What do you think?
Rate this book
Fat Chick Goes AWOL: 2,600 Miles in an Armchair on Wheels
Fat Chick is a 30-something accountant who dreams of cycling, hiking and paddling her way around the world, starting with her own country, Australia. But at a whopping 130kgs (285lbs), she’s not exactly the poster child for human-powered travel.
On top of that, nobody will let her leave the Real World. The armchair experts won’t stop filling her head with dire predictions of being chopped up by axe murderers, run over by road trains and eaten by crocodiles. Her new personal trainer is trying to kill her with diet and exercise. And her boss just hired a hit woman to destroy Fat Chick’s trike because the accounting system needs to be fixed.
Fat Chick is determined to steer her life in the direction of her dreams, not the dreams of others, because ‘life is short, and it’s later than you think’. But the Real World is determined to keep her in its grip. Can she break free of the spider’s web and live her dreams before it’s too late?
On top of that, nobody will let her leave the Real World. The armchair experts won’t stop filling her head with dire predictions of being chopped up by axe murderers, run over by road trains and eaten by crocodiles. Her new personal trainer is trying to kill her with diet and exercise. And her boss just hired a hit woman to destroy Fat Chick’s trike because the accounting system needs to be fixed.
Fat Chick is determined to steer her life in the direction of her dreams, not the dreams of others, because ‘life is short, and it’s later than you think’. But the Real World is determined to keep her in its grip. Can she break free of the spider’s web and live her dreams before it’s too late?
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 26, 2021
Fat Chick Goes AWOL had me laughing and motivated to read on! I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. Anna Mitchel has a talent for taking you along on her adventures. She did a good job of dismissing preconceived notions that people of a certain size cannot achieve great physical endurance goals.
The book is a good read that shows that person can break free from normal life and set out into the unknown. I especially found her take that we are bound by soft chains, not the heavy metal ones, that keep us from venturing outside of our comfort zones. The soft chains are the things in our minds that mentally hold us back. Breaking those chains is hard but comes with great rewards.
The book is a good read that shows that person can break free from normal life and set out into the unknown. I especially found her take that we are bound by soft chains, not the heavy metal ones, that keep us from venturing outside of our comfort zones. The soft chains are the things in our minds that mentally hold us back. Breaking those chains is hard but comes with great rewards.
October 8, 2022
Better than I expected.
I read this book because it was about a recumbent trike. I really wanted more content on the actual riding of the trike and less about the people she met on the way. The characters she met on her trips and her wit, really pulled me into the story. She challenged my brain to read the words from people with accents and if you took the time to read it closely, she nailed it. It has been a long time since I've laughed out loud reading a book. I throughly enjoyed this and look forward to further adventures from her. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
I read this book because it was about a recumbent trike. I really wanted more content on the actual riding of the trike and less about the people she met on the way. The characters she met on her trips and her wit, really pulled me into the story. She challenged my brain to read the words from people with accents and if you took the time to read it closely, she nailed it. It has been a long time since I've laughed out loud reading a book. I throughly enjoyed this and look forward to further adventures from her. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
October 28, 2017
I'm an avid procrastinator and had been weighing up in my head whether to purchase the ebook or the hard copy - it'd been a few months, the book had already started winning prizes overseas and I still hadn't read a copy. Well, if it's not already blaringly obvious, the Fat Chick is also an incredible problem solver and had my dilemma fixed in the form of a special package deal. Done.
Knowing that I was going to be travelling to the UK this month, I was resisting the temptation of starting the book so I could enjoy on one of the hideously long flights.
I failed that, and read the book in a weekend.
Ahhhh it was so funny, so good, and I found it inspirational - I haven't bought a recumbent trike, or a map - but it kick started a special part of my brain that had mostly been left unoiled and rusting. The adventure seeker cells sputtered up and remembered when I used to be a 'Fuck it, I'm gonna do it anyway' fat chick and packed up my life in half an hour to move to the other side of the world.
It also reminded me that it's OK to not have a clear plan, and that shit sorts itself out as long as the intent is there.
I can waffle on for hours about what I liked about the book, but its something you need to read yourself. Even if adventure only whispers to you once in a blue moon, this book might just be the motivation you need.
Yeah. So my only complaint is that there wasn't enough of the book to read on the plane, and I'm very much looking forward to what comes out next.
Knowing that I was going to be travelling to the UK this month, I was resisting the temptation of starting the book so I could enjoy on one of the hideously long flights.
I failed that, and read the book in a weekend.
Ahhhh it was so funny, so good, and I found it inspirational - I haven't bought a recumbent trike, or a map - but it kick started a special part of my brain that had mostly been left unoiled and rusting. The adventure seeker cells sputtered up and remembered when I used to be a 'Fuck it, I'm gonna do it anyway' fat chick and packed up my life in half an hour to move to the other side of the world.
It also reminded me that it's OK to not have a clear plan, and that shit sorts itself out as long as the intent is there.
I can waffle on for hours about what I liked about the book, but its something you need to read yourself. Even if adventure only whispers to you once in a blue moon, this book might just be the motivation you need.
Yeah. So my only complaint is that there wasn't enough of the book to read on the plane, and I'm very much looking forward to what comes out next.
February 27, 2019
I love stories that I can relate to and this one fit the bill. I journeyed once halfway across the United States on a bicycle one summer. My Wife and I had just purchased a couple of recumbent trikes and I was searching for stories of someone using this type of vehicle to do a long distance journey. I ran across this book and I am glad I did. The author is telling her story in such humor it totally had me cracking up throughout most of the story. The author shares her experiences in such a way I could actually put myself in each experience in different places and time. If you love biographical adventure stories this is a highly preferred read in my opinion.
Read
March 27, 2021Great Book to read.
It was an enjoyable book. All the places she went to and the fun she had. What I don't understand is with all that walking or biking she done she still kept saying she is a fat chick. In my opinion she should have been skin and bones with all that exercise. Also I would have loved to see a picture of this bike she rode. It's hard to picture it on the way she describes it. All in all a good book.
It was an enjoyable book. All the places she went to and the fun she had. What I don't understand is with all that walking or biking she done she still kept saying she is a fat chick. In my opinion she should have been skin and bones with all that exercise. Also I would have loved to see a picture of this bike she rode. It's hard to picture it on the way she describes it. All in all a good book.
January 27, 2020
Fat Chick Goes AWOL is an excellent story about conquering the "soft chains" in one's life. The author's approach to challenging goals is a laugh out loud, refreshing "Fuck it, I'm gonna do it anyway." A quick, engaging read and worth getting off the couch to acquire it!
February 13, 2019
One of my favorite non-fiction books ever. And that isn't because Anna is a personal friend, but simply because this book is amazing. I am looking forward to the next publication she comes out with.
March 22, 2021
Lol funny and inspiring
The authors brand of witty humor had me wiping away tears. Definitely not a boring travel book! Hoping to see more from this author.
The authors brand of witty humor had me wiping away tears. Definitely not a boring travel book! Hoping to see more from this author.
September 13, 2021
4.5 stars. A quick, fun read.
October 20, 2024
Great fun, and laugh out loud funny.
Read
November 21, 2018Praise for Anna Bandanna. I don't know of any of my GF's that would not devour this book. Wildly funny, authentic and totally inspiring. Anna ( who doesn't really do exercise of any kind) decides to cycle alone on a recumbent bike 2,600 miles around Oz. This is an honest account of her adventure and it's Fri!kin hilarious. This is Anna's first book and I can't wait for the next. If this doesn't get you off the couch it will give you a good laugh. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews