Title: My Mad Fat Diary
Author: Rae Earl
Genre: Young Adult, Memoir
Published: April 19, 2016 by St. Martin’s Griffin (In the USA, anyway)
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for providing a review copy! This in no way melts away my judgemental, grumpy reviewing skills.
It’s 1989 and Rae is a fat, boy-mad 17-year-old girl, living in Stamford, Lincolnshire with her mum and their deaf white cat in a council house with a mint off-green bath suite and a larder Rae can’t keep away from. This is the hilarious and touching real-life diary she kept during that fateful year – with characters like her evil friend Bethany, Bethany’s besotted boyfriend, and the boys from the grammar school up the road (who have code names like Haddock and Battered Sausage).
My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary evokes a vanished time when Charles and Di are still together, the Berlin wall is up, Kylie is expected to disappear from the charts at any moment and it’s £1 for a Snakebite and Black in the Vaults pub. My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary will appeal to anyone who’s lived through the 1980s. But it will also strike a chord with anyone who’s ever been a confused, lonely teenager who clashes with their mother, takes themselves VERY seriously and has no idea how hilarious they are.
- This book gives SO much perspective. Perspective into living in the 80s, perspective to being bullied and harassed because of your weight, perspective into the world of Rae Earl. And that’s what makes literature so great, the ability to melt into someone’s world and experience it fully. SO YAY TO THIS BOOK FOR THAT!
- I am 99% certain I am British. This book is set in England. Ergo, I am pleased. I have found my
peoplemates.
- This book is praised for being raw…I believe it’s a bit too raw. It reads like a diary, a memoir—and that’s what it’s supposed to be, I get it. But I really didn’t enjoy it. The format threw me off. As exciting as Rae Earl’s life is, it’s not exciting enough. It doesn’t have a plot. It didn’t appeal to me. Oops. Sorry.
- I love those books that inspire you, that make you want to get out there and start a revolution. This…isn’t that book. There’s a big theme of a lack of motivation, and it’s highly infectious. I understand that there was a different purpose. Okay. Cool. That’s great. But I don’t have to like it. It brought me down, actually. That’s not what I need when I read.
A noble effort, simply not for me. BUT BONUS POINTS FOR THE BRITISH THING THOUGH.
What British books delight you? How has literature affected your perspective?
Me too:( The show does sound like a lot of fun! It seems so sweet. I’ll try to watch it when I get some time.
Thanks a bunches, Denise!
I’m sorry you didn’t love this one! I started watching the TV series, and I’m loving it. I binged an entire season in a couple of days! Even though you didn’t love the book, you should totally try and catch the show if you can. It’s funny and heart felt, and probably impossible not to love! I haven’t read the book yet, but I want to so badly (after finishing the show). Hopefully I’ll be more gripped than you were, because I’m so excited to read it! 😀
Denise | The Bibliolater
I know, I wish I did! The plot is such an important part, and it was not doing so hot in this book. Maybe the TV Show is an improvement!
Aww a shame you didn’t like it! I understand your problem with the format though; I don’t think this book would be for me either. While I think it’s fun when a book is written like a diary, there has to be a plot!
YES YES ❤
HAHA and I had no idea it was a TV Show until I started reading! Guess I better watch 🙂
OMG right. Being Scottish and Irish and Indian isn’t enough for me I MUST BE BRITISH TOO. AND FRENCH. 😀
Thank you! I’ve heard the TV Show is lovely, I’ll have to give it a go!
Great review, and hm, I had NO idea this was a book *shame on me*. It’s so sad it was a bit disappointing for you, but YAY for BRITISH. I think, deep down,, I am british, too. 😛
Great review! I’ve seen bits of the TV series here and there but I definitely want to give both a go now.
It had me interested too! I was so sure I would love it. Everyone has different tastes, though, so I wouldn’t co platelet discourage you from giving this one a try 🙂
Dammit, the blurb had me interested! It’s so frustrating when it ends up disappointing like that. Great review though 🙂
I LOVE ALL OF SOPHIE KINSELLA. She is magic. Ikr. Mad British people are so funny.
Thanks! Ah, I know. Such a shame. I’ve heard! Lots have said they’ve liked the TV show better, actually.
Great review but a pity you didn’t like it. I’ve never read this as a book but it was made into a really funny TV series. Not sure if you’d be able to get it overseas though but definitely worth looking in to…
Not sure I can really answer the British question being British! But it’s all the classics that really bring it out in me
Truly, Finding Audrey was a British book I love, along with Me Before You. I just love it when they get all mad and swear in their British lingo.