Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp

Another "poor me story"

Really disappointed in this book. Rather than being the inspirational story it could be, Klein's telling of her life as an overweight adolescent left me thinking "yeah, so what, we've all lived through tough times". Kids are kids, mean kids are mean kids. We all learn to deal with it in our own way. I got really irritated with Klein as she continually threw her parents under the bus on several occasions, placing blame on them for her own poor choices. Even near the end, when telling the story from an adult viewpoint, she doesn't take responsibility. Her rants left me wondering if any of her family members are even still speaking to her. My advice -- skip this one.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Not for preteens

I have to admitt, I'm only half way through this book... I agree that it is exceptionally well written and poignant but this book is definitely written for adults. Let no parent be confused that this is a book to give to a preteen in hopes that she'll identify or learn something from the story. In my opinion it has way too many sexual references that are irrelevant to the story and amounts to soft porn for preteens. I'm hoping the last half of the book will give the adult retrospective look at her abnornal sexual feelings as a preteen. If it doesn't I'll be bitterly disappointed. And, no, I'm not a prudish octegenarian... I'm a young mother of 2 daughters and I would be horrified if my daughters read this book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Disgusting

I saw this book reviewed in People and thought it would be a great read. I was sorely disappointed. I didn't even get to half of it before being disgusted. I felt this book was really about the author masturbating, talking about sex, and the occasion eating session. This book is not about being an overweight child, it is about sexual thoughts along with being overweight. I would not finish reading, nor would I touch it again. I would not advise anyone to read it - especially anyone under the age of 18. Disgusting. I only gave it one star because I had to - it doesn't even deserve a star!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

It's ok - not for teens though

I have finished this book, and while I thought it was a good read, I think it's going to be re-sold to a used book seller. The book was humanizing, and put a human face to a teenage girl that had weight problems and was called names. I went through that myself as a kid, and while I wasn't called Moose, I was called other horrible names which I do not wish to bring up. However, there was an awful lot of x-rated material mentioned in this book. I dont think it was realy necessary, but hey - that stuff sells right?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Weight-y Read

Being an adolescent girl is hard, being a fat adolescent girl is even harder. There are few things in life as embarassing as being the fat kid. Everyone sees the class pictures, the lonely lunches and the sweat stained t-shirts in gym class. However, though as zoftig as she may be at home, she's one of the hot girls at fat camp, dozens of pounds lighter than most of the other campers.
But all is not well at fat camp. There are social and sexual fumblings, as well as firsthand, backstabbing and breakups, as well as a triumphant weight loss and rumor-laden return home. Fat camp and Klein's 'big' childhood are put into perspective as Klein, a now pregnant-with-twins-woman, is told by her doctor that she has to gain weight.
Klein takes readers into the trenches of the weight battle with Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp. Readers that have sometimes been fat and those who are always fat will find a champion in Klein, or at least those who want to get thinner.

Great, Easy Read!

Great book! Of course, it helps if you are able to relate to the struggles of being overweight. I found this book very light and easy to read. I enjoyed the author's style of writing and overall just really enjoyed reading it. If you grew up overweight, most likely you will identify with the same struggles as the author.

Great

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Stephanie Klein fills her text with the understanding of how teens and kids can really be. I related to every word written and her clever and classic humor really does add a little extra to her view and outspoken opinions. Klein's witty, yet still intelligent metaphors make you sure of her fun, horrible, painful, and even heartbreaking experiences. Her personality shows through the text and it makes you feel like you're having a conversation with a real person, as if her talent in writing comes totally natural.

A Great READ

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Highly recommend!

That's my name, too!

That is my immediate reaction to the title of this book. I can identify with the picture on the cover! I wanted to find out what this girl thought and did and felt. Her experience in life, with a mother who thought she had a weight problem and insisted she do something about it, and her summer sojourns at fat camp are certainly not mine, but what an interesting story she has to tell. Camp is camp, Kids are kids, and weight issues are weight issues. So the book is a slice of life in those settings, but with a slant. Enjoyable, but not something I would give to an adolescent or a prepubescent girl. Funny in parts, touching in parts but a bitingly fresh look at fat girls, fat camps and that age that we never want to go back to.

Excellent.

One of the best books I've read in a long time.

Some body issues never leave.

The book was touching sensitive issues of growing up (and out). Some how body awareness becomes more mental than physical.

Humanizing

I related to so much of the humiliation that Stephanie describes - being teased, getting back-stabbed (or black-mailed) by who you thought were your friends and the shock and confusion that goes along with it. If only everyone was so real in their writing (or in life) we'd all feel less alone. I also related to the time-line based on the music and trends that she writes about. I LOVED THAT! It made me think of things that I hadn't thought about in forever. I think it is brave how openly she writes about her relationship with her parents. Not to mention many other things. It's a must read.

Move over, here comes Moooose!

a funny, painful yet compusively readable book about the author's summer spent at fat camp. i could very much identify with stephanie's portrayal of a teen dealing with weight issues, and thought she did a great job at conveying the pathos of her situation with humor and honesty. i could feel her embarrassment and shame and confusion and finally, her joy when she finally lost her 'rolls.' i also appreciated her confusion about her parents, and how they treated her b/c of her obesity, part. as it related to her mom's self image and her father's love (or feeling a lack thereof). and i thought it was very true to life that her struggles didn't end when she lost the weight. it was as if that was just the first step in a long line of struggles to find herself.

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