Fat Angie

Fat Angie, Book 1

By: e. E. Charlton-Trujillo

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Angie is the only one in her family - maybe the only one in the world - who believes her captured war-hero sister is still alive. Angie needs to believe it. It’s better than thinking about last year, when she tried to kill herself in front of a packed gym. Better than trying to steer clear of Stacy Ann Sloan and her posse of ultra-mean girls. Better than dealing with her corporate-lawyer mother, who wants to know only one thing: When is Angie going to lose exactly 29 pounds?

Then a new girl, KC, arrives in Dryfalls, Ohio. She’s beautiful, hip, and smart, and everyone wants to know her. From the minute they meet, KC sees the real Angie, not the fat girl hiding from her pain under a mountain of junk food. She sees Angie for who she really is: someone who just might shake things up - on the basketball court and in KC’s life. Outrageous and touching, this darkly comic, anti-romantic romance brings us unforgettable characters on the edge.

©2013 e. E. Charlton-Trujillo (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Tiring

As an ex-mental health professional this book fascinated me. A gay fat girl who had lost an overachieving sister in Iraq; sounds like a layered complex, contextual read.. Unfortunately too many incidents of attack by the mean girl in school. Too many incidents of monumental insensitivity from her mother; too many incidents of Angie moaning about these two things as if she couldn't understand how either of these could happen. It makes it incredible that KC; for no apparent reason immediately falls for her. Then after being spurned by Angie is instantly willing to give her another chance.
Then there is the matter of the physical beatings Angie endures at the hands of Melanie Ann Sloan. Angie is a center; Melanie Ann is a point guard. I was a high school center; I know the size difference between the two of those positions. It is possible, but not likely that the smaller girl could so completely physically dominate the larger one. Plus on one occasion when she does fight back she decks the smaller girl, then thereafter refuses to defend herself. Again a highly unlikely scenario.
I gave this selection a second listen hoping to regain the fascination I'd felt with the first few hours of the book. I enjoyed it even less the second time around. Perhaps it's just a case of my being an adult male, well into middle age; but I can't recommend this that any adult purchase this program.

wow great book

great book the story reminded me of my youth as a child and teenager and how it was so hard to deal with being fat and unpopular there were times that food was my only friend. the book is read by a great narrater who brought emotion to story there were times i was crying now thats what makes a great book.

I am Fat Angie

Could it be that we are all Fat Angie? Deep, moving, epic. Heartbreaking & heartbuilding.

Surprisingly sweet & listenable

I have to say I underestimated this book. I spent the first half trying to figure out why KC was so immediately into Angie - not just because she's fat but because the story moves their relationship forward really fast so they're basically strangers & could barely communicate with each other. If this happened over weeks instead of days it would have been more believable. Also, the whole "I saw you on dateline" thing is weird! Who remembers the face & backstory for random family members of ppl on the news? Idk maybe it's supposed be a fate thing - I shouldn't let my adult cynicism poison what really was a sweet teen romance. Ok, so some of it is a little cliche - clichés work sometimes. This one won me over, by the end you understand both the girls better. In fact, a big strength in this is that as you go you start to see little clues about everyone's life like the coach's necklace or Stacy Ann's family. Though some of the people may treat Angie terribly no one is black and white - there are these great hints of grey that make this worth a listen.

Oh and the narration's good - the voice she gives KC - really everyone are both silly and perfect. Reminded me a lot of Daria. and to me that's a positive comparison!

IEP Teenager

I am 13 years old and I have a hard time reading on my own. but when I found Audible it changed my life. it help me read at a normal pace.

Didn't Finish Listening

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I really wanted to like this story, but the voice the narrator used for the "narration" voice of the story was so grating that I could not finish listening to this. I liked her voice when the characters spoke, but when it wasn't dialogue it was just so hard to listen to. I do want to finish this story though so I'll finish reading it myself when I get a chance and come back to adjust my story rating accordingly.

Such a great premise, such a disappointing result

If I ever hear the name Fat Angie again it will be too soon.

Hated the overuse of nicknames. Once or twice is funny. Every other sentence is painful. The plot is great, the characters are great, but the names ruined it for me. Romance, Couldn't-be-bothered-mother, fat Angie. Just stop already. And I didn't care for this narrator's voice. I thought she did Angie really well, but the rest of the voices drove me crazy.