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Fat by Rob Grant
01/02/2007 . Source: Sue Davies 
Pub: Gollancz. 320 page enlarged paperback. Price: £ 9.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-575-07678-X. Buy Fat in the USA - or Buy Fat in the UK  check out website: www.orionbooks.co.uk
In an age where we are all encouraged to eat more healthily and exercise to avoid being lardy lumps, along comes a book that tries to dispel the myths disseminated by the Nazi-health gurus.
Coming out at a time of year when everyone is frantically checking their weight and their body mass index (or is that just me?), this novel is a reminder of just how fixated we can become with our weight.
Grenville Roberts, celebrity chef and bon viveur is struggling. His weight is a burden and his rage is incandescent. The power of his ire is such that he is invited to take part in a voluntary fat camp. This is Big, Big Brother.
Jeremy Slank is a middle man. He sees the bigger picture. You could say he can see the huge picture and there is money to be made from it. Invited to sell the new 'fat farms' for the Government he finds himself intrigued by the Conceptuologist, Jemma, who joins him on the tour of the fat facility.
Hayleigh is just a girl with a weight problem. Such is the power of her belief, it weighs her down. She is suffocating with it. Her desperate attempts to get rid of an uneaten breakfast are the stuff of comedy until you realise how desperate it is.
These three people living out their own versions of reality are part of the culture that Grant attacks with vitriol and surprisingly compassion in this polemic. Although touted as part of his comic novel series, this book draws out some interesting conclusions about our obsession with weight. It even comes with a book list of additional reading.
Unfortunately, the polemic drive as personified by one particular character turns the novel into a pamphlet that might be handed out on street corners. The ranting of said character slows down the pace of the plot whilst being essential to our understanding. Overall, I prefer the story leading rather than being driven by the arguments towards the conclusion. The best part of this book is the story of Hayleigh. There is no comedy here but compassion and feeling as if she had personal experience of this 'weight' problem. It really hurts when you read this.
Don't expect belly-laughs (no pun intended) but this book has moments of pure rage that produce comic results that remind me of classics Tom Sharpe novels. Events spiral out of control rapidly. This works the best with Grenville, who is not a humorous character in the old sense but more of a Victor Meldrew who's actions take him into bizarre, comedic territory. It is an interesting take on several issues over the food and health scares that constantly vex our affluent society. Very readable but overdoes the ranting.
Sue Davies
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