I was immediately taken with the title FATTY FATTY BOOM BOOM. Author Rabia Chaudry writes about intense, deeply personal topics with both humor and gravitas, which seems especially uncommon when it comes to the topic of fat bodies. Usually anyone who is not thin is subject to humor, whether others are making them the jokes or the writer is poking fun at themselves. This a book I'd feel comfortable sharing with my students and recommending as a book of creative non-fiction to study.

I read this as a Netgalley ARC. Wonderfully written, very honest, and not what I expected. Chaudry's evocative memoir is a comparison of cultures and how she balances--or doesn't--her life in both of them. Her public success is rarely touched on, and instead we see her inner thoughts and feelings, her raw emotions as she navigates life.

I enjoyed how she discussed her inner turmoil as an immigrant, as well as how difficult it can be to move between cultures and carry the expectations of her culture and family. She glides over shared American experiences to concentrate on herself, which was refreshing in a memoir that discusses adolescence. Chaudry's voice is essential to the American experience; the reader will come away from it with an appreciation of her honesty.

I was excited to pick up the book all the more because it was about the food, culture, and traditions of the other Punjab we rarely read about.

Inspired by the colorful and vibrant Pakistani truck art, the cover is beautifully illustrated with a generous peppering of spices. Each chapter is named with a colloquial food-related title that every south Asian would relate to. Reflecting the author’s journey and relationship with food (and sometimes family) along the way. The writing style is conversational.

The first half of the book is devoted to the author’s growing years and extended family in Lahore. A short history of her grandparents who migrated from India to Pakistan during the partition. Her family’s immigration to the United States. Accepting the American culture while continuing to retain their roots. Where the comfort and ease of highly processed food did more damage than good. Occasional trips back to Pakistan with laugh-out-loud moments. And of course, delicious food.

It is a memoir not just about food but also about fat shaming, body image, and the author’s lifelong struggle with it. A book about family, loving yet oppressive, with their subtle and not-so-subtle jabs about her weight and color. About a woman who married young (an abusive marriage) to prove that overweight girls can be desired. Going under the knife for gastric surgery and tummy tuck. As a public figure who struggled with body image before finally coming to accept her body.

Foodies are in for a treat with the author sharing recipes for some of their favorite dishes towards the end. Her ode to Pakistani cuisine.

The memoir shares an inspiring takeaway that it is not achieving the goal weight but the goal to invest in yourself that is the more important. In spite of it being drilled into young girls from early childhood, body weight is not the enemy of dreams, prospects, and happiness. What we often subject our body to “fit in” is not just worth it.

The book is extremely relatable. I enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend it. Particularly to women and young girls who have grappled with body issues and faced fat shaming.

It is a really interesting read that combines the effects of culture and attitudes regarding eating and size.
We all know that in order to feel happy, we should be able to accept ourselves as we are and be healthy, no matter what our size.
This memoir by Rabia Chaudry shows how she found herself in a vicious cycle of eating, growing, distress, criticism, self-loathing, then eating again, and so forth,
The attitudes of certain cultural societies state you should be fair and lovely like the cream says, and tall and slim to get a good match in marriage.
We are not all built like that.
Rabia was fed, and fed, as that's what her parents felt they should do, and when they realised they didn't know how to reverse the effects of overeating, they continued to indulge because that was all they knew,
Food and our Asian culture are knitted together so strongly that it can be hard to separate the two.
It was fascinating and quite emotional to read Rabia's journey, and how she fought her demons, but equally, how she failed several battles before winning the war.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for an ARC.

I was hoping for more of a funny book than a serious one, and while there were funny parts, there was definitely a large amount of seriousness as well. I was disappointed that the author disliked herself so much, even though the weight numbers she kept mentioning were well in the range of the average woman.

4.5, rounded up. I, like many readers, know Rabia Chaudry from her involvement with the Serial-famous case of Adnan Syed. But she is highly successful in her own right, and I enjoyed not only reading about her career path, but also her life growing up in Pakistan and the U.S.--and how much food played into it.

Along with a compelling narrative drive, Chaudry's descriptions of food are the highlights of this book. My mouth watered any time she painstakingly described how her mom cooked the perfect shorba or the journeys she and her uncles went on to get pulao and pakoray. (It made me long for my mother-in-law's cooking.) Equally as visceral are the times she describes her binging American fast food and treats and the hold it had on her.

There are obvious TWs for eating disorders and fat-shaming here as well as one for domestic abuse--Chaudry's first marriage is a toxic one that she spends little time on, for good reason--but her memoir is unflinching and feels incredibly relatable.

The author is obviously the key character in this food and lifestyle autobiography but shares her spot with food which also takes a primary role. What kind of food? Primarily Pakistani but also American, Italian and Junk Food. She lovingly, lavishly describes the dishes, ingredients and preparation. She also describes the excruciating life-long battle with her weight, her self-image, her self-esteem and her important relationships. The book is an insightful view of some aspects of Pakistani culture and fitting - or not - into an American lifestyle. It is also an intensely revealing, very personal, often uncomfortable view of someone’s thoughts, beliefs and actions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin for the opportunity to read this intriguing ARC.

4 1/2 stars

I mostly loved Fatty Fatty Boom Boom, an unflinching memoir of food and Pakistani life written by Rabia Chaudry. Where it works best is its description of the Pakistani cuisine and culture, especially in connection to holidays and celebrations. The way that Chaudry describes the food preparations and the celebrations brings to life a culture I know little about but which seems rooted on family and tradition. Mind you, not all of the traditions are admirable–the treatment of women, for instance, leaves something to be desired, as we see how she is treated by her ex-husband and ex-in-laws during her first marriage.

Although I am a few years older than Chaudry, I did feel like her description of food life in America in the 1980s did not resemble anything I knew even though she was living just across the river from me. We seldom snacked as kids and teenagers, and fast food was a treat (heh, I know, right?) that we indulged in at most once a month. Even now, fast food is only a road trip affair. And, while, like Chaudry, I am a voracious reader (obviously), the idea of sitting inside reading on clear day was unheard of. I didn’t feel that her descriptions epitomized life in America in totality, just one form of it that did grow (no pun intended) from then onward to be the paunchy America we have now.

Ironically, I read most of this book during mealtimes and found that the descriptions could be off-putting for one’s appetite. On the other hand, when I wasn’t eating, the loving descriptions of daal and other foods were mouth-watering.

One point that Chaudry raises, which has reared its head in many forms lately, is the whole topic of fat shaming or not supporting body positivity. As Chaudry grapples with exercise and new ways of eating and losing the weight she’s been fighting with for her entire life, she is accused of not supporting body positivity. First off, I think that anyone who loses their weight and finds a happier and healthier life is to be admired and should not be made to feel shame because of someone else’s insecurities. The mere fact that someone tries to shame another’s successful weight loss makes me think the whole body positivity thing may have a few dents in it. Don’t we all want to have the strongest, healthiest, and happiest bodies that we can? Shouldn’t we applaud each other’s efforts to become the best that we can be? (Okay, soapbox kicked aside.)

Fortunately for readers who love to cook and want to make some of the foods Chaudry describes, she has included recipes at the end of the book. After reading so much about her chai, I can’t wait to make it, especially on these chilly Autumn/Winter days.

As for that last topic covered, family: Chaudry’s love for her family shines through, especially for her parents, Ami and Abu, her Aunt whose wedding she attends in Pakistan who loves Rabia unconditionally, unjudgmentally, her grandfather, Dada Abu who adores her. Warmth and love is palpable throughout her descriptions and the reader feels that and is left with their own warm feelings.

Fatty Fatty Boom Boom is told with good humor, sometimes ruefulness, compassion, and thoughtfulness.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book! All the descriptions of the author's Pakistani family and traditions were fascinating and she has a lovely--and often very amusing--way of writing. A lot of the book does have to do with her struggle with her weight, and some people might find the fat (self)-shaming a bit excessive, but she does a good job of explaining her feelings about it. I generally find it hard to concentrate on a book while on a plane, but I read this consistently through a very long flight and it made the time go faster. I got so interested in it that my jet-lagged self continued to read it at home, preferring to finish it rather than sleep! The only thing I didn't love was the title; I understand that a relative somewhat affectionately called her by that name, but it makes me uncomfortable to say it to the point that when I recommend the book to someone (and I will do so often!), I feel I have to apologize for the title. A lovely bonus was the recipes at the end, and rather than being just a list of ingredients and instructions, each recipe includes pages of facts and observations. I look forward to trying many of them. All in all, delightful! Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for an e-ARC of this highly recommended book.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge fan of Rabia Chaudry. I've listened to her podcast for several years and really respect her. I was apprehensive to read this memoir because it didn't jive with the perception I have of her. I just have no interest in reading a memoir of a generally normal-sized woman griping with being fat. But after reading her other book and following her over the years and learning about her family, I decided to give it a shot.
Overall, I am glad I read it. I loved hearing about her Pakistani culture, especially the food. I loved hearing about her family and her experiences as an immigrant. Rabia is a fantastic writer, but I wished I had the audiobook because her voice is so beautiful as well. I don't want to discount her experience as a Pakistani woman who is larger than the normal, because it does seem like her entire life, family, and upbringing was focused on her weight and physical perception. I just generally did not agree with the final conclusions she came to about her journey, and it seemed like she's writing this book too soon. I'd love to see where she ends up in a few years and see if she is more at peace with the entire story. I remain a Rabia stan.

I fell in love with Rabia Chaudry's sensibilities and passions listening to her podcast, Undisclosed. When I saw that she was writing a book about her life, I was immediately on board. I enjoyed it as much as I hoped to. Rabia tells us about her young life in Pakistan and immigrating to America, what it's like to be a girl between two cultures and her love for them both. We learn all the cultural expectations of being both Urdu and Punjabi and how Rabia and her family were torn between tradition and immersion in American culture. She gives us her story through her love of food and how her parents best intentions for her as a baby set her up for a lifelong food addiction. She describes the trials and trevails of trying to get in shape, gastric surgery and how she came to love herself just as she is. The stories were told with humor and love and raw truth. She takes us right from childhood through her first marriage, divorce, her law career (including Adnan of course) and becoming a mother. I was both entertained and learned so much about the culture of the people of Pakistan, Muslim tradition and of course... the food. The last quarter of the book is recipes and commentary on them.

Thanks to Algonquin Books for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.

I loved this insight into the author's Pakistani background and relationship to food. Don't read this while hungry!

Rabia Chaudry is known for her legal work with The Innocence Project, specifically the case of Adnan Syed. This book isn't about that work (although we do learn how she became involved in that work and his case specifically.) This is about her lifelong struggle with her weight and her relationship with food. As a young Pakistani immigrant to the United States, her experience with American food was eye-opening for me. The memoir also immersed me in Pakistani foods and her visits to Pakistan were filled with mouth-watering descriptions.

I love a real glimpse
into another culture,
especially food.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I write haiku reviews on Instagram, but happy to provide you more thoughts, if preferred!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in advance for the purpose of this review.

I remember watching Chaudry's television show about Adnan Syed and the parts of the documentary when she was on screen. When I saw this catchy title I knew it would be an important book to read.

Like I've mentioned in other reviews, memoirs are one of my most favorite genres to read. This one provides an intimate glimpse into Chaudry's relationship and feelings about food, body image, and growing up in a loving but sometimes oppressively concerned Pakistani immigrant family.

It's well written and filled with many family members and stories! Four stars from me.

I didn’t read her first book until right before I picked this one up. As I read it, I thought she really should have made it a memoir about how she became obsessed with Adan Syed during what seemed like many low points during her life. She talked a lot about her personal life in that book in a way that was distracting due to the subject matter but clearly she had a lot of thoughts about her personal life she wanted to express.

Fatty Fatty Boom Boom seemed like a good way to do that. She barely mentions Adan Syed at all which is good, preferable even and instead focuses on her weight.

I read a lot of memoirs and they generally fall into two categories. They either are actual reflections on their life and have some introspection and depth or they are telling you stories that paint a picture of the type of person they are and their emotional state without seemingly realizing it. This book is firmly in the latter category.

I was hoping it would be more about food and family as the subtitle suggests but it’s really about weight and her obsession with fatness. She lovingly details meals she eats both here and on trips to Pakistan but always brings it back to how much she weighs at the time. She talks about her relationship with her parents but again, it’s always framed around her weight, their weight and physical appearance.

Twice she recounts the graphic death of different family pets in the childhood section and even they are linked to food and eating.

There is virtually no introspection at all. She briefly considers the idea that she has internalized fatphobia and then moves on. She describes years of binge eating and self loathing but never really looks at that. She never talks about her actual health or concerns doctors may have (if they have any) just that she is “fat” and “obese” and unattractive. Her family and first husband and his family make constant comments about weight and attractiveness to her. Her second husband is also a yo yo dieter but seems more supportive of her at any size. The largest size she seems to be is around a size 16 and this is clearly unacceptable to her. She mentions once that it is known scientifically that diets don’t really work but never really reflects on what that means in her life.

She decides to get a gastric sleeve, keeping it secret from most people in her life without doing seemingly any research. She is surprised at the changes to her body and ability to eat and immediately does not follow any of the post op instructions.

Towards the end she find some new scheme to lose weight via strength training and “resetting” her gastric sleeve and seemingly decides that will be enough. Maybe it will be but reading about the rest of her life and it’s patterns it seems unlikely. At one point she is losing so much weight so quickly her family and friends think she has cancer.

I think this book may be deeply upsetting to anyone who also struggles with disordered eating or is sensitive about weight issues. In it she shares exactly what size she is and what weight she is when she is what she considered disgustingly fat and it’s around the size of the average American woman. She shares this information, details about her binge eating, sudden extreme exercise and calorie restriction in a lot of detail dozens of times.

One positive is that the writing in this book is much better than the one she wrote about the Hae Min Lee case. I think it helped that she was just giving her opinions and feelings in this book rather than trying to connect it to any real facts or reality. I also think she may have had an editor.

I truly hope this woman gets the mental health care she needs. This book is the panicked, depressed diary of a woman obsessed with her weight who is clearly still in the depths of some sort of disordered eating and exercise patterns.

I’m not sure what I was expecting but this far surpassed those expectations. At once a brilliant memoir and also a family history, it’s a reflection on food, family, and how our histories create who we are today.

Coming over to the US from Pakistan when she was a toddler, Ramia Chaudry's parents gave her half- and- half in her bottle and frozen butter to teeth on. Their new culture was full of fast food, bad eating habits, and consequently Rabia dealt with weight management issues. As her family worried about her ability to attract a future husband, Rabia navigates her weight problem as it weaves itself into aspects of her childhood, teenage years, and adult hood. Chaudry has written an honest look at culture, weight, and finally coming to terms with your body in this honest memoir.

Rabia's relationship with food is closely interwined with her experience as a Pakistani- American woman. From what her mother ate during pregnancy and she came to the USA and fed her half-and-half and butter when she was a teething infant to fatten her up. As a child, her family relied on fast food. Her family back in Pakistan were critical of her weight, and she had struggled through marriage an pregnancy. It's fascinating, and there are recipes at the end.

"Fatty Fatty Boom Boom" is Rabia Chaudry's memoir about her love affair with food and her struggle to suppress that love affair. The book takes the reader through various parts of Pakistan and then through Chaudry's life in the suburbs of the United States. The descriptions of the food the author eats in Pakistan made my mouth water. The time and effort put into some of these dishes is awe inspiring. On the flip side, in the United States, Chaudry and her family turn to quick, processed foods as they lose the time, resources, and access to the ingredients they need to cook dishes from back home. At the heart of it, "Fatty Fatty Boom Boom" is about Chaudry's lifelong struggle to maintain a weight that is considered healthy and proper by those around her. She goes through diets and surgeries, and finds success, but then has periods of relapse where she goes deeper into eating binges than she did before. The descriptions of these up and down periods can be a bit dizzying for the reader, as I'm sure they were for the author, but overall it was a good book.