Making It Big

Publishers Weekly,Set in Kingston, England, Russell's clever satire centers on plus-size Sharon Plunkett, who has spent her entire life struggling with her weight. After diets and diet books fail her, she seeks out miracle worker Dr. Marvel, who promises her a pill that will change her life. When she takes it, she finds herself in a world where fat is revered and thin is decried. Soon big, beautiful Sharon becomes a supermodel, dates sexy male celebrities, and starts making tons of money. However, this does nothing to improve her situation with her ailing father and jealous stepmother, nor with her unrequited love, Simon. When her fortunes (and figure) change, Dr. Marvel offers her a choice: would she rather be fat in a world where skinny is supreme or skinny in a world where fat rules? In her debut novel, Russell (2007's The Rainbow Weaver, an illustrated children's book written with her then 10-year-old daughter Tippi)offers an enlightening take on the extremes of women's obsession with body image, as well as fantastic characters. In the end, the novel is a female fantasy, where the women are glorified for their curves while the men are physically perfect. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.,Publishers Weekly,Publishers Weekly,Set in Kingston, England, Russell's clever satire centers on plus-size Sharon Plunkett, who has spent her entire life struggling with her weight. After diets and diet books fail her, she seeks out miracle worker Dr. Marvel, who promises her a pill that will change her life. When she takes it, she finds herself in a world where fat is revered and thin is decried. Soon big, beautiful Sharon becomes a supermodel, dates sexy male celebrities, and starts making tons of money. However, this does nothing to improve her situation with her ailing father and jealous stepmother, nor with her unrequited love, Simon. When her fortunes (and figure) change, Dr. Marvel offers her a choice: would she rather be fat in a world where skinny is supreme or skinny in a world where fat rules? In her debut novel, Russell (2007's The Rainbow Weaver, an illustrated children's book written with her then 10-year-old daughter Tippi)offers an enlightening take on the extremes of women's obsession with body image, as well as fantastic characters. In the end, the novel is a female fantasy, where the women are glorified for their curves while the men are physically perfect. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.