Laura Banks

In The Wrath of Blonde: The Making of Star Trek II, and Other Wild Hollywood Adventures as an Amazon in Outerspace, Laura Banks recounts her life and career with special focus on show business. She references her previous books, Embracing Your Big Fat Ass, Breaking the Rules, and Love Online as well as her current work as an astrologer in a book that resembles Carrie Fisher’s various memoirs both in subject matter and humorous tone. As promised, the making of Wrath of Khan takes up the greatest single bloc of chapters, though Banks recounts several other adventures along the way. At times her narrative seems to focus primarily on name-dropping rather than her own insights, though she does this with a touch of humor.

The book features several photographs from Banks’ life and career as well as a Q & A session between Banks and William Shatner. The primary focus on Star Trek II means this book works as a complimentary volume to memoirs from the Star Trek cast as well as Allan Asherman’s The Making of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”. It will primarily entertain Trek fans, though there’s a lot of non-Trek materials they might enjoy from one of the core cast but could find dull from someone best-known for playing an unnamed character in one of the films.… (més)

I just couldn't finish this one. I really, really wanted to like it. I was prepared to forgive quite a lot. I really do believe the authors were trying to be funny and supportive. Instead, they were offensive.

I read about half of this, and skimmed through the rest - hence why it's on my didn't-finish shelf here on GoodReads. I simply couldn't stomach it.

Embracing Your Big Fat Ass should be about loving who you are as you are. You don't have to roll in embracing every negative stereotype about fat women. Every chapter affirmed that idea that fat means uncontrolled, weak, compulsive eating, and moral failing. Women who feel they have a bounteous booty don't need a book to tell them that - our whole culture does an excellent job on that front, thank you.… (més)

I love to read books that take a honest, real look at the problems women have with their body images. I don't mind if its done with humor, actually it helps me to appreciate the fact that I often take my body stuff too seriously.

If you like humor thrown in with your self-help books then Embracing Your Big Fat Ass by Laura Banks and Janette Barber is the book for you.

The authors have created an entire book on how they and we feel about our ass. The writing is funny and quirky and its obvious that the authors do not take themselves too seriously here. You will find everything you need to know about the subject. There are testimonials, anecdotes, stats, facts and basically a total overview on the subject.

My personal favorite line was referring to sitting in an airplane seat and admitting "the plane doesn't fit". I loved that line and will no doubt hear it in head everytime I fly.

Another personal favorite was a look at relationships and how to incorporate your fat ass into it.

This book was a fun read - nothing overly heavily (no pun intended!). I am of two minds about the message it sends though - a) be happy with what you look like (fat ass included). While I mentally applaud this attitude, I also believe it is unrealistic.

So, why the 3 star rating? I liked the book, but I thought it was too long and that the subject matter got a little repetitive after a while. I think this easily could have been cut into half the size.

No matter, it was a good summer read and while it did not make me feel all that much better about my fat ass - it did give me a good laugh about it (and gave me a great one liner for my next airplaine seatmate!).… (més)