A Big, Fat, Self-Indulgent Whew

In case I hadn't yet mentioned it, the new book comes out tomorrow.   

That is, tomorrow is the official release date, although it sounds like some of you got yours early.  Sometimes bookstores put new releases out when they receive them, rather than the release date, and this fact makes both my editor and agent twitchy. 

From a publishing standpoint, I understand it's important to wait until the proper release date because then all the first week's numbers are reported together.  (It's kind of the same phenomenon as how an opening weekend at the box office determines the film's success.)  But from a reader's standpoint, if there's an author I dig and the book is on the front table prior to the official date, I don't care because I want to buy it NOW NOW NOW. 

For those of you who've already got it, I hope you liked it!  And for those who are still waiting, thank you for your patience and I hope you will like it when it arrives.

Anyway, it's always such a relief when the new book is finally, officially on shelves and I'm very excited for tomorrow.  Because that means I can begin to freak out about other stuff, like having to take thirteen flights in sixteen days and losing my luggage and how I'm going to take out a terrorist with nothing but a sharpened lipliner and some strategically applied kitten-heeled kicks which I can totally do because of all my new-found strongs and remembering to TiVo the important stuff because there's no way Fletch will willingly press record on Farmer Wants a Wife and if I'm going to accidentally drop an F-bomb on a morning show and stammering and sweating Chardonnay and if my dresses look cute (wait, of course they look cute) and whether or not critics will actually like what I've written. 

Fortunately, the first couple of media reviews are in and they are happy-making, so I'm posting them below.

From The Chicago Sun Times, by Tammy Chase

Believe it or not, losing weight can actually be a laugh riot

On the thoroughly covered-to-death topic of losing weight, consistent themes run through stories in books and women's magazines: will power, struggle, self-deprivation, rising above the odds and, oh, yes, misery. In other words, losing weight must be A Giant Sucky Experience.

Losing weight is the theme of Chicago author Jen Lancaster's third memoir, Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big or Why Pie Is Not the Answer (New American Library, $14, 380 pages). Lancaster, 40, is the very funny author of the memoirs Bitter Is the New Black and Bright Lights and Big Ass. In Such a Pretty Fat, she mercifully infuses much-needed humor into the life-altering process. "What good is finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult-onset diabetes?" she asks.

Refreshingly, Jen isn't self-loathing. She loves how she looks -- perfectly highlighted hair, well-applied makeup, her signature pearls. She unabashedly loves food. "What gets me is the 'pretty face' bit. 'Cause I won't mind being reminded I'm fat as long as you water it down first," she writes. In a mortifying restaurant experience, "my ass knocks over someone's wineglass, like, four tables away."

After a run at the Atkins diet, the food lover endures pre-packaged meals from Jenny Craig and moves on to Weight Watchers -- which takes off more pounds, though a meeting attended by people who use terms like "emotional baker" nearly make her burst out laughing. She signs up with a personal trainer named Barbie -- who apparently looks like a Barbie -- for 40-plus sessions of torture.

Victory comes haltingly at first, but it's clear she's a heroine in the War on Fat, down about 40 pounds at one point. The first time she gets the courage to go from walking a treadmill to running, "Every single bone in my body is jarred. My knees in particular are screaming and need to be iced, like, right this second," she writes. "Yet I don't care. Because I ran."

Lancaster reminds us to laugh during laps and while counting food points on the way to a healthier size and lifestyle.

From Publisher's Weekly

A surprisingly charming weight-loss odyssey, Lancaster’s third weight-centric memoir (after Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights, Big Ass) tells the story of her struggle to drop the ice cream and step away. Though morbidly obese, with a worried doctor hovering anxiously, Lancaster is blithely casual and never feels sorry for herself: “I’m a hundred pounds heavier than I was in high school, my veins are full of crème fraîche, and yet I look in the mirror, take in the hair and makeup, and think, Damn baby, you fiiine.” Still, at the end of her thirties, she knows she needs to lose weight—mostly to stay healthy, but also because she can’t face the shame of having to buy an extra seat on an airplane. While the first chapter is full of chatty asides and aren’t-I-cute footnotes which can grate, Lancaster relaxes into her journey through Atkins dinners, Jenny Craig coaches, Weight Watchers meetings and bouts of personal training with the winning honesty and humor her fans have come to expect. Anyone struggling with weight issues while trying to maintain a sense of humor (if not necessarily a positive outlook) will find much inspiration, and plenty of laughs, in Lancaster.

WHEW!

Now I'm off to pack some dresses and sharpen some lipliners.

Comments

[Gretchen]

CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY COPY! AND SEVERAL OTHERS FOR MY TRAINER, FRIENDS, MOTHER, SISTERS, NEIGHBORS, CO-WORKERS, AND THE LIST GOES ON! Looking forward to seeing you in Dallas in 10 short days! woohoo! I know you'll go all mcgyver on any terrorist that messes with you!

[Muffy Willowbrook]

CONGRATULATIONS JEN!!

So excited about your book - I am going to run out and buy it today!

Good Luck on your tour - where can I find details about your cities?

[Kristi]

I've checked B&N three times...no luck on the early release. So, I'll definitely be there first thing tomorrow to purchase my copy. Congratulations and have a great book tour! Can't wait to see you in Dallas next week! :)

[Suzanne]

I got the e-mail from Amazon saying my preordered copy has been shipped! Woo Hoo!

[Laura]

Very excited to read the new book and see you when you come to Atlanta :)

[tutugirl1345]

Congratulations Jen! Those reviews are dead on- its an awesome book, and totally inspiring. Can't wait to see you in Atlanta! While you're there, you should eat at Taqueria del Sol if you get a chance. Its so good, the BF sometimes asks if we can visit my parents solely to eat at Taqueria.

[amanda]

Amazon sent me an email that mine is on it's way!!! Can't wait! (And I love your footnotes and asides!)

Am going to miss you in "DC" next week (in quotes because VA is not DC, but I digress) because have to go visit my mom for Mother's Day! Am bitterly disappointed...

[Jess]

Jen, congratulations on the wonderful reviews!!! I can't wait to get my grubby little fingers on a copy. Safe travels on the tour--I'll be looking forward to reading about how things go!

[Molly]

Congratulations!!! You're my hero!

[Eddie]

Picked up your first book in at the airport, LOVED IT!

Especially the footnotes.

Can't wait to see ya in Portland.

[Cindy from Cincinnati]

Congratulations on the fantastic reviews...besides the phrase "footnotes, which can grate" They were all super...(WTF my friend. WTF!)

Cannot wait to meet you in Cincinnati on the 16th! Email me if you want a fellow 40th year old boilermaker to take you shopping, or drinking or just toodle you around the city highlights. (I would totally take the day off for you!)

PS - if you aren't already a Nordstorom premier shopper, you MUST become one. Went last night to the Indy private shopping event! My first, it was Fantastic! Chocolate fountain, Peach Martinis, Chardonney, coffee bars, appetizers galore, little creme brulees. DIVINE! Cincinnati is getting a Nordstrom in '09 and I cannot wait. Do not waste your ability to shop at a Nordstrom every damn day in Chicago! Get there!

[Heather in Texas]

I am all over this tomorrow!! Even though I had to wait 3 weeks when Big Ass came out because the Borders didn't stock it at first. Will probably have the same issue now, but I will make them order me a copy (I am not an Amazon.com girl). I can't wait!!!

[Melissa]

Am trying to wait until the signing to get the book but I'm not sure I can. I simply cannot wait to read it!! And see you in a week, stoked!!

[Rachel]

I got my copy on Saturday. B&N says that it comes out tomorrow, but they shipped it to me. Cant wait to read it later today while procrastinating at work. Have fun on your tour and i am praying you dont lose any luggage!

[Megan]

Congratulations on the good reviews! I CANNOT wait for tomorrow. Spent the weekend rereading Bitter and Bright Lights to distract myself from being impatient.

[frothandfrippery]

Jen, I really wish you would post on the Weight Watchers Flex Points board. Some people are so severe about counting half-points, it's hysterical. You would be worshipped amongst the Flexies.

Can't wait for your new book, either!

[Sarah]

Congrats on the great reviews! I'm running out to get my copy at lunch today!

[Beckie]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! And I got my copy on Sunday (yesterday). I mistakenly thought it came out last week and was pissed they didn't have it right smack dab next to the front door when I went there on Tuesday, but B&N said it was on order and they'd call me when it came in. Which was yesterday!! Am reading it now (literally - I brought it to work with me) and just want to say thanks for another fabulous book (no I don't need to finish it to know it's fabulous - I knew that already before I bought it and the first four chapters did nothing but confirm it further!). Ok I'm going to back away from the keyboard and excessive punctuation and get back to reading your book. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!!!

[LJ]

Love the reference to "new-found strongs"! Wishes of hassle free travels (AKA luggage present at all stops) and see you in Manhattan. I'll have to peep into the bookstores just to make sure no renegade copies have graced the shelves...

[kalisah]

way to go on the reviews, Jen!

Even though there's been a moritorium on buying books in my house since I am currently unemployed, I'm totally buying yours anyway.

Will they have it at Target? Because I could totally slide it in with the toilet paper and eye make-up remover and Big Daddy would never even notice.

[Poppy Buxom]

Hey, when and where are the *Chicago* signings?

Please say "On Michigan Avenue in the shoe department at Nordstrom's."

[Bonnie]

Congrats, Jen! I can't wait to pick up my copy. I'm sure I will L-O-V-E it!

Oh, and good luck on your book tour!

[Renee in Chicago]

WTF AMAZON?? Where is MY "it's been sent" email???? I want my book by tomorrow to have you sign it at the Webster Barne's and Noble!! Can I bring Sweet Mandy B's cupcakes to the signing/reading? I cannot wait to meet you!!!!!!
~Renee

[jamie]

I.Simply.Cannot.WAIT.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fe]

I LOVED the book. It kept me sane on a very long and horrible flight from LA to NYC, featuring screaming children and a seat-mate whose breath smelled like poopy diapers. Kept thinking that the parents seated behind me were slacking on clean-up duty until I realized the culprit was not little Ari, but the dude next to me. Thank you for keeping me from screaming at everyone, since I was too busy enjoying your book. Congratulations on another fantastic read. Please keep them coming.