I came across this book when I read the article “Love Your Fat Self” in the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of Utne Reader. I was so moved by her compassionate take on what it means to be a young, fat woman today. Even further, though, I was struck by the subtitle of her book: “The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body.”

Body loathing has become the new normal for women. What are we going to do about that?

Here’s a short excerpt from the book that I found profound (I find the whole book to be profound, for that matter):

The cruel irony is that although we become totally obsessed with the daily measures of how “good” or “bad” we are (refused dessert = good; didn’t have time to go to the gym = bad), there is no finish line. This weight preoccupation will never lead us anywhere. It is a maniacal maze that always spits you out at the same point it sucked you up: wanting. We keep chasing after perfection as if it is an achievable goal, when really it is the most grand and painful of all mirages (Alternet.org, 4/18/2007).

I think that Martin has a really honest and fresh take on the whole body loathing issue. And that’s why I featuring her book in the Book Club.

Click here, Perfect girls, for the Amazon link, if you need it.