Big Girl
by Danielle Steel
Victoria
is the odd one out in her family. When
she was born, her parents are disappointed how she looks. She looks nothing like either parent. Her father, Jim, names her after Queen
Victoria. Later on Victoria is hurt when
she sees a photograph of Queen Victoria and realizes her parents named her that
because they thought she was ugly. Unfortunately
for Victoria she takes after her great-grandmother who was known to be a big
lady, both tall and heavy. Then along
comes her younger sister, Gracie, who looks exactly like their parents, both
slim and beautiful. As Victoria grows up
people always comment about how beautiful Gracie is, then turn to look at
Victoria and either say nothing about her or ask if she was adopted.
The
novel follows Victoria from when she was a baby, thru childhood, college, and
then on until she is in her early 30s.
Victoria’s parents are hard on her.
They are always asking her when she is going to lose some weight. They never notice when she does lose weight,
which discourages Victoria. She always
seems to be going on diets, then breaking the diet and going on an ice cream
binge, losing any progress she may have made. Victoria’s parents are not happy with her
choice of occupation either. She decides
to become a teacher and they tell her she should do something else that would
make more money.
It
is frustrating how her parents are constantly criticizing her about her weight,
her looks, and her choice of occupation.
Their constant criticizing has made her feel as if she is not worth
anything. She assumes that she will
always be alone, because no man would find her attractive. Near the end of the book she has finally
realized that she is worth something, no matter what she looks like.
I liked this book
because you were rooting for the main character to stop listening to the
negativity from her parents and finally realize that she was worth
something. She finally accepts herself
and starts to take care of herself by eating healthy and exercising, not to
lose weight but just to be healthy.
