Book Review | 8½ Stone by Liz Jones #BlogTour

8½ Stone by Liz Jones

Published: 14 May 2020, Matthew James Publishing

Inspired by her own long-term struggles with an eating disorder, Liz Jones’ debut comic novel Eight and a Half Stone is an honest look at how women view their bodies, and themselves.

About the Book

When I reach eight and a half stone:

I will be able to shop in Topshop. If only I could fit in a size 10 or an 8, just walk in a shop and not even have to try it on because let’s face it I will be straight up and down, then everything would slot neatly into place, completing the easiest jigsaw puzzle in the world: all straight edges.

I will be able to go swimming and not displace all the water and create a tsunami.

I will fit in changing rooms, without banging my elbows or exposing the moon of my arse through the curtain when I bend over.

I will be able to fit behind the narrow benches at Ronnie Scott’s to listen to jazz instead of being offered a chair, at the end.

I will be promoted and not have my desk moved to inside the stationery cupboard.

Swathi’s Thoughts

The Book begins with Pam’s list of top 14 favorite chocolates with her own mouth-watering reasons. That’s when I realised anyone who loves good food is about to have a fun time reading this book.

The book follows the life of an overweight mother of twins in her 40s who is obsessed with food. She is judged harshly by the society she is in. A very honest, brave portrayal of a simple woman’s life as she suffers rude glances from her on-lookers, her friends, relatives and literally everyone. Written from the perspective of Pam, I can almost feel her. I know it’s how every woman feels about her body – overweight or not. Every time I eat, or when people watch me eating a food with love, I wonder what they might think. I know for a fact that I am not the only women with such thoughts. I guess it’s just the way we are wired.

I liked the narration of the author right from the first chapter. It’s a mix of humor and empathy that almost reflects every woman’s life story. I applaud the author for her attempt on such a tender topic and I must say, it’s written with appropriate care and delicacy. It’s a light read and I’d recommend it for women out there who are looking for an uplifting, humor-filled book to binge upon.

Many thanks to Martina from Midas PR for having me on the Blog Tour for the book. All opinions are solely mine.

Amazon

About Liz Jones

Liz Jones has millions of readers across the world and was shortlisted five times in the last six years as Columnist of the Year at the British Press Awards and Columnist of the Year 2012 at the BSME awards. Liz Jones, former editor-in-chief of Marie Claire — where she ran a high profile campaign to ban skinny models — fashion editor at the Daily Mail and now columnist at the Mail on Sunday, grew up in Essex, and suffered from eating disorders from the age of 11 until her late thirties.