SYNOPSIS: Since 1985, over 500 overweight teenagers have come to Camp Wašíču, looking to lose weight, gain self-confidence, and turn their lives around.
Phillip McCracken arrives, weighing in at almost 400 pounds; but the baggage he carries from the past affects him much more deeply than the numbers of the scale. When a homicidal maniac hell-bent on revenge attacks, Phillip will be forced to either find the courage to save the people around him or fall victim to his own self-doubt… … and possibly a machete. Filled with allusions to the Slasher films of yesteryear, Fat Camp delivers horror, humor, and a little slice of nostalgia for anyone who grew up even slightly afraid of the dark. I admit to a bias when starting this book, because I think "fat camps" are inherently abusive places for kids/teens, and cause way more issues than they solve. My main worry was that this was going to end up being another 'aren't things sooo much better now that you're skinny?' book (I've been burned before). The dedication: "This book is dedicated to anyone who has lived with an eating disorder or found any other reason not to smile while looking in the mirror. I hope you find a way to see the beauty that others see in you. It's taken me years and I still only see it occasionally but it's definitely there..." went a long way toward easing my mind. There's a *lot* of fat-shaming in this book, but I didn't feel it was supported by the narrative. The lead does lose weight in the end, but not so much that it's "magically skinny", and it's therapy that seems to do the most good for him, not being yelled at by Gunnery Sergeant Hartman 2.0. In fact, it was only when he got positive support rather than shaming that he changed his mind about bailing on the camp entirely. ((of course, your mileage may vary)) In the end, I loved the four main kids. They struck me as real teenagers: flawed, insecure as all hell, 98% bravado. ((I am no longer a teenager, though, so again-- ymmv) The cover really reminded me of Gahan Wilson's art and I adore that. Quotes/lines: ((spoilers below!)) -- we are one page in and I already want to slap the hell out of Phillip's mom. "Just because I cooked enough for six people doesn't mean you have to eat enough for five." *trebuchet into the sun* -- ...I'm putting Sarge in the trebuchet too -- Why in the fuck is this creep making references to Phillip masturbating and talking about his penis; this is a *kid*. -- "I don't think she means to be rude." Awww, hon. Your mom's an adult. She needs to take responsibility for the shit she's saying. -- 'the weathered wooden cut out of a slim looking teenager holding his 'fat pants' to show how much weight he'd supposedly lost' oh yeah this place is a *treat* -- "I think there will come a day when you'll look back on your time here at Fit Camp with fondness" yeahhhh, guy. Okay. (I also really doubt if they interviewed Frank Doyle right now he'd be happily nostalgic either) -- "I'll never understand why he's here." "It's Fit Camp, Phil. He's still got an eating disorder. It's just different than ours." Thank you, Seth. -- "The real word ain't going to coddle them" oh god he's one of THOSE. (does the thought that these kids haven't been "coddled" at all, that their lives haven't exactly been sunshine and lollipops given that our society worships thinness occur to him? Nahhhh) -- "No offense, Timothy, but do you have any idea how many calories are in a Snickers? You'd be on the treadmill for years making that up." Seth, don't fall for it kiddo. -- "I hope you got a few good shots in. Way to stand up for yourself for once." Given this guy's previous behavior, this just strikes me as a manipulation tactic. Berate, insult, and then sometimes give praise so the person (TEENS ffs) will want more of that praise. Haaate youuuu -- "What would Bond do, Timothy? Bond would bring us the snacks." "Bond would have an umbrella, you jackass bastards." ILU Timothy -- "Why let me keep breathing instead of someone who was on the planet doing something to help others?" I'm glad his therapist seems to be good, because that is a hell of a lot of survivor's guilt. -- "You need this place. You need the confidence it will give you. You need to embrace it and actually work at it instead of half-assing it every day." *hands Seth 'how to leave a cult' pamphlets* -- "Everyone just pussyfoots around you because your dad died." So he needs a jackass bullying him in order to get better?? He needs therapy to work through control issues and grief and survivor's guilt, not 'haha you're fat' bullshit. -- 'The company used to fly him out for special events and recruitment, but over the past couple years, he started packing on the pounds again. So now they kind of steer clear of him.' Sounds about right. 'You do what the majority of people put on very restrictive diets do? We'll pretend you don't exist'. I'd peg this dude as the killer, but I'd think he would go after the counselors rather than the kids. -- 'A lot of these boys are more or less abandoned here and their families don't so much as pick up a phone all summer. ... most do it out of love'. I call bullshit -- Nice excuse for confiscating the phones, but it's more likely you don't want how you asshats treat the kids going viral. -- I love that he used Stanley and Waldorf as a verb -- omfg Emily that pickup line is *horrible* you're a genius -- 'Apparently, when you didn't view eating healthy as a punishment, it was a lot more appealing.' DING DING DING -- 'in order to get in shape to keep this girl'? She likes you already please trust in that. ((99% of this review could pretty much be me wanting to give Phillip a hug)) -- 'Dr. Munson told us once that food is just fuel. ...when you stop eating food for the flavor and you eat it as the fuel you need' Eff you Dr. Munson food is *tasty* -- "We're fat. We all float, Georgie!" Hoffman you dork. -- The werewolf campfire horror story is fun. -- Ohhh, the not-paintings-but-windows story is a classic. -- Holy shit Nicole that was brilliant and ilu -- Randy and his 'business'. <3 -- "You did good, Waterhouse. You may have just saved some lives." Still don't like you, but maybe you can prove yourself better than you've been so far and keep these kids safe. -- 'Greg leaned in. "Go take a nap, Sarge. I got this." **alarms go off** -- NICE job Vincent -- 'Over half the campers had panicked and run. Through the windows, Sarge saw, to his horror, the residents of Camp Wašíču running in all different directions. And he knew what little hope he'd had of protecting them was gone.' Oh man. -- Seth. <3 -- 'Emily smiled. "I'm in. Let's just get out of here." Ummm...Nicole? Phillip? -- "You all know where you're going. I'll provide a distraction. Just get each other to safety." Vague forgiveness, Sarge. -- Do not answer that walkie-talkie I'm pretty sure Greg and Eric are working together -- "I spent my entire life being pushed around by your type. I'm not doing it anymore. I'm sick of being ashamed of who I am because you don't approve. I am fat. I do jack off constantly. And you know what? I don't give a shit what you think about that." PHILLIP. YOU GEM. -- Sarge, you had *better* do right for this kid. You don't deserve the fact that he cares about you, but he does. -- Yeah, Greg is in on this, that is way too baity of a call. -- "I know what you think I think of you. But you could not be more incorrect." Then *let him see that* before you're potentially dying. Ughhh, 'tough love'. -- So the kid who did everything right and stayed skinny and is So Motivational was entirely made up. ...nice touch -- "What if he comes back for you?" Sarge shrugged. "Then at least he's not with you guys." Okay so you actually had an honest, supportive conversation with Phillip and have the potential to turn your assholery around; please live -- 'my consistent inability to live up to them' You are a *kid*. He shouldn't have laid that on you. --"I thought Greg said she was out of town." I told you that call was shady!! -- "I know Greg already called the police" NO HE DIDN'T -- "Sarge is okay?" "Yeah. He was attacked, but he'll pull through." "Where is he now?" AUGH DON'T TELL HIM -- So now I'm just wondering if Jessica is in on it too or just Greg and maybe Eric -- okay not Eric -- *Jessica*. That is *such* a HIPPA violation. ((okay not the main focus right now but still)) -- "Well, you can't have her. No one can, now." What a misogynist shitheel. Poor Jessica. -- Hit the femoral artery Phillip!! -- "I stood up to them, and they all fell before me." Good for you! Killing...over a dozen fifteen-year olds. Big strong man. -- (I have to say, the crashing through the glass table and the Cornuts is such a Heathers reference) -- 'Would she apologize that this occurred because of her?' What the HELL. It happened because her husband was a murderous asshole. She cheated? Yeah. And he could've yelled about it and then left her. *He* chose to go on a murder spree instead. That's not her fault. -- "Wait a minute. Did you just say Frank Doyle isn't real?" *snerk* -- There's an insinuation that Sarge isn't as much of an asshat anymore, and with Phil and Seth as counselors there'll definitely be a better environment. Still not much on the entire concept of the camp itself, though.
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A WORLD WITH A BLUER SUNMy reviews are set up a little like live-tweets: I write down lines I like/impressions as I read, and then transcribe. Reviews will contain spoilers, but I'll give a warning before they start. Archives
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