Fatty Fatty Boom Boom

A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family

By: Rabia Chaudry

Narrated by: Rabia Chaudry

“A delicious and mouthwatering book about food and family, the complicated love for both, and how that shapes us into who we are . . . I absolutely loved it!”—Valerie Bertinelli

From the bestselling author and host of the wildly popular Undisclosed podcast, a warm, intimate memoir about food, body image, and growing up in a loving but sometimes oppressively concerned Pakistani immigrant family.

"My entire life I have been less fat and more fat, but never not fat." According to family lore, when Rabia Chaudry’s family returned to Pakistan for their first visit since moving to the United States, two-year-old Rabia was more than just a pudgy toddler. Dada Abu, her fit and sprightly grandfather, attempted to pick her up but had to put her straight back down, demanding of Chaudry’s mother: “What have you done to her?” The answer was two full bottles of half-and-half per day, frozen butter sticks to gnaw on, and lots and lots of American processed foods.

And yet, despite her parents plying her with all the wrong foods as they discovered Burger King and Dairy Queen, they were highly concerned for the future for their large-sized daughter. How would she ever find a suitable husband? There was merciless teasing by uncles, cousins, and kids at school, but Chaudry always loved food too much to hold a grudge against it. Soon she would leave behind fast food and come to love the Pakistani foods of her heritage, learning to cook them with wholesome ingredients and eat them in moderation. At once a love letter (with recipes) to fresh roti, chaat, chicken biryani, ghee, pakoras, shorba, parathay and an often hilarious dissection of life in a Muslim immigrant family, Fatty Fatty Boom Boom is also a searingly honest portrait of a woman grappling with a body that gets the job done but that refuses to meet the expectations of others.

Chaudry's memoir offers listeners a relatable and powerful voice on the controversial topic of body image, one that dispenses with the politics and gets to what every woman who has ever struggled with weight will relate to.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Rabia Chaudry (P)2022 Algonquin Books

Critic reviews

“A delicious and mouthwatering book about food and family, the complicated love for both, and how that shapes us into who we are. It’s such a relief to not treat food as the enemy any longer and start to learn how to love and nourish the body I have today. I absolutely loved it!”—Valerie Bertinelli

“Beautifully weaving together stories of food, family, and self-discovery, Rabia Chaudry’s memoir Fatty Fatty Boom Boom is complex, rich, and revelatory. I was deeply moved by her vulnerability, delighted by her self-deprecating humor, and awe-struck by her honesty. Chaudry sets a grand table before us and invites us to join her as she presents readers with her struggles, triumphs, and insights as a young girl in Pakistan, an awkward middle schooler in Maryland, and a young wife, advocate, and activist. Fatty Fatty Boom Boom is surprising, fiery, and heart-felt. Chaudry’s most important recipe contains the ingredients for loving and honoring who we were, who we are, and who we aspire to be.”—Phuc Tran, author of Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In

“Rabia Chaudry’s Fatty Fatty Boom Boom is a hilarious and brutally honest journey told with candor, charm and wit about learning how to love yourself and your body unapologetically while navigating a roller-coaster of a life populated with eccentric and lovable Pakistani family members, delicious food recipes, awkward childhood crushes, failed diets, and Husky pants. I laughed at characters and scenes that seemed lifted from my own Pakistani home and winced at the colorism and fat-shaming that is often so prevalent but unchallenged in our communities. The big-hearted book takes on all of it with an invitation for all of us to be better, while enjoying a glorious, fried samosa along the way.”—Wajahat Ali, author of Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on Becoming American

I Don’t Want It To End!

I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much. Also a fan of Adnan’s Story, of course I pre-ordered this to support Rabia and to my absolute delight, this is an amazing must-read! Rabia has written a beautiful, smart, and colorful account of her life and I am here for every delicious second!

Engaging and fun!

I loved this book! Tania’s voice is soothing and calm. She tells her stories with such detail I actually feel like I have experienced them. Warning, you might get hungry as she describes delicious recipes!!

Rabia is a delight!

This book was magical. Funny and heartbreaking and so much about family, food and culture. Taught me some about my heritage.

I love the sound of Rabia’s voice

As someone who has struggled with her weight and relationships, this was enlightening and inspiring. Also, I’m excited to try Pakistani food!

Wonderful listen

Rabia does a fantastic job telling her story, I couldn’t stop listening. Rabia you have a beautiful soul and I’m so glad you’ve shared it with the world!

So raw, so honest. Loved it.

This book told the story that has been in my brain since I was 15 years old. Different nationalities, different ages, but it’s the exact same feelings when it came to the evilness of being fat. The endless struggle of finding what will work. Gastric sleeve surgery, a million diets, too many exercise plans to no resolution that will last for more than a few months if they work at all. I loved this book because it told MY story as well. It validated that I am not alone with this struggle. Thank you Rabia!!!!! Truly an enjoyable book. I may still be fat but now I know I’m not crazy! And I won’t give up! Barbara Coomer

Very inspiring story. A must listen for everyone!

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to Rabia's story. Of course I've heard of her involvement with the SERIAL podcast and Adnan Syed's case but was not aware of any of her personal struggles with weight, family and everything else going on in her life all at the same time! Although I only visited Lahore once in my life so far, her recounting of the simple life and delicious food brought back great memories for me. I highly recommend this book not only to young women who may be struggling with weight and body image issues but also young men who will definitely benefit on how their words and actions affect other people, even if they may think it is a small joke. Thank you Rabia for sharing your story and I hope more people can benefit from it and enjoy it as much as I did!

perfect!

I loved this book! Rabia's story of growing up and her struggles with weight are so relatable and well articulated that I felt she was reading stories from my past. highly recommend for anyone interested in learning more about other cultures, learning how to love (or at least tolerate) yourself and have struggled with good or body image on any side of the spectrum.

A really enjoyable read!

What a heart-warming story that also made me laugh at times and was relatable at other times.

Delicious read!

What a great book! As a first generation immigrant, this book was such a satisfying read!