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Getting Waisted: A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin
Monica Parker bridges the divide between serial dieter's survival guide and memoir, taking readers on a hilariously funny yet bumpy ride from chubby baby to chunky adult.
In Getting Waisted, Monica begins every chapter with a diet she committed to and reveals how much weight, money, and self-esteem she lost, then she tells how much weight she gained when she fell off the wagon. After all, "no one tells a short person to get taller, or a tall person to get shorter, but fat people hear about their bodies all the time." From Living Large in a size zero world to jumping into the dating pool without causing a tidal wave of angst, Monica learns that when you stop buying what the diet-devils are selling and start liking yourself, life is far more rewarding. When Mr. Right appears out of thin air, will she run back to the catalogue of Mr. Wrongs out of fear? Readers will laugh and cry as she realizes that while she thought it was her body that was in the way, it was really what she kept in her head that needed adjusting.
Ultimately, Getting Waisted is an inspirational look at life through society's warped fun-house mirror, but Monica's reflection tells the real everyone is always under construction and we are all flawed, chipped, and dented, but that doesn't mean we're not interesting, vital, and sexy.
In Getting Waisted, Monica begins every chapter with a diet she committed to and reveals how much weight, money, and self-esteem she lost, then she tells how much weight she gained when she fell off the wagon. After all, "no one tells a short person to get taller, or a tall person to get shorter, but fat people hear about their bodies all the time." From Living Large in a size zero world to jumping into the dating pool without causing a tidal wave of angst, Monica learns that when you stop buying what the diet-devils are selling and start liking yourself, life is far more rewarding. When Mr. Right appears out of thin air, will she run back to the catalogue of Mr. Wrongs out of fear? Readers will laugh and cry as she realizes that while she thought it was her body that was in the way, it was really what she kept in her head that needed adjusting.
Ultimately, Getting Waisted is an inspirational look at life through society's warped fun-house mirror, but Monica's reflection tells the real everyone is always under construction and we are all flawed, chipped, and dented, but that doesn't mean we're not interesting, vital, and sexy.
278 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Monica Parker
4 books14 followersMonica Parker was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland until the age of thirteen when she immigrated with her parents to Toronto, Canada. Her television career began when she created, wrote and starred in an outrageous exercise show for an independent TV station. She went on to write for numerous television series and appear on stage and in film and television both in Canada and the United States, working with such notable talents as Anthony Hopkins, Michael Douglas and Kirstie Alley. As a producer, Monica has focused on socially relevant television movies such as Hunger Point about anorexia, starring Barbara Hershey and Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks; and The Party Never Stops, a story about the deadly results of binge drinking which garnered a Prism award nomination for its star, Nancy Travis.
Monica is currently starring in her insightful and funny one-woman show; Sex, Pies & A Few White Lies which spawned her soon-to-be published funny but true non-fiction anti-diet book, Getting Waisted - A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin. It’s a book that speaks to everyone who can identify with having struggled over and over to lose weight only to gain it back time after time. Her story is funny and painful but it’s also inspirational She believes that some people are just not meant to be sylph-like and she is only too happy to be their “Pie” Piper.
Amongst Monica’s many accolades, she has recently been asked to serve as an Advisory Board Member at Humber College’s prestigious Television Writing and Producing Program. She is a much in demand speaker and thought leader in a topic near and near to her heart; “Self-love instead of Self-loathe. Monica currently has a recurring role on SciFy’s hit show; Defiance.
Monica has been married since dinosaurs roamed the earth to her wonderful, patient and sainted husband Gilles and is mother to their less patient but none-the-less wonderful 28-year-old son Remy. They currently split their time between Toronto and Los Angeles but are determined to find the perfect cottage on a magical Muskoka lake and spend as much time there, as possible.
Monica is currently starring in her insightful and funny one-woman show; Sex, Pies & A Few White Lies which spawned her soon-to-be published funny but true non-fiction anti-diet book, Getting Waisted - A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin. It’s a book that speaks to everyone who can identify with having struggled over and over to lose weight only to gain it back time after time. Her story is funny and painful but it’s also inspirational She believes that some people are just not meant to be sylph-like and she is only too happy to be their “Pie” Piper.
Amongst Monica’s many accolades, she has recently been asked to serve as an Advisory Board Member at Humber College’s prestigious Television Writing and Producing Program. She is a much in demand speaker and thought leader in a topic near and near to her heart; “Self-love instead of Self-loathe. Monica currently has a recurring role on SciFy’s hit show; Defiance.
Monica has been married since dinosaurs roamed the earth to her wonderful, patient and sainted husband Gilles and is mother to their less patient but none-the-less wonderful 28-year-old son Remy. They currently split their time between Toronto and Los Angeles but are determined to find the perfect cottage on a magical Muskoka lake and spend as much time there, as possible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 21, 2014
" I was starving-not in a third-world famine kind of way, but in a deprived food-loving, fat-girl kind of way"- Getting Waisted
Like many woman I have been on and off the diet bandwagon more times than I can count. Like my mother and her mother before her, I have become obsessed with my weight. Ironically whether I was fat or slim, the obsession never ceased.
This very relatable story follows one woman's slow acceptance of her body. It is humorous and witty and I really enjoyed reading about all of the amusing, if not horrifying diets that she has tried. However most of the novel centers on her insecurities and at times it can be hard to swallow all the negativity.
It was sad that it took her so long to finally accept who she was. On the other hand this novel was a good wake up call, to stop wasting your life and money wishing you are something you're not and to just live your life.
Overall I thought that the humour was Grade A and I loved how the novel was set up with each chapter highlighting a different diet she had tried, however the book does sometimes veer a little too closely to depressing for those looking for a funny and light read. 3.5/5
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Like many woman I have been on and off the diet bandwagon more times than I can count. Like my mother and her mother before her, I have become obsessed with my weight. Ironically whether I was fat or slim, the obsession never ceased.
This very relatable story follows one woman's slow acceptance of her body. It is humorous and witty and I really enjoyed reading about all of the amusing, if not horrifying diets that she has tried. However most of the novel centers on her insecurities and at times it can be hard to swallow all the negativity.
It was sad that it took her so long to finally accept who she was. On the other hand this novel was a good wake up call, to stop wasting your life and money wishing you are something you're not and to just live your life.
Overall I thought that the humour was Grade A and I loved how the novel was set up with each chapter highlighting a different diet she had tried, however the book does sometimes veer a little too closely to depressing for those looking for a funny and light read. 3.5/5
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2014
I frequently peruse Amazon for new books much like many women window shop for new clothes; My reading wish list is already too long but I am an addict with access to the Kindle Buffet, which is how I stumbled upon Getting Waisted. I don't usually read books like this but the title, as well as, the cover spoke to me. I was sick of seeing titles like "Loose 40 pounds in 40 minutes" and after reading the description I thought that I would be reading about how diets that make amazing claims really worked for Monica. What I got was that and so much more!
In actuality, Getting Waisted is Monica Parker 's life story and as a reader and a woman I'm very thankful that she took the time to share it with me. Getting Waisted is an honest depiction of her life, although at times it was so hilarious that I had to question if what I was reading was in fact, really fiction. I laughed so much that I cried until I got to sections where Monica shared the most private moments of her life...and then I cried some more.
I enjoyed this book immensely. In a world where "female unhappiness is really big business" it was refreshing to find Monica's fierce tale of love, laughter and acceptance. It is a book that will travel with me long after I forget the protagonists' name in Gone Girl or even who was Waiting For Godot. It is a book that I look forward to sharing with my friends, and even my own daughter when the time comes. I feel that I was very fortunate to find (and to find the time to read) this book which is why I took the time to write this, in the hopes that you too would take some time for yourself to meet my new friend Monica.
In actuality, Getting Waisted is Monica Parker 's life story and as a reader and a woman I'm very thankful that she took the time to share it with me. Getting Waisted is an honest depiction of her life, although at times it was so hilarious that I had to question if what I was reading was in fact, really fiction. I laughed so much that I cried until I got to sections where Monica shared the most private moments of her life...and then I cried some more.
I enjoyed this book immensely. In a world where "female unhappiness is really big business" it was refreshing to find Monica's fierce tale of love, laughter and acceptance. It is a book that will travel with me long after I forget the protagonists' name in Gone Girl or even who was Waiting For Godot. It is a book that I look forward to sharing with my friends, and even my own daughter when the time comes. I feel that I was very fortunate to find (and to find the time to read) this book which is why I took the time to write this, in the hopes that you too would take some time for yourself to meet my new friend Monica.
April 24, 2014
Monica was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Her mother was an Austro-Hungarian Jew who escaped Austria during the Nazi invasion. Her father was a "musty" fifty-year-old virgin Englishman. It wasn't a love match ... they married, did it once and her mother got the British residency she wanted. They would spend years living together and apart, depending on convenience. When Monica was ten, the family moved to Toronto where her mother eventually became a dressmaker.
This is Monica's story of being a larger woman who was always trying to lose weight so she could fit in and be accepted. When she was an adult, she worked in her mom's dressmaking shop and eventually became an actress, writer and producer in LA. Each chapter begins with a diet she had tried (such as Dexadrine, Fen Phen, bananas and milk, Jenny Craig, receiving injections of urine of pregnant women and more), how much it cost her, how much weight she lost and how much weight she gained ... and the details of what was happening in her life at that time.
I enjoyed this book and liked the writing style, which I found honest and entertaining. Monica's story was funny yet sad at times. She seems like the kind of person you could sit and have a cup of tea or a glass of wine with and have a great time talking and laughing.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2014/04...
This is Monica's story of being a larger woman who was always trying to lose weight so she could fit in and be accepted. When she was an adult, she worked in her mom's dressmaking shop and eventually became an actress, writer and producer in LA. Each chapter begins with a diet she had tried (such as Dexadrine, Fen Phen, bananas and milk, Jenny Craig, receiving injections of urine of pregnant women and more), how much it cost her, how much weight she lost and how much weight she gained ... and the details of what was happening in her life at that time.
I enjoyed this book and liked the writing style, which I found honest and entertaining. Monica's story was funny yet sad at times. She seems like the kind of person you could sit and have a cup of tea or a glass of wine with and have a great time talking and laughing.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2014/04...
September 18, 2018
This book wasn't what I thought it would be. I thought it would be a funny book filled with stories of crazy diets. As a former ballet dancer who had people pressuring me to lose weight and having tried many of these things myself, I was looking forward to it. Instead, the diets were way in the background, merely chapter headings. It's the story of a life that started off sad and the journey toward happiness.
The first two thirds I felt didn't tell her story as much as list things that happened, however by the end, as she began to like herself more, the stories became more stories, and by the end I started to like her too.
I'm sure this was a difficult book to write, it's always easy to read about other people's pain that to write about our own, but in reading about others, it makes it easier to put our own lives in perspective.
The first two thirds I felt didn't tell her story as much as list things that happened, however by the end, as she began to like herself more, the stories became more stories, and by the end I started to like her too.
I'm sure this was a difficult book to write, it's always easy to read about other people's pain that to write about our own, but in reading about others, it makes it easier to put our own lives in perspective.
March 2, 2014
I may not be the target audience for Getting Waisted: A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin, but I found much universality in the themes of the book. Monica Parker has created a very clever narrative which sneaks up on you with empathy and humor. She exposes her darkest, inner secrets and longings while making me laugh and relate. There is not a chance in hell that I would ever be brave enough to bare my soul or secrets in such an exposed manner. It's a testament to Parker's writing talents that someone as far removed from her target audience as me would come to learn something about myself and the world around me.
I enjoyed the anecdotes, the characters and the constant struggle she went through. In many ways, I found Getting Waisted: A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin similar in tone and quality to one of my favorites — A Heartbreak Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. That's how good this is!
I enjoyed the anecdotes, the characters and the constant struggle she went through. In many ways, I found Getting Waisted: A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin similar in tone and quality to one of my favorites — A Heartbreak Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. That's how good this is!
March 10, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed Monica Parker's openess on a topic that is seldom openly discussed. Her biting humor and storytelling sbility kept me raptly engaged throughout, from her European birth of an Austrian mother and British father who detest each other, to a Canadian upbringing, then to appearance-obsessed L.A. for a career in the entertainment industry.
It is a serious subject, exposing one's insecurities and private hell, but Parker weaves in many laugh-out-loud scenarios and one-liners so it doesn't become a downer. Best of all, she marries a steadfast man who delights her and loves her just as she is. Although it ends rather abruptly, missing what I felt was a teaching opportunity to expand on her conclusions, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever struggled with weight or body image.
It is a serious subject, exposing one's insecurities and private hell, but Parker weaves in many laugh-out-loud scenarios and one-liners so it doesn't become a downer. Best of all, she marries a steadfast man who delights her and loves her just as she is. Although it ends rather abruptly, missing what I felt was a teaching opportunity to expand on her conclusions, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever struggled with weight or body image.
April 7, 2014
Getting Waisted is a little out of my usual reads, but I found myself quickly blazing through it. I'm not entirely fond of biographies, but I found myself chuckling here and there, and finding some understanding and comfort in knowing that some of my fears and my paranoias are shared by fellow human beings.
It's a funny, sweet, sometimes tragic book, and the author had this amazing ability to show herself under an absolute critical light, pulling no punches and not trying to hide anything at all. She just shows openly her mistakes, her insanities, and her outright moments of "WTF".
The whole blurb about the diets wound up not having that much importance as I expected (they got mentioned at the start of the chapter, and that was it), but all in all, it was an enjoyable read.
It's a funny, sweet, sometimes tragic book, and the author had this amazing ability to show herself under an absolute critical light, pulling no punches and not trying to hide anything at all. She just shows openly her mistakes, her insanities, and her outright moments of "WTF".
The whole blurb about the diets wound up not having that much importance as I expected (they got mentioned at the start of the chapter, and that was it), but all in all, it was an enjoyable read.
October 22, 2014
Monica Parker writes an amusing if not occasionally redundant book on the efforts and fad diets we use to try to lose weight. A memoir, she walks us through her life from childhood to present. It is fun to read the names of the diets she tried, many of which I had never heard of. The end result was nearly always the same (and a lesson I still struggle to learn myself)- fad diets don't work. They simply don't work.
I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars. I'm glad I read it.
PS- I got this book as an ARC via Netgalley.
April 8, 2014
This is a memoir, taking readers back to the time before she was born and seems to suggest that she was pre-destined to be fat with the various issues she faced right from the time she was born. Food, became Monica’s drug of choice as she ate her way from being a chubby baby to a large adult, feeling neglected and alone, laughed at and becoming the butt of many fat-jokes....Read more here: http://everydaygyaan.com/2014/04/moni...
March 30, 2014
Wonderful. Although I can't relate to everything the author writes about, I can relate to a lot of it & that makes me appreciate that she wrote this book. It was funny and sometimes sad but ultimately very relatable.
did-not-finish
July 27, 2016Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I did not finish this one because it just wasn't something I enjoyed.
I did not finish this one because it just wasn't something I enjoyed.
March 29, 2019
Trying to read more books that are fat-friendly/trying to crush fat-phobia. While I feel like this book is being advertised as that, that's not the vibe I got after reading it. But it did have one plus- the endless listing of diets (failed) and energy absolutely wasted by the author (who, honestly, I feel never truly came to a place of body acceptance and anti-diet culture mentality) was frustrating and mindblowing to the extent that I, a large lady who put myself through a fraction of the fad diets the author did, felt BAD for her; and SO GLAD I began my journey with anti-diet culture sooner than she did.
September 17, 2017
I had hoped that the book would spend more time on how the author learned to love herself. Her history of dieting was familiar and her life is interesting enough, but the payoff was just "My kid said I shouldn't have liposuction and so I didn't." This isn't a survival guide as much as it's a war story detailing all the battles but not explaining how to feel better about being fat in a society that loves thin. I'm not even given the impression that the author is done dieting. I guess I enjoyed it as an autobiography but hoped it would be more of an actual survival guide.
February 25, 2019
It was cute but it wasn't fabulous.
March 22, 2015
Getting Waisted, A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin by Monica Parker I received a free copy from Net Galley for fair review.
I gave it a five star rating. It has the ring of truth throughout. It's a comedic & sometimes tragic memoir of surviving in a society that is obsessed with thinness. The author's account should be read by everyone thin or fat that confronts prejudice & deals with insecurities.
In a weight obsessed society, there are countless people who can relate to her words. While she used humor as a line of defense, sometimes the words were 'hard to stomach'.
Here is an example of her frank sharing. "Unconsciously, I developed a personality resistant to failure; like a child's Bop Bag I stood up each time I was knocked down, and each time I grew stronger, funnier, and more powerful in my conviction that I was going to dazzle the world on my own terms. But this didn't happen without a few scratches, dents, and dings along the way."
If you want warm & fuzzy, this is not the book for you. It is often razor sharp & edged with barbs. This is not to say I did not like it. It is five star reading all the way through.
After a relentlessly harsh rejection from an agent in Hollywood she wrote: "Whatever confidence I had built up from having the best, most amazing husband & some success as a writer & actress, was now shattered."
It's so easy to allow the opinions of others to affect self-image & confidence. Her peace with herself was hard won. There are valuable insights throughout this book.
Bravo for offering tools for survival & thanks for making them available. This book can be utilized by anyone struggling with self acceptance.
Here is a potential creed to get through it all."Say grace & have grace. Bring back food. Bring back joy. Simple food & simple pleasures."
Reviews on Amazon, goodreads, google & facebook. http://www.facebook.com/InJoyfulBookR....
I gave it a five star rating. It has the ring of truth throughout. It's a comedic & sometimes tragic memoir of surviving in a society that is obsessed with thinness. The author's account should be read by everyone thin or fat that confronts prejudice & deals with insecurities.
In a weight obsessed society, there are countless people who can relate to her words. While she used humor as a line of defense, sometimes the words were 'hard to stomach'.
Here is an example of her frank sharing. "Unconsciously, I developed a personality resistant to failure; like a child's Bop Bag I stood up each time I was knocked down, and each time I grew stronger, funnier, and more powerful in my conviction that I was going to dazzle the world on my own terms. But this didn't happen without a few scratches, dents, and dings along the way."
If you want warm & fuzzy, this is not the book for you. It is often razor sharp & edged with barbs. This is not to say I did not like it. It is five star reading all the way through.
After a relentlessly harsh rejection from an agent in Hollywood she wrote: "Whatever confidence I had built up from having the best, most amazing husband & some success as a writer & actress, was now shattered."
It's so easy to allow the opinions of others to affect self-image & confidence. Her peace with herself was hard won. There are valuable insights throughout this book.
Bravo for offering tools for survival & thanks for making them available. This book can be utilized by anyone struggling with self acceptance.
Here is a potential creed to get through it all."Say grace & have grace. Bring back food. Bring back joy. Simple food & simple pleasures."
Reviews on Amazon, goodreads, google & facebook. http://www.facebook.com/InJoyfulBookR....
Read
November 12, 2025This was a book that my book club won through book movement. It is the memoir of Monica Parker, apparently a famous writer and actress in Hollywood that I have never heard of and I did't recognize her picture not the back cover either. This is her story of her struggle with her weight and her need to be accepted and loved. She is born in Scotland and moves to Canada during childhood, somehow she becomes involved in a Canadian Fitness show, although she is overweight, or as she puts it fat. She meets the love of her life in Canada, then after her parents death she decides to move to Hollywood. Why, she is already struggling with her self esteem and body issues, and she move to the most superficial place on earth and seems surprised that it causes more complexes. At some point she comes to accept that she is a fat woman in a thin society, after a meal in complete darkness of all things.
I didn't get this book. It was supposed to be super funny, and it wasn't. I mean I got a few chuckles, but nothing to write home about. Monica didn't really seem to learn to love herself, at the end of the book she is still struggling and still trying to loose weight, just not on a fad diet anymore. I think I missed the point entirely. I struggle with body issues, I have gained weight after my children were born that hasn't gone away. I am lazy though, and I haven't really tried to loose the weight. I suspect if I actually attempted and ran into a wall I would be more sympathetic to her. She never joined a gym, and the one time she used a personal trainer she decided it was too hard and fired her. I understand struggling to love your body, but it never seemed that Monica did learn to love herself.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot...
I didn't get this book. It was supposed to be super funny, and it wasn't. I mean I got a few chuckles, but nothing to write home about. Monica didn't really seem to learn to love herself, at the end of the book she is still struggling and still trying to loose weight, just not on a fad diet anymore. I think I missed the point entirely. I struggle with body issues, I have gained weight after my children were born that hasn't gone away. I am lazy though, and I haven't really tried to loose the weight. I suspect if I actually attempted and ran into a wall I would be more sympathetic to her. She never joined a gym, and the one time she used a personal trainer she decided it was too hard and fired her. I understand struggling to love your body, but it never seemed that Monica did learn to love herself.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot...
September 25, 2016
You DO realize that actors and actresses don't think up those lines themselves, don't you?
Reading the funny blurbs, I figured this was a talented youngster bursting onto the literary scene. When I realized that she was born in the post-WWII years, I wondered where she's been hiding. Then I read the bio and the bulb went on. She's a television writer - one of the unsung heroes who come up with the witty lines delivered by actors and actresses and enjoyed (and sometimes quoted) by the rest of us. And nobody knows who they are except for entertainment industry insiders.
Her story of her bizarre family and her struggle to find her place in the sun is funny and heart-felt. I'll admit that once or twice I thought she should just go to a therapist and get her head on straight and I don't think she ever really addresses that satisfactorily. However, she has a long-term, happy marriage, a grown son, and a great career, so maybe she knew what she was doing after all.
Sometimes she comes across as whiny and entitled and unreasonable, but that's her hyper-emotional, Middle-European heritage coming to the forefront. (Her Scots genes clearly never had a chance.) I think she would be a difficult person to live with, but she found a man who appreciates her and more power to both of them.
Some of the diets she references are familiar and some new to me, but it really doesn't matter. It's not a book about being fat or skinny, but a book about a woman learning to be comfortable in her own skin. Our society sends wildly mixed messages to young women and it's a rare woman under forty who isn't still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.
It's a fast, funny, and sometimes shocking read. You may or may not agree with her or sympathize with her, but I'm betting you won't put this one down until you finish it.
Reading the funny blurbs, I figured this was a talented youngster bursting onto the literary scene. When I realized that she was born in the post-WWII years, I wondered where she's been hiding. Then I read the bio and the bulb went on. She's a television writer - one of the unsung heroes who come up with the witty lines delivered by actors and actresses and enjoyed (and sometimes quoted) by the rest of us. And nobody knows who they are except for entertainment industry insiders.
Her story of her bizarre family and her struggle to find her place in the sun is funny and heart-felt. I'll admit that once or twice I thought she should just go to a therapist and get her head on straight and I don't think she ever really addresses that satisfactorily. However, she has a long-term, happy marriage, a grown son, and a great career, so maybe she knew what she was doing after all.
Sometimes she comes across as whiny and entitled and unreasonable, but that's her hyper-emotional, Middle-European heritage coming to the forefront. (Her Scots genes clearly never had a chance.) I think she would be a difficult person to live with, but she found a man who appreciates her and more power to both of them.
Some of the diets she references are familiar and some new to me, but it really doesn't matter. It's not a book about being fat or skinny, but a book about a woman learning to be comfortable in her own skin. Our society sends wildly mixed messages to young women and it's a rare woman under forty who isn't still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.
It's a fast, funny, and sometimes shocking read. You may or may not agree with her or sympathize with her, but I'm betting you won't put this one down until you finish it.
August 29, 2014
I'll be honest. I was unfamiliar with Monica Parker or her work prior to requesting this book from Net Galley. But the premise spoke to me wholeheartedly. Or maybe all bodily. I've struggled with my weight and self image for many, many years. I went into the book thinking that it'd be a light hearted commentary on body acceptance and the general refrain that fat chicks are awesome too. I probably would have been content with that.
Instead, Ms. Parker has written one of the most in depth, personal memoirs I have ever read. Oh, there's humor. There's also horror, heart break, the struggle of the spirit and the final rush of acceptance. There were so many things I could relate to in her life story. From the handsome man whose attention turns from flattering to horrific to the strained upbringing to the very deep belief that if you were thin, all the problems would melt away and you'd finally be loved. It's all there. And I felt like I had taken as much of a cathartic journey through my own life as I had hers.
"Getting Waisted" also does something that not a lot memoirs are willing to do. It shows an ugly side of celebrity that few ever talk about. Not the pop culture scandals but the deeply held notion that there's something inherently wrong or bad about heavier people, women especially. I appreciated that she tackled it with unflinching grace, giving credit to those who looked beyond her size as well as gracefully forgiving those who didn't.
I may not have known much about Ms. Parker's career before now, she assuredly has a new fan after reading this. And maybe now I can be more of a fan of myself as well.
Instead, Ms. Parker has written one of the most in depth, personal memoirs I have ever read. Oh, there's humor. There's also horror, heart break, the struggle of the spirit and the final rush of acceptance. There were so many things I could relate to in her life story. From the handsome man whose attention turns from flattering to horrific to the strained upbringing to the very deep belief that if you were thin, all the problems would melt away and you'd finally be loved. It's all there. And I felt like I had taken as much of a cathartic journey through my own life as I had hers.
"Getting Waisted" also does something that not a lot memoirs are willing to do. It shows an ugly side of celebrity that few ever talk about. Not the pop culture scandals but the deeply held notion that there's something inherently wrong or bad about heavier people, women especially. I appreciated that she tackled it with unflinching grace, giving credit to those who looked beyond her size as well as gracefully forgiving those who didn't.
I may not have known much about Ms. Parker's career before now, she assuredly has a new fan after reading this. And maybe now I can be more of a fan of myself as well.
July 9, 2014
Get Waisted by Monica Parker
What a great read for anyone--male, female, round or square. Whether you've had weight issues or not, like Ms. Parker says, "We're all foodies". I didn't expect the brutal honesty, the razor sharp humour or the excellent view of Hollywood after reading some reviews on the book. I loved the cover, (I snagged it for free) got ready for a whine but got waisted instead.
I didn't think this story was depressing nor did I ever get the impression that she was whining. The entire book centers on the way she feels about her body and she says she knew the reasoning behind them at a very young age. I felt like I watched her grow up and lyes, sometimes it was hard to "watch" her go through some of the difficult times but I felt myself really rooting for her. There's a difference in self-deprecating humor and whining. The first is a defense mechanism to draw and the other is self-ish. As for the way she talked about her parents, well...I rooted for them too! (I don't want to ruin her excellent storytelling by giving anything away.)
I must say in closing that the ending seemed abrupt the first time I read it. I made myself go back and re-read it though which is something I rarely do. But the whole book was so good, I knew it had to be something I missed. I'm so glad I did because the last couple of pages had a message that's important for all of us. I'm happy the way it turned out, just was sad to see it end.
What a great read for anyone--male, female, round or square. Whether you've had weight issues or not, like Ms. Parker says, "We're all foodies". I didn't expect the brutal honesty, the razor sharp humour or the excellent view of Hollywood after reading some reviews on the book. I loved the cover, (I snagged it for free) got ready for a whine but got waisted instead.
I didn't think this story was depressing nor did I ever get the impression that she was whining. The entire book centers on the way she feels about her body and she says she knew the reasoning behind them at a very young age. I felt like I watched her grow up and lyes, sometimes it was hard to "watch" her go through some of the difficult times but I felt myself really rooting for her. There's a difference in self-deprecating humor and whining. The first is a defense mechanism to draw and the other is self-ish. As for the way she talked about her parents, well...I rooted for them too! (I don't want to ruin her excellent storytelling by giving anything away.)
I must say in closing that the ending seemed abrupt the first time I read it. I made myself go back and re-read it though which is something I rarely do. But the whole book was so good, I knew it had to be something I missed. I'm so glad I did because the last couple of pages had a message that's important for all of us. I'm happy the way it turned out, just was sad to see it end.
March 15, 2017
Received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
This one was really difficult for me to rate. As a memoir about the author's life, I'd give it 4 stars. I loved reading about her life, and going along on her travels while she met different people and fulfilled her dreams. As a survival guide, I think it missed the mark. There is no doubt the author completely understands being fat. I struggled along with her, vigorously shaking my head and shouting many AMEN SISTERs in my head while reading. Especially when she talked about pushing people away and not being able to handle compliments. I thought, yes, this woman gets it. I just didn't get the survival guide part. Monica Parker is someone I would definitely love to sit down with and talk for hours because I truly think that we would get along and understand each other and have lots of laughs. It's a funny and touching book, I just don't see it as a survival guide.
This one was really difficult for me to rate. As a memoir about the author's life, I'd give it 4 stars. I loved reading about her life, and going along on her travels while she met different people and fulfilled her dreams. As a survival guide, I think it missed the mark. There is no doubt the author completely understands being fat. I struggled along with her, vigorously shaking my head and shouting many AMEN SISTERs in my head while reading. Especially when she talked about pushing people away and not being able to handle compliments. I thought, yes, this woman gets it. I just didn't get the survival guide part. Monica Parker is someone I would definitely love to sit down with and talk for hours because I truly think that we would get along and understand each other and have lots of laughs. It's a funny and touching book, I just don't see it as a survival guide.
June 6, 2014
This is a really funny, honest, funny memoir. Monica tells her story of her life, centered around her weight struggles and self-image issues. I think that many women will relate to her struggles and enjoy her sense of humor about it. She is an actress and comedian and shares stories about her family, about living in Beverly Hills and more. In the end, it sounds like she has realized that everyone has issues and that obsessing over your weight by going from fad diet to fad diet does much more harm than good. I received this book free to review from Netgalley. I enjoyed it very much and I highly recommend it.
April 28, 2014
Brutally Honest!
Getting Waisted is a compellingly honest book. Written in an easy to read style with humor along the way. At times it is a bit sad and then Ms. Parker writes a few chapters that bring you to laughter and joy. Each chapter begins with yet another diet – and she has tried them all – yet by the end you realize her journey isn’t over. Life continues and the success Ms. Parker has become is something to hold and savor. Enjoy! NetGalley and HCI Books provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Getting Waisted is a compellingly honest book. Written in an easy to read style with humor along the way. At times it is a bit sad and then Ms. Parker writes a few chapters that bring you to laughter and joy. Each chapter begins with yet another diet – and she has tried them all – yet by the end you realize her journey isn’t over. Life continues and the success Ms. Parker has become is something to hold and savor. Enjoy! NetGalley and HCI Books provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2014
Pure delight, whether you view yourself as overweight, underweight, too tall, too short... Monica Parker has found a way to bring humor and reality into everyday struggles. I found myself laughing and crying and cheering her on for putting down on paper what so many of us have experienced. I loved the fact that she shared her spotlight with her husband, Gilles, throughout the later part of the book. Her special relationship with him could be felt and it brought a type of intimacy to her memoir that made it all the more memorable.
November 6, 2021
In Getting Waisted Monica Parker tells the world to stop badgering women about their weight. She recounts a lifetime of dieting that only brought anguish and reinforced a sense of failure. It took decades for Parker to get off the roller-coaster and realize her considerable talents, her friends and her family were what counted. The author writes an honest portrayal of the affect on her of society's preoccupation with thin. She laces her tale with humor but the lesson is not lost.
September 27, 2014
I found this book to be well written and the theme to be all too familiar. The only major diet not mentioned that has been successful for members of my book group was weight watchers. We were all surprised it was not in the book.
I hope she was exaggerating the amount of money she has spent in her lifetime on diets.
All told it was an interesting, funny, and sad book.
I hope she was exaggerating the amount of money she has spent in her lifetime on diets.
All told it was an interesting, funny, and sad book.
April 5, 2014
A wonderful read. What woman hasn't felt the sting when she's not perceived perfect by society, and worse yet, by her own self? Monica's story is universal and you will undoubtedly see yourself as you laugh at her adventures and identify with the pain of being "imperfect." Highly recommended!
May 7, 2014
Not a diet book! It's a light read with humor about diets. If you been dieting your whole life, you will recognize some of the diets she tried during her lifetime. Interesting life story of what it is like to be fat. If you are over weight, you will relate with the author's experiences.
January 3, 2015
Although I haven't been on a diet since the late 70's, I could easily relate to this story of a fat woman trundling through a thin-obsessed world. I think even thin people (women) would be interested in the author's story.
July 13, 2014
Great book! Funny and eye opening. But, I feel like the only positive that I will take away from it was in the last couple of sentences.
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