Beautifully written, Cassie! As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder and continues to struggle with body image, I think back to my high school years and wish I could have just loved my body for what it was, and accepted that I deserved love, too, no matter what my size or shape was.
I feel exactly the same way! I spent so many years trying to become someone else, and it's still so hard to just be me, but I think I'm getting better at it and hope that for everyone else struggling with the same thing.
I love this! Representation IS so important. When we can see ourselves in our hero we see the possibilities for ourselves.
I love characters in books that are comfortably and confidently fat (Alexander McCall Smith comes to mind) opposed to those who fat shame (like the early works of Louise Penny).
I agree many authors use skinny as the default, favoured model or the desired goal. It is refreshing to see art more as an accurate reflection and representation of all of society.
I recently read Louise Penny for the first time and really struggled with the fat-shaming. I know so many people love her work, but it was so difficult for me to read, I had to put the books down. Glad I'm not alone.
I love love LOVE seeing so many people of different shapes, sizes, skin tones, and backgrounds now in all kinds of media.
I am new to the Gamache Three Pines novels. The Notes from Three Pines substack read-a-long provided me with an incentive to start reading the series. I am hoping the that fat shaming will stop as the series progresses because otherwise I am enjoying the writing. I’m trying to understand if I’m missing something, is there a purpose to it? I’ve read comments that Penny has not personally commented on its existence. It just seems so hurtful, vicious and pointless.
I’m glad to hear it may be addressed in upcoming posts.
Beautifully written, Cassie! As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder and continues to struggle with body image, I think back to my high school years and wish I could have just loved my body for what it was, and accepted that I deserved love, too, no matter what my size or shape was.
I feel exactly the same way! I spent so many years trying to become someone else, and it's still so hard to just be me, but I think I'm getting better at it and hope that for everyone else struggling with the same thing.
Bravo! Such a great essay and a conversation that we need more of - thank you! 🌼
<3 thank you so much!
I love this! Representation IS so important. When we can see ourselves in our hero we see the possibilities for ourselves.
I love characters in books that are comfortably and confidently fat (Alexander McCall Smith comes to mind) opposed to those who fat shame (like the early works of Louise Penny).
I agree many authors use skinny as the default, favoured model or the desired goal. It is refreshing to see art more as an accurate reflection and representation of all of society.
I recently read Louise Penny for the first time and really struggled with the fat-shaming. I know so many people love her work, but it was so difficult for me to read, I had to put the books down. Glad I'm not alone.
I love love LOVE seeing so many people of different shapes, sizes, skin tones, and backgrounds now in all kinds of media.
This is my one quibble w/ Penny.
I'm hoping to find someone to write about it for the next round of Notes from THree Pines.
I am new to the Gamache Three Pines novels. The Notes from Three Pines substack read-a-long provided me with an incentive to start reading the series. I am hoping the that fat shaming will stop as the series progresses because otherwise I am enjoying the writing. I’m trying to understand if I’m missing something, is there a purpose to it? I’ve read comments that Penny has not personally commented on its existence. It just seems so hurtful, vicious and pointless.
I’m glad to hear it may be addressed in upcoming posts.