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January 15, 2008 12:01 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Through Thick and Thin by Alison Pace

I loved Alison Pace's first two novels - If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend and Pug Hill - and I was excited to read this, her third, particularly because of the beautiful cover! (I'm a sucker for a dog on a cover.)

It's the story of Meredith and Stephanie, two sisters with very different lives, but one thing in common: they both want to lose weight. They decide to do it together, both so they can support each other and also because they've been drifting apart and think it might help their relationship.

Meredith lives in New York and works as a restaurant reviewer (which is obviously pretty incompatible with weightloss - particularly The Zone, which is the first diet they try).

Having moved from the city to the New Jersey suburbs, Stephanie has a young daughter and a husband who has completely withdrawn and spends more time at his computer in the basement than he does with his family.

Both women are lonely, but unable to admit it to each other.

Once the dieting begins, they find that, rather than improving their relationship, it actually highlights their differences and swiftly drives them even further apart.

It sounds a bit dark and depressing, but it's not at all. The writing is beautiful (I actually marked a few passages to copy out) and I identified with both Meredith and Stephanie (not just their struggle with weight, but also their sibling relationship).

If you've ever been lonely, every struggled with your weight or you've got a sister (or a dog!), I think you'll love this book.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Conversations With the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

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Posted by Keris on January 15, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink

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