participation in “Waisted” fizzles. They leave the show and make efforts to expose the producers, but there is not a truly satisfying conclusion to this issue. I was let-down. I felt like the story was heading in the direction of making a real statement against the reality television production, but the plot meandered and focused more on the individual relationships that the main characters have with their families. This was important too of course, especially in the area of character development and growth, but it was far less interesting than the fallout from “Waisted.”
Waisted is strong in character development, but weak in plot. Often, I can overlook weak plots if the characters are great, but in this case, I can’t overlook the missed opportunities in the storyline. Although Waisted tackles important and sensitive topics, it only skims the surface and goes for cliches. For this reason, I can’t recommend it.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit that, at first, I really didn't care for this book. Maybe it's because I've struggled with my weight most of my life. Maybe it was because I empathized with these women and didn't like the way they saw themselves and how other people treated them. And then to witness the humiliation and abuse that they went through at the weight loss program—it was just too much.
But I powered on because I love Randy's stories and I have read them all. I knew she wouldn't let me down. As the women work through the program and come out the other side—one way or another—it was uplifting to see what strong women who feel good about themselves can accomplish. This should be a life lesson for all of us, don't you think?
While I'll have to be honest and say that this is not my favorite book by this author, it is definitely one that all of us should read, if for no other reason than to learn to be more accepting and understanding of those who are different from us. And that you are good enough, just the way you are.
But I powered on because I love Randy's stories and I have read them all. I knew she wouldn't let me down. As the women work through the program and come out the other side—one way or another—it was uplifting to see what strong women who feel good about themselves can accomplish. This should be a life lesson for all of us, don't you think?
While I'll have to be honest and say that this is not my favorite book by this author, it is definitely one that all of us should read, if for no other reason than to learn to be more accepting and understanding of those who are different from us. And that you are good enough, just the way you are.
valdez's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jennie_cole's review against another edition
4.0
I anticipate this book to have very mixed reactions. Waisted is the story of seven women who go to a retreat in Vermont to learn how to accept themselves and heal in order to lose weight and be the size they are meant to be. However once they get there they very quickly learn the next seven weeks will not be what they expected.
That sounds like the premise of a horror book and for some it would be. The story focuses on Alice and Daphne. Alice is a mixed race woman in her mid thirties who grew up surrounded by unconditional love. After six years of marriage and weight gain she learns about this followup documentary from her documentarian husband and runs off to lose weight in order to get his love back. Daphne is mother of two teenagers and wife of a saintly husband, but she grew up the largest of her family with a mother always wanting her to diet.
This book is about how these women find their inner strength and learn that they are strong capable women no matter what they look like on the outside. While this is fiction I definitely feel like this is a motivational story that anyone can find something to take away.
That sounds like the premise of a horror book and for some it would be. The story focuses on Alice and Daphne. Alice is a mixed race woman in her mid thirties who grew up surrounded by unconditional love. After six years of marriage and weight gain she learns about this followup documentary from her documentarian husband and runs off to lose weight in order to get his love back. Daphne is mother of two teenagers and wife of a saintly husband, but she grew up the largest of her family with a mother always wanting her to diet.
This book is about how these women find their inner strength and learn that they are strong capable women no matter what they look like on the outside. While this is fiction I definitely feel like this is a motivational story that anyone can find something to take away.