The title and cover of this book are incredibly misleading. I knew to expect something a little different based on a few reviews, but if I had been going off first impressions, I would have expected a lighthearted beachy read. Something fluffy and deliciously fun. Dietland was fun, but not in fluffy way. One of the blurbs for it described it as Fight Club meets Margaret Atwood which is pretty spot on.
The main character, Plum, tries her hardest to go unnoticed. She spends her days working from a neighborhood cafe, getting paid to pretend she is her boss, answering questions from young girls dealing with all kinds of problems. She’s also fat, so any day without getting made fun of or stared at feels like a victory. As she’s preparing to get gastric surgery, she gets involved with a group of feminists that end up changing her life radically. Meanwhile, the world is freaking out over a shady guerilla group called “Jennifer” that begins to terrorize misogynists and misogynistic power structures. The whole book is a wild ride.
I really loved this one. Dietland is unique. I seriously doubt I’ll ever read something quite like this ever again. There are no words to describe how much I loved the blend of feminism, realistic body positivity, and the mix of realistic characters with exaggerated situations. I can’t really explain this book or what makes it great, you just have to experience it for yourself. You’ll feel all the feelings while reading Dietland.
I haven’t picked this one b/c I did think it was going to be fluffy nonsense. Your description makes it sound way more interesting — thanks for the review!
I’d love to hear what you think of it if you pick it up. My review didn’t really do the complexity of the book justice!