Recent Reads: Jemima J.

Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans 

By Jane Green

I read this book over Thanksgiving break.  I needed a means of escaping from all that was wedding, so I stuck my nose in this and it helped!  It was a really cute, fun and lighthearted book to read, but not necessarily the most believable.  Although I was tickled by the book, it's important to recognize that it's not the most realistic and can run a little long at times. 

Jane Green, being British, writes British-fiction.  I love reading British and European books, so it's already off to a positive start anytime I find books in those fields! Her themes throughout this book are about body size, social acceptability and that beauty isn't everything.  

What sparked my interest in the book was when I read this description on the back cover, "Jemima J is the chronicle of one woman's quest to become the woman she's always wanted to be, learning along the way a host of lessons about attraction, addiction, the meaning of true love, and, ultimately, who she really is".   

Jemima, who is about 100 pounds overweight, is treated differently, in a negative manner, based on her size and appearance.  She is looked down upon, ignored, cast aside and taken advantage of - all because of how she looks.   While the gorgeously perfect people are making it big around her, Jemima is left in the dust despite her capabilities and over-qualifications.  This is the story about how Jemima overcomes these hardships and finds inspiration and motivation to change her life.  

Although, as I mentioned earlier, it's not always believable, I found the book to be relatable on several different levels.  As a female, whether it makes sense or not, we've all struggled with our weight at one time or another.  I felt like I could relate to Jemima with some of the feelings and struggles she went through in the book.  As long as you take it for what it is, chic-lit (not to be taken too seriously), and can get past the stereotypes that are issued throughout the book, I think you'll find it enjoyable too!

“A brilliantly funny novel about something close to every woman’s heart — her stomach.” –Woman’s Own