James Villas has written over a dozen cookbooks and books about food, as well as writing in Town & Country, Bon Appétit, Gourmet and Esquire. With such credentials, what in the world possessed him to write this dud? Although he’s a southerner, this book comes across as if written by someone who reviles the south. He didn’t miss a cliché.

From country music (did he choose to name certain ones because they sound funny to him? - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dwight Yoakam) and songs (Jesus Take the Wheel, Mama, Get the Hammer) to church hymns (by name).

From food that southerners cook - collards, okra and jalapeno cornbread, and snacks like Cheese-Its,

From roller derby, watching Paula Deen on tv, NASCAR, line dancing, to Dixie Stampede.

I found the tone of this book denigrating. ( )

I received this book through Librarything Early Reviewers. I was looking forward to a good southern read. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. Loretta was a character I could not relate to or care for. When Loretta's husband leaves her for a thin woman, she decides to have lapband surgery. Loretta learns that her weight wasn't the only thing causing her to be unhappy. I was expecting a light, southern read with an uplifting message. Instead, I found myself reading a book about shallow characters. Maybe this just wasn't the book for me. ( )

It took me a very long time to get through this book. It is not that it was a difficult read. In fact, it should be a quick read. It was just that I could not get into it. The idea behind the story is a good one. A formerly overweight woman learning to live in her new skin. Unfortunately, the characters were not likable and the story was not intriguing. As much as I wanted to like this book, I just could not bring myself to enjoy it. ( )

James Villas's Hungry for Happiness gives us a glimpse into the life of Loretta, a formerly obese woman dealing with the changes weight-loss surgery has introduced into her life, including increased career opportunities and interest from men. The book is narrated by Loretta, so we see not only the events that transpire, but her every thought and fear. Unfortunately, given the fact that almost every thought she has is about food or body image, this quickly grows tiresome. Barely a paragraph goes by without some mention of appetite or fat. Within sentences of introducing a new character, we will know what they weigh. Her fear of people knowing she wasn't always thin borders on irrational, especially given the pride most people take in extreme weight loss.

Loretta is presented as a strong resilient character (at least that's what I gather from the Reader's Guide). I have to say I don't agree. Her constant willingness to be run over by her mother, her sister, her romantic interests and her friends left me with the impression of a perpetual willing victim. After a time, most of her problems seemed of her own making. She explains her actions over and over as "showing I have manners" or "letting them know I was raised right" when to any observer it reads as allowing herself to be taken advantage of and abused. Villas also foreshadows far too strongly so that most of the plot "twists" were so expected by the time I reached them that Loretta seemed somewhat foolish for not guessing them earlier.

Hungry for Happiness did have a few strengths. The dialogue and narrative was charmingly naturalistic. Loretta's interactions with others, including characters coming and going throughout the entire book rather than sticking with one static cast of characters, made the plot seem very true-to-life. I would love to see the author apply these qualities to a story with a less repetitive focus and a stronger central character.

I received Hungry for Happiness through LibraryThing's Member Giveaway program.

I wanted to like this book, I really did. Instead, I found it to be quite offensive.

Loretta Crawford has lost significant weight after a gastric bypass. Life remains a struggle, as she ties to get her catering business off the ground and navigate the dating scene as a thinner woman. Loretta has a terrible self-image, and discovers that life as a thinner woman is not as easy as she expected.

The main problem with this book was the characters. They were at best unlikable, at worst offensive. The worst of the lot is Loretta, who expresses tremendous hatred of fat people. She is constantly criticizing overweight people, including her friends and family. Loretta genuinely believes that fat people do not deserve happiness, and she thinks that her overweight friends and family are disgusting, a sentiment she repeats ad nauseum. She expresses anger and disbelief when good things happen to her fat friends. Loretta Crawford is certainly not someone I would want to be my friend. Hatred of fat women seems to be coursing through this book. The male character who prefers to date fat women is repeatedly described as "a pervert," and treated much more harshly than the male characters who commit rape.

This book also employs a strange dialect. I've lived in the south. I'm used to heavy accents. I've never heard anything like this. Loretta calls everyone "Bub," "Buster," or "Buckaroo." I have no idea what the intention was, but I have yet to hear a Texan speak lie this.

I honestly cannot recommend this book. ( )