Conversations with the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

lizapalmer.com

Published: September 2005

I was instantly drawn to this book because of its title, which no doubt invokes plot possibilities involving American obesity, type 2 diabetes, dieting, weight loss, and all other facets related to being overweight or obese.

Since obesity, weight loss, and bariatric surgery are some of the dominant key topics I write about professionally as a medical and health writer, I decided to buy this book after the synopsis informed me that one of the main characters undergoes gastric bypass surgery.

(I was also partly curious to see how Palmer's research about bariatric surgery panned out.)

Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles

www.jskesliencharles.com

Released: September 2009

Moonlight in Odessa is Janet Skeslien Charles' debut novel, and a sensational one at that. I had won a copy of this novel during Fall 2010 after participating in a blog giveaway, but ended up packing it away for 3 years while I spent time traveling. After having settled down for a bit and unpacked boxes of books, I found myself drawn to this book's synopsis. Once I started reading Moonlight in Odessa, I was addicted.

Daria is the oldest 23-year-old you'll ever meet. Growing up in modern Ukraine post-perestroika, Daria has committed herself to learning fluent English and IT computer skills so she can have a professional advantage over her desperate Ukrainian peers. However, despite her hard work and superior office skills, Daria only makes enough money to support her and her grandmother, with whom she shares a tiny apartment just outside the busy Odessa city limits.