Making It Big

by Lyndsay Russell

A funny, wicked satire on Size Zero, celebrity weight obsessed magazines, the fashion industry, the advertising industry, high society and Hollywood - no area of media fuelled ''body perfection''; bullying remains unscathed! A delicious, page-turning novel that highlights press manipulation, and hits back at the 'skinny insanity' currently gripping the western world.
Formerly published as Fat Chance, now revised and updated with a new finale.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Ebooks

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 19, 2008

About the author

With an Honours Diploma in Advertising, from her early twenties to her late forties, Lyndsay has successfully enjoyed crossover careers in copywriting, acting, radio, journalism, scriptwriting, art and photography, before moving into a new field as author/illustrator.
Her first publication was The Rainbow Weaver - a children's book she wrote and illustrated that was inspired by her 7 year old daughter. The hardback edition was released Autumn 2007 and gained national distribution, reaching core lists at both Waterstones and Borders. A new development includes a series of workshops at the Royal Academy of Music to explore its potential as a musical.




FAT CHANCE/MAKING IT BIG...

Following the success of The Rainbow Weaver, the publishers were intrigued by a funny, short story Lyndsay wrote a few years ago satirizing weight obsession. Realizing that society's fervor was increasing and the story very much 'of the moment', they commissioned her to turn it into a full length novel.


Initially called Fat Chance, unusually her debut book was first pre-released July 2008 in Hardback and large C format following two exclusive deals with Borders and the Book Club Association. It then went on general release in trade paperback size at Waterstones, WH Smiths Airports & Trains, Books Etc. Amazon and all leading independent stores.

Due to the success of the first editions, it has now been re-released in mass market format under the new title: MAKING IT BIG - with the new cover illustration by Lyndsay.

Receiving GREAT REVIEWS in top trade bibles Publisher's Weekly and Booklist, it again entered all the major stores.

MAKING IT BIG is touching a major chord with readers across the country. In the summer of 2011 it hit position 9 in UK Kindle out of 950,000 books. It remained at No.2 UK Kindle Charts Popular Women's Fiction for over 60 days.
Gaining further great press reviews, it caught the attention of the film/TV media. As a result Lee Aronsohn, the co-creator of top US sitcom show Two and A Half Men, and Executive Producer of The Big Bang Theory, purchased the film/TV option. Inviting Lyndsay to co-write the script with him in LA, the resulting project is now with top Hollywood Talent Agency UTA.

As for the book, world-wide release is scheduled for late 2013.

For more information on Lyndsay's other work, please visit any of the sites below:
hhttp://www.lrussell.com
hhttp://www.therainbowweaver.com
hhttp://www.makingitbigthebook.com

www.russellartist.com (art)

You can also follow Lyndsay on Facebook

Reviews

[Sue Burch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. What a fantastic idea! Turns the whole size zero debate totally on its head and shows how it's OK to be any size as long as you're healthy.

Using a brilliant twist on our society's obsession with weight and appearance, the author shows us how, whether we're curvy, skinny or somewhere in between, we are all hooked into the whole crazy notion - but we don't have to be!

This all makes the book sound rather serious but it really isn't! It's written with wonderful humour, great observation and a genuine affection for the characters she creates. And it's so great to have a fun read that comes down on the side of ALL women - whatever size they may be.

[Jennifer Gillette · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is okay at best. I don't know I would've read past the first chapter if not for my goal to read 52 books this year.
There actually is a semi-interesting plot there, but it is hidden by constant descriptions of the protagonist - how terribly big she is, how many disgusting (or desirable) rolls of fat she has, how incredibly, tragically overweight this huge woman is...at a size 14. And 6 feet tall. Uh, I don't think so. Even the long & frequent descriptions of how much she comes to enjoy being big girl are annoying.
I know this was written to be a bit of satire and got the whole "opposite world" bits (some are quite on-point) but it's just not that funny and becomes repetitive, somewhat insulting, and overall boring. Such a waste of a promising storyline.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this book left me rather disappointed. It did hold a few entertaining moments, but the whole thing was just too much - way too over the top - even for the “chick lit” genre. The author’s message of “size (meaning weight) doesn’t really matter” was pounded into every page. This browbeating really sucked a lot of the entertainment out.

As for the main character, well, I wanted to throw her huge/skinny body down a flight of stairs as she continued to make the same mistakes throughout the course of the novel. This redundancy really slowed down the overall pace of the book. Between the same things happening over and over (and over and over) again and the ceaseless moral message, the book lost any of that “fun to read” quality that I had hoped it would have. Truly, I felt lucky once I finished it that I had gotten it for such a reduced price - though now I know why...

[Yoey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to force myself to finish this book. The synopsis was promising but within only a few pages I had THAT feeling and wanted to set the book aside. "Now feted and adored for her curvaceously large body" - she's a size 14-16 and 6 feet tall how large could her body be?!
I kept going for the sheer hope that suddenly it would turn out to be the "wickedly funny satire" I was promised. Alas, it did not. The story became boring and repetitive and I grew to dislike "Shaz" and everyone in her life. I wish that I had gone with THAT feeling and moved on to something else.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, really different view point and you wonder where it is heading. I read it on holiday so was a quick read in a day or two but I loved the plot line. what if being thin wasn't the in thing and being fat was sexy. Characters are full of humour and I think all fatties and thinnies would enjoy this book.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - This book was a great idea essentially, although the conception was not as good as it could have been. The storyline is gripping and different. Size is obviously an issue in modern society and this book outlined it cleverly. However, I think that Russell could have continued the book at the end for another chapter or two and explained how Sharon tried to bring the world to rights over size. I know that might not be logical, but it could have given an idea of what she tried, and whether or not she had any limited successes, with size being such an important issue. The characters were in the background in this book, and none of them came across brilliantly. But I think the main theme was size, which did come across well.

Genre? - Chic Lit / Drama

Characters? - Sharon Plunkett / Debbee

Setting? - England

Series? - N/A

Recommend? - Maybe

Rating - 14/20

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's fun, intelligently and thoughtfully written. It was interesting how, when presented with an alternative view of size, how skinny gradually seems unappealing !
The heroine has no confidence in herself, and hates her body at the beginning of the book, and like a lot of women today would do anything to be skinny. Consequently she is living half a life...and the message in the book is to love yourself whatever, stop beating yourself up, and live your life.(less)
May 22, 2013 09:04am · delete

[Isabel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought this sounded interesting when I read about it in a magazine. However, the idea is better than the execution. I had to make myself finish reading it. Repetitive situations and unlikeable characters.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read which explores the issues relating to obesity with a different approach to the subject. Highly recommended for all shapes and sizes. I am looking forward to the next novel by this talented lady.

[Smriti Brar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is 3 out of 5 at best! I loved the concept though! The idea of a reversed world where skinny is out and bring oversized is celebrated was just endearing! I wouldn't put it high on recommendation but it doesn't make a bad read either.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story it made me think about how the media affect our impressions of weight and how you would handle this if it was reversed!

[Marguerite Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Settle yourself down with a frothy coffee and a cup cake and enjoy this tongue in cheek hit a size zero. This book is witty and funny and perfect for a light read

[Lauracarling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! It was just what I needed for a confidence boost, and I thoroughly appreciated the messages this author was putting across. Well worth the read!

[Veronique Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

started quite well and turned into another cosmo article.
nothing big about this book

[Dorothy Fleming · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this 3 stars. If I am honest there were moments at the beginning where I would have given it 0 stars but there are also some moments where I could have given it 5.

At the start it just seemed totally ridiculous and I thought here we go again, this is going to be utter trash. However as I got into the story I begun to enjoy the farce. It has some laugh out loud moments. What I hadn't expected was that behind the bizarre storyline it actually has an important message. This is a book that is actually worth all women reading. It puts things into perspective. Fat or thin? Makes no difference. Being fit, healthy and happy in your skin; without worrying about conforming to whatever the current fashion tells us is perfect..... this is what we should be aiming for.

A funny, wicked satire on Size Zero, celebrity weight obsessed magazines, the fashion industry, the advertising industry, high society and Hollywood - no area of media fuelled ''body perfection''; bullying remains unscathed! A delicious, page-turning novel that highlights press manipulation, and hits back at the 'skinny insanity' currently gripping the western world.
Formerly published as Fat Chance, now revised and updated with a new finale.

[Denise McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird light hearted- would not recommend became redundant

[Amie Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t even know why I bothered reading this.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine an alternate reality where size 18 and above is considered "normal" and not plus sized. Where curves and cellulite...where bulges and big....where voluptuous-ness is celebrated. Where size 0 is frowned upon, and even size 12 is considered too thin.
Imagine a world where a supermodel is size 20 at least, and where movie stars are at least size 18 (preferably above that).
Imagine a world where cakes and biscuits and chocolate, where milkshakes and softdrinks are healthy and people who order the salad are looked upon with disdain (especially if they are slender).
Sharon is a comfort eater and is constantly battling with her weight. Then she sees an advertisement for a miracle pill which will solver all her problems.
She is transported to a world where Big is Beautiful, and she becomes a supermodel and the most famous and beautiful woman in the world. She becomes Shaz.
Does this solve all her problems? Is she happier?
I really enjoyed this book; it was well written, and had a great message. Thoroughly recommended.

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn't like this book. The writing is very average, the plot could have been somewhat interesting but I found it just ended up ridiculous. A very long book for a story I thought should have been a short story.

It revolves around a girl who feels she needs to lose weight, goes to a doctor for a 'miracle cure', and ends up in an alternate universe where fat is the new thin - and the bigger the better. She very quickly gets a job as a model, becomes famous, and sleeps with many hot and famous men.

I just found it totally stupid and badly written. Unfortunately I find it very hard not to finish a book.

[Sarah Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started it on a very long, boring train journey and it's probably going to take another equally dull circumstance to get me to finish it. Sorry but while it's a good idea and the description promises so much, the reality is that a story that's meant to prove that size doesn't matter in fact revolves totally around the subject, making size matter very much indeed. And the 'poor sad, lonely, size 18-20' heroine? Just carries on the same dull stereotypes. Sigh.

[M Renata · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little wishful thinking makes for a fun escapist novel. The reversal of Sharon's experiences as a heavy weight woman makes it clear that our current demands that all women achieve a slender body are absurd. Unfortunately, we can't actually choose to live in a different world, with or without an improved body image. We only have the world as it exists today, and I don't see size acceptance getting any closer to reality.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it was fun. However, I did find the authors description of the weight on the character excessive. Pretty sure she just picked up a thesaurus and went nuts. And WHY on earth do I need to know about her "voluptuous giant breasts" Almost every chapter starts off with some description about how big her breasts are. Honestly.

[Ariane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything about this book is misty for me. Since reading it several years ago, I had forgotten mostly everything about the book--title, main character's name, setting--except for the vaguest of memories of the book's premise. I do recall that I was not into the book's alternate universe gimmick. The main character was ok and the ending was fine. To sum up, it was just ok.

[Katrina · Rating 1 out of 5]

An interesting premise poorly executed. The idea of attitudes to body size being turned on their head appealed to me, but the storyline was too thin to sustain an entire novel. Sharon is silly and shallow, and doesn't develop as a character. In addition, she doesn't seem particularly overweight for a six-footer. Disappointing.

[Kevin Söhner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah well, i bought this book during an amazon blowout thingie. The discription sounded fun to read but i had MUCH trouble to finish it. For my taste it is not very entertaining. The best part of this book is the last chapter and the Epilogue

[Anne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this way back when it first came out and I remember that I wished the author had taken the issue more seriously, why does every book about a plus sized character have to show her as being miserable. SO annoying!

[Marie Carlino · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting perspective. This book transports you into an alternate universe where everything is upside down. Aside from a convincingly created warped view of the world I found this book a bit boring. The main character is predictable and the plot is a bit exaggerated at parts.

[Sarah W · Rating 1 out of 5]

My very first 'did not finish' book. I couldn't stand it. Obviously many others loved it, but I couldn't identify with the book and loathed the characters. Just dreadful is all I can say and that's generous.

[Cath Stannard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit silly but did enjoy it, apart from the ending!