jbronderbookreviews

They don’t make plus size spacesuits

By Ali Thompson

Genre: Sci-fi short stories

“They don’t make plus size spacesuits” is a sci-fi short story collection, featuring an introductory essay. It is written by long-time fat activist, Ali Thompson of Ok2BeFat.

This book is a incandescent cry from the heart, a radical turn away from utopian daydreaming of future body perfection to center a fat perspective instead.

Ali invites people to experience a fictional version of a few of the many ways that fatphobia can manifest in a life. The ways that the people closest to fat people can subject them to tiny betrayals on a near constant basis. The disdain that piles up over the years, until it all becomes too large to bear.

And while some of the fatphobic tech in these stories may seem outrageous and downright unbelievable, it is all based on extrapolations of so-called “advances” by the diet industry, as they search for ever more efficient ways to starve people.

The modern day worship of Health promises a future peopled only by the thin, a world where the War on Fatness is won and only visually acceptable bodies remain.

What will that future mean for the fat people who will inevitably still continue to exist?

Nothing good.

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About the Author

Ali Thompson is the Bill Nye of fat girls.

She is the creator of Ok2BeFat, which by an amazing coincidence, is the name of her YouTube channel.

She’s a fat activist, writer, YouTuber, and collage artist. She is a bisexual queer who lives in Philadelphia with her husband Josh and their many cats.

You can find her on Twitter at @Artists_Ali, where she probably just said something weird.
Find out more here.

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My Review

5 Stars

This is a collection of four stories that revolve around being fat, obese, and unwanted. The basic idea is in the future fat has been punished and is trying to be destroyed. The narrator talks about being fat and the different “helpful” ways that have been created to help encourage these people to lose weight and fit into the perfectly thin society.

This is a touching and heartfelt expression of someone that has been deemed fat and them trying to follow the rules and please those that are trying to help them. But no matter what is done they are not losing weight and will never be accepted. This reminds me of real life today and how everyone looks down on the overweight.

It’s hard not to read this collection of four short stories and not feel sad. I can relate because I myself an overweight and feel just like the author. How we are judged by our appearance and looked down on because no matter what we do it seems we will never fit into the surroundings.

I really liked this small collection and think most people could relate to the stories not so much just because they focus on weight but because this applies to everyone that doesn’t fit into that perfect utopia.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Sage Adderley-Knox for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Dead Inside (DC Maggie Jamieson – 1) by Noelle Holten

The killer is just getting started…

When three wife beaters are themselves found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered.

And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the police are running out of time, but can Maggie really believe her friend Lucy is a cold-blooded killer?

Amazon US     Amazon UK     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

Praise for Dead Inside

‘Kept me hooked … excellent pace and a very satisfying ending’ Angela Marsons

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

‘A brilliant debut – gritty, dark and chilling. Noelle Holten knows her stuff’ Mel Sherratt

A dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.

About the Author

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger here. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the booklove via her blog.

Dead Inside is her debut novel with Killer Reads/Harper Collins UK and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

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My Review

5 Stars

Three men have been killed in a brutal way. DC Maggie Jamieson is called in to investigate and it is discovered that all three were domestic abuse offenders. Even worse, they all have the same parole officer, Lucy Sherwood. But when another man is found killed all attention goes to Lucy since it was her own husband.

This is a killer first book. I quickly got sucked into the story and wanted to know who was killing domestic abusers. It was convenient that Lucy was a suspect especially after her own husband if killed. Of course you have the race against time to keep another person from being killed and everyone trying to figure out how this new department is going to run.

But the thing that keeps coming back to me is that this is not just a thriller/murder mystery. There is so much that goes into these abusive relationships. How or why does it start? Why do the victims stay in them? Although this is a Maggie Jamieson mystery it really focuses around Lucy’s life and career.

This is a great story and one that I recommend checking out. I’m blown away that this is the first book from Noelle Holten but you can tell that she put herself into it. I can’t wait to read more from her.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Book on the Bright Side for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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