Skinny Bitching: A thirty-something woman mouths off about age angst, pregnancy pressure, and the dieting battles you'll never win

by Jenny Lee

In her acclaimed books I Do. I Did. Now What?! and What Wendell Wants , Jenny Lee hilariously chronicled the milestones of getting married and getting a dog. Now she takes on the most terrifying milestone of getting older.

Tackling everything from the peer pressure to have children to resisting the siren call of suburbia, Skinny Bitching delivers unsparingly witty commentary

• What to do when you actually start breaking out again like you did in junior high school (how is that even possible?)

• Saying good-bye to going to bars, seeing bands, and generally being cool

• Finally facing the fact that those extra ten pounds are never coming off

• Dealing with the fact that just when you finally know what you want out of a husband, it’s too late to exchange him

In a hilarious and poignant homage to thirty-something women everywhere, Jenny Lee lets us in on her most intimate secrets as she transforms her modern-day angst into something timeless, moving, and unfailingly funny.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Humor, Essays, Chick Lit

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

NB: There are more than one author named Jenny Lee on GR’s database. This is the general catch-all profile.

Reviews

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some parts were quite funny (the chapter on the tomagotchi), but many were just a bit too whiny for my taste. I did really enjoy the bits about Jenny's mother, though!

[Giovanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’d at 32%.

The only good thing I can say about this book as that it’s no longer on my TBR.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This autobiography is about just another shallow empty brained talentless wannabe writer. Since I learnt nothing from it I would have expected to at least be entertained by what I read but there's no entertainment value in this work whatsoever.
If you're thinking about reading this don't even bother. It's just a series of meaningless events in a woman's life that don't really lead to any conclusion.

[Mary Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!!! So many relevant stories in the book especially on the battles of diet, dealing with moms and the general Asian family pressures.
Tomagotchi baby - yes!!! I remember this toy except I think I had the pet version. My egg hatched a puppy which then promptly died due to my lack of interest in taking care of it.
Some hilarious quotes from the book that had me in splits.

"When it comes to women and their relationships with scales, there's no room for logic (I'm convinced that logic adds at least a pound or two)"
"....decide that the scale may actually be extremely dirty, and may have accumulated some added dust weight or something."

low carb diet - "..doing the low-carb thing lately....I am broken-hearted over my breakup with pancakes. My name is Jenny and it's been over 165 days since my last pancake.)"

zits - "cruise ship docked on your face right now, but with any luck, in a week's time, the ship will set sail (hopefully not to another part of your face-you hope it freakin' sinks)"

"I love TV and could not be held responsible for my actions if something happened to my TiVo."
"I have some really great friends. (No, no-I mean in addition to Rachel, Ross, and Monica, whom I shall cherish even in reruns.)"

"give our money to anyone hungry in foreign countries (by hungry we obviously didn't mean those dieting)."

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical chic lit griping about failed diet plans and getting older. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I could have related to more of her angst (I don't get into a tissy over dieting and acne...I don't think I've ever even tried a diet). There was enough that I could relate to (such as realizing that everyone around you is having children while you're still enjoying married life) that I still found it an amusing read. The author has a good sense of humor, which helped as well.

[Crystal Velasquez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I couldn't relate to most of it since it was about marriage issues. But even the parts I could relate to I didn't find all that interesting or funny. It was a lot of whining about nothing much. Kind of like that comic strip Cathy--and that ain't a compliment. It wasn't all bad, but I wouldn't really recommend it either.

[Leanne Gillespie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a funny collection of essays about a 30something woman topics covered:

• what to do when you actually start breaking out again like you did in jr high
• finally facing the fact that extra 10lbs are never coming off
• saying goodbye to going to bars, seeing bands and generally being cool

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have weird habits and strange diet hangups, this is the book to read. My favorite is how she goes on a new diet and her husband asks her what they will be eating from now on. Sounds like my house!

[Jessie Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude, this book changed my life.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of an ongoing rant about getting older and not enjoying the ride. A little too whiny for me, although the book has its funny moments.

[Karen]

somewhat entertaining sarcastic look at a women's life in American mainstream culture in the city, and the uphill battle of weight/image/sainity/health maintenance.

[Marcy Jacobowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will never eat meat again!!!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came at the perfect time. I was approaching the big 3-0 and really loved her advice and stories. She made me laugh. I saw a lot of myself in this book.

[Angeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, a book that understands why my anguish each time I end up in the Junior's section of Target.

[Lesa PA · Rating 5 out of 5]

another knock out of the park book for Jenny Lee

[Cie · Rating 3 out of 5]

champagne taste ... that's what i have in common with this author.

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest, best books I have read!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great books. Jenny Lee is just an Asian version of Jen Lancaster!

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has interesting and funny moments, but mostly boring. Disappointed as I had high hopes for it.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book to read

[Dena Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun.
Fit where I am right now.

[Aubree]

Funny so far