Big: Stories about Life in Plus-Sized Bodies

by Christina Myers (Editor), Rohini Bannerjee, Amanda Scriver

Pop culture stereotypes, shopping frustrations, fat jokes, and misconceptions about health are all ways society systemically rejects large bodies. BIG is a collection of personal and intimate experiences of plus size women, non-binary and trans people in a society obsessed with thinness. Revealing insights that are both funny and traumatic, surprising and challenging, familiar and unexpected, 26 writers explore themes as diverse as self perception, body image, fashion, fat activism, food, sexuality, diet culture, motherhood and more. These stories offer a closer look at what it means to navigate a world designed to fit bodies of a certain size (sometimes literally) and, in turn, invites readers to ask questions about—and ultimately reconsider—our collective and individual obsession with women's bodies. Contributors include Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, Amanda Scriver, Cassie Stocks, Jo Jefferson, Layla Cameron, Rabbit Richards, Sonja Boon, Simone Blais, Tracy Manrell and other writers from across Canada, the US, and the UK.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Fat, Feminism, Anthologies

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2020

About the author

Christina Myers is a writer, editor and former journalist living on the west coast of Canada.

She is the author of THE LIST OF LAST CHANCES (2021) and HALFWAY HOME: THOUGHTS FROM MIDLIFE (2024.) She is also the editor of two anthologies, BIG (2020) and BEYOND BLUE (coming 2025.)

She has been a finalist for the Fred Kerner Book Prize, the Leacock Medal for Literary Humour, the SCWES book prize, among others, and won the 2023 Canadian Book Club Award in the fiction category.

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big is a collection of essays by larger size women. There's a lot to unpack here. We talk about discrimination, fatphobia, body issues, and the treatment of women in fat bodies. The writers talk about their feel about their bodies, their path to acceptance or non-acceptance. There are some essays by queer women and WOC, and trans individuals. Some of the essays made me reflective, and some of them made me uncomfortable. I didn't always agree with all of the essays. But I found the collection to be a good read, and thought provoking, and would recommend it.

Each essay is very individual.

[Judy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting for sure. Having been plus size most of my life, I connected with these women. I find that I still don’t want to be at this weight, but at 65 I am kind of done with going up and down, beating myself up. I have been dieting since I was 12 and I’m just not into it anymore, all those years of only thinking about weight, no more. I am just going to live life, an do things that make me happy, and if I have a burger “so be it”

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In each of these stories I found some part of myself.
Thank You.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and could identify with so many of the stories. Our book club read this last month and we had a rich discussion about equity, body positivity and the celebration and acceptance of ourselves. I highly recommend this thoughtfully written book.

[Melody Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

FOUND MYSELF IN ALMOST EVERY STORY

I have been BIG my entire life. I remember weighing 50 pounds at five-years old and my parents commenting, "50 pounds of dynamite." It wasn't until the relentless teasing of cousins and classmates did it occur to me that my size was a negative thing. I have rocked a body that would be considered enviable, bombshell status with all the unwanted attention that came with it- AND I have been plus-sized and felt completely invisible. These stories in BIG made me laugh and cry. I saw myself for all that I am and often part of that description is "fat." What I know now at the tender age of 59 is that you can be beautiful and fat simultaneously! I can be witty and intelligent: my body has zero to do with those things. I thank all the contributors for reminding me that my body is not an apology and your opinions are not welcome!

[EV · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad a collection like this exists, and I hope we'll have more of them to come. Some of the essays here were uncomfortable and difficult to read, and I had to take several breaks and make certain that I was in a good place before reading them.

With edited collections, I'm always curious about the placement of the curated essays: the beginning and final ones are the ones with the most impact, and often best reflect the opinions of the editor–the first captures the reader and prods them into continuing; the last leaves the reader with the impression of the entirety of the collection and often a take-away.

With that in mind, although the final piece was well-written, I found it frustrating that the final essay was about a victory over binge eating (not necessarily something that all plus-sized bodies do) when so many of the other essays had beautiful endings which celebrated living in plus-sized bodies. I guess the ending just left me feeling a little disappointed rather than inspired by the collection.

I hope to read more both by the editor and by the other authors!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

A diverse group of voices are represented on the subject of living large in the world. Christina Myers’ introductory essay invites you in: “this book makes you ask questions: about the way you think and talk about your own body and other people’s bodies, and about the world we live in and it’s lessons and obsessions, and about the words we use and how they shape us.”

Many essays made me laugh, but none failed to make me connect or reflect. Myers’ “The Fat Girl’s Guide to Eating and Drinking” and Hansell’s Taming the Wild Tummy” stand out for me. But so many were so beautifully phrased, examples of the creative art that can be produced when taking our most difficult struggles and using our human need to communicate, to be seen, to be heard.

Our book club discussion was rich. I recommend this book.
————-

Phew! With one hour to spare before our book club discussion…. I’m looking forward to it!

[Lyndsey Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this collection of essays written by people who are considered "plus sized" by societal standards. Some were better than others for me, but in reading through the book I really felt seen. As a plus sized person myself, there were so many times while reading that I thought to myself, "oh, that's not just me" or wanted to shout "yesssss girl!" at the author!
I often felt like I was sitting down and having a conversation with a person, sharing our life experiences, thoughts and feelings, while reading through the pages. Sometimes not the same, but often very relatable.
I feel more free having read this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was eye-opening for me. I learn a lot about others and human experience through reading, and this was no exception. I went from choked up, to laughing out loud; the writers showed me a breadth of experience I wouldn't have otherwise had insight into. The essays were a welcome breath of fresh air for a stigmatized topic. Thank you for this book.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays by woman who are bigger than what would be considered standard size. It is an empowering book that helps the reader appreciate the struggles women of a larger size face

[Kathy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book!

[Danika · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was wonderful. So raw and funny and sad. Loved it.

[Julianna Wagar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this!! I loved reading the different perspectives from real people and it was really awesome to see the representation of so many types of people.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book, but not so much the actual book. I was hoping for empowering stories of being fat, but most of the stories were about the worst things that happened to people when they were fat. Yes I said *when* they were fat.

Almost every single story mentioned dieting, growing up fat, losing weight as a teen or young adult, inevitably putting the weight back on... but so few of the stories left me feeling positive. The only one was Andrea Hansell's story of the first (and possibly only) time she wore Spanx. That was the only fun story in the whole book.

Then, right at the end was a story that I felt invalidated the purpose of the book -- Tara Mandarano's story. This was an infuriating story about a woman who wasn't fat writing desperately and longingly to be thin again. What a slap in the face as a fat reader.

Overall, this book was disappointing, often triggering (especially about childhood/teen obesity), and discussed dieting way too much. Also, there weren't any male points of view, it was almost all women and two non-binary authors.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over the span of 4 years, which encompassed my own weight-loss journey. After nearly 2 decades as a Paramedic; shift-work and toxic leadership took its toll on my mental health which led to unhealthy patterns of overeating. I retired from the career, and prioritized myself and am in a good place now 80lbs healthier. However those years I spent plus-sized were difficult: because of how I felt about my personal appearance, the challenges it added to being able to do my job, and how I was received in the world. Reading these essays encapsulated my experiences.

Almost every essay hit home, or challenged me in some way. How I thought of myself, or others, or my place amongst others. I thank the women who shared their stories, who made it easier for me to talk of my own experiences and made me consider other experiences with more acceptance.

Only 4 stars because I felt there was room for something with more inspiration.

[Heather Hendrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THESE are the true, important stories we really need in our world today! Thank you to Christina and to all the courageous writers here for sharing their hearts with us. These stories MATTER.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

These personal essays were extremely relatable.
"There is an emotional component to eating that is so much more fulfilling than anything we put into our mouths or bodies...it can be the one thing that most clearly resembles a preserver when our heads are all but drowned just below raging waters. The problem is, as we sink below the surface, the buoy we blindly seek to grasp could turn out to be an anchor."

"About 3 times per year someone I have never met sees me and feels compelled to make a comment about my body."

Because of the Fat Positivity movement many people learned that their fat bodies are worthy of respect, no matter how they looked, and it was OK to accept themselves the way they were.

WSU library

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this anthology. There were a wide variety of stories chosen - some funny, some sad. 4 stars because I felt there could have been more done to thread them together/ organize. The book felt a little “jumpy” at points.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for different perspectives of self and society.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was this book 2 decades ago? So brilliant.