Fat Joy Podcast- Guest Book Reviews
Sloe Moon: Tall Trees
(Volume 1 of Sloe Moon Series)
Written by C.M. Kuhtz
Check out Sophia’s conversation with C.M. Kuhtz on the Fat Joy newsletter.
The story of Sloe Moon, a glorious protagonist who is queer, nonbinary, and fat, is a vibrant modern depiction of all the best elements of fantasy writing. Instead of being able to follow their dream, Sloe is expected to marry and maintain a long-standing alliance. Through a twist of fate, Sloe unexpectedly sets out on a journey to attend the gathering of the powerful wizard council, Goldenlake with her close friend Qes.
This book has everything a reader could ask for - a complex world, beautifully rendered on the page, dynamic and representative characters, and a detailed plot that reads fresh. Sloe Moon draws on a truth that feels universal - the struggle between the expectations of others and the true calling of self.
What’s Special About This Book
The immersion - when I began reading I had planned to read only for the first chapter or two. When I finally stopped an hour later I felt as if I was emerging from deep water having just experienced a world so unlike my own and with the knowledge there was much more than I could yet see.
The representation - from queer characters, to diverse pronouns, to the uplifting of fat bodies, I have truly never read a piece of fiction that will allow so many to feel seen.
Epic themes - there are so many: familial honour, the evolution of traditions, coming of age, but the book doesn’t feel cluttered. Instead, what C.M. gives us nuance and space for these ideas to be explored in completely new ways.
Validating Lines for Your Heart, Your Mirror, or Your Socials
P. 8 “She would love to have another arrow in her quiver of her regrets.”
P. 10 “As I turned my gaze to the skies, I could still hear him talk of places far across the sea and people who had other words for the world around us.”
P. 107 “I could hear the lake lapping against the pebbles, a steady rhythm underpinning the shuffling and deep breathing of our horses; perhaps it would help me sleep.”
End Note
Sloe Moon will be here for five more volumes beyond this one, so there is thankfully no end to their saga in sight. These books are here to destabilize fantasy writing and readers' preconceived notions of what those stories are made of. I could not be more grateful. There aren’t many writers who could use ‘once upon a time’ at the opening of a chapter and yet still deliver one of the most compelling and unusual stories of the fantasy genre.
As Sloe herself says, “I need to know how the story goes on…”
Respectfully reviewed by A. Cavouras (a.cavouras@gmail.com)
Unshrinking: How To Face Fatphobia
Written by Kate Manne
The Fall of Whit Rivera is a journey through Whit’s senior year of high school. Told through intimate journal entries, amazing lists, and a narrator you will instantly root for, this work of fiction reads and breaths like real life. Her relationships are nuanced and complicated as she navigates high school friendships, partner relationships and her home life. Much of the novel focuses on the planning of the fall homecoming - an event she has been thinking about since entering high school. Throughout all this she navigates the complexity of living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and the myriad of changes that brings to her body. Told with refreshing honesty and true multi-dimensional characters, this coming of age book is a gem.
The Fall of Whit Rivera (Fiction)
Written by Crystal Maldonado
The Fall of Whit Rivera is a journey through Whit’s senior year of high school. Told through intimate journal entries, amazing lists, and a narrator you will instantly root for, this work of fiction reads and breaths like real life. Her relationships are nuanced and complicated as she navigates high school friendships, partner relationships and her home life. Much of the novel focuses on the planning of the fall homecoming - an event she has been thinking about since entering high school. Throughout all this she navigates the complexity of living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and the myriad of changes that brings to her body. Told with refreshing honesty and true multi-dimensional characters, this coming of age book is a gem.
Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black, Muslim
Written by Leah Vernon
This book has a calm flow even though it feels like the chaotic challenges Vernon faces come at you one after the next like big waves on a stormy sea. There is so much truth in here, so many layers of intersectionality, this book is a worthy contribution to the memoir genre and unequivocally time well spent as a reader and as a person.
If there is a lesson in this book for me, this is it - shame grows in darkness and stories let in the light. To truly be unashamed is to speak up and Veron’s book shows us how to do it.
Fat Church: Claiming a Gospel of Fat Liberation
Written by Anastasia Kidd
Kidd has created a framework for dismantling the harmful aspects of both the Church and Christianity around fat and fat stigma. She went further and wrote a road map on how to look at a group’s past, their stories, practices and beliefs and rewrite them collaboratively to chart a new path forward. She layers in her own experiences with short memoir pieces, proving over and over that she brings her whole self to this work. As an ordained (minister) in the United Church of Christ she is a powerful person to disrupt anti-fat bias within the faith community.
The Body Liberation Project
Written by Chrissy King
The Body Liberation Project clearly states that the least interesting thing about me, you, the author, is our bodies, but yet we have become so preoccupied with that single aspect of ourselves. This preoccupation, this societal obsession, is incessantly fueled by diet and fitness industries rooted in white supremacy. Step-by-step, King unpacks how we got here and what exactly we can do about it. Using her own journey towards body liberation, King shares what it means to find your own power. With her careful weaving of memoir, thoughtful research, and in-depth journal work, she invites the reader to follow on their own project in search of their own liberation.
Bleed: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care
Written by Tracey Lindeman
In turn both educational and emotionally validating, Bleed takes the reader into the horrendous history of gynaecology to outline the foundation of why modern medical care is so laden with misogyny. The stories shared within bring to life the evidence presented, leaving the reader only with facts laid bare. Bleed is a book of feminist importance beyond its scope.
Crying Wolf
Written by Eden Bourdeau
Eden Boudreau’s memoir, Crying Wolf, opens with a thank you to the reader, a thank you for being there and for witnessing what she experienced. As I am reading the first few pages I feel my heartbeat quicken, my pulse accelerates and my hands feel the rage of a thousand women coursing through them.
Read the full review by A. Cavouras
On Fat and Faith: Ending Weight Stigma in Yourself, Your Sanctuary and Society
Written By: Rev. Dr. E-K Daufin
The journey that is On Fat and Faith begins with a clear invitation – if you are here and believe in stopping injustice to our collective minds, bodies, and spirits – this is a book for you. Readers are promised a book of great strength and learning, and E.K. does not disappoint.
Read the full review by A. Cavouras
Fat Off Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto
Written by Clarkisha Kent
With a heartfelt storytelling approach, Clarkisha Kent takes you on the journey of her life told through her body and her unwavering commitment to finding herself at home within it.
Read the full review by A. Cavouras
Slow AF Run Club: The ultimate guide for anyone who wants to run
Written By: Martinus Evans
When I picked up Slow AF Run Club, I thought that the advice would be familiar. I’ve been a runner for nearly three decades and despite many changes in life, I’ve always returned to running. As a reader, this also means I’ve read a lot of running books. A LOT. I can honestly and enthusiastically say I’ve never read a running book like this.
Read the full review by A. Cavouras