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Book Reviews of Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained

Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained
Ruby's Diary Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained
Author: Ruby Gettinger
ISBN-13: 9780061924606
ISBN-10: 0061924601
Publication Date: 9/1/2009
Pages: 224
Rating:
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 22

3.4 stars, based on 22 ratings
Publisher: William Morrow
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

4 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

Cantnever avatar reviewed Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained on + 161 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Ruby is a dear. Her book is her 'voice'. I am enjoying it very much. Inspirational and I recommend.
reviewed Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained on
Helpful Score: 3
Love the show. If you watch the show regularly, the book will be a disappointment. It is an almost direct rehash of the episodes of the program.

Continue to watch and find Ruby inspiring!
reviewed Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Like many people I know, as I approach middle age, I have noticed myself getting a little soft around the middle. Working long nights from home as a professional desk jockey combined with the fact I have 3 young children does not help the situation. I admit I could stand to lose about 50 pounds to get me back to a slim 175-180.

I must admit I had never watched the show âRubyâ. I knew of the author, Ruby Gettinger, and her accomplishments, but not a whole lot about her. When I had the opportunity to get an advance copy of her book, I thought it might be a worthwhile read that may provide me a tip or two.

For those not familiar with the author, at one point Ruby weighed over 700 pounds. Through a highly supervised program of diet and exercise, she managed to lose well over 300 pounds. She has a show on the Style network called âRubyâ that documents her weight loss journey.

The book is essentially a mini autobiography. The book documents parts of the author's adult life, starting around the time she decided to start video taping her weight loss journey. The book loosely documents how she achieved her weight loss. It is sprinkled throughout with letters and thoughts from her loved ones. However, overall, the book seemed to be a documentation of her emotional and physical pain. She tells stories of how she cannot participate in activities that most of us take for granted, such as being able to sit into any chair. It talks about the loves of her life and her heartbreaks. The book finally wraps up with examples of how her life is beginning to ânormalizeâ as she can participate in activities that most people can do everyday.

I by no means want to take away from the author's accomplishments. Loosing half your body weight without surgery or drugs is an amazing feat that deserves the utmost respect. I applaud her for her accomplishments and efforts. Throughout her years of being morbidly obese, Ruby managed to keep a wonderfully charming personality which I think is awesome. However, I was not thrilled with her book. I could not connect with the author. While I am sure her experiences were heartbreaking for her, I just could not identify with them. If you are looking for diet tips, you are not going to find it in this book. I did not find the book very motivating. The author's personality makes the book seem a bit childish. It also seems 75% of the book is nothing but complaining and sad stories. In the end, the book is exactly what the title says. It is a diary.

The book was not terrible by any means. If you are a fan of the show, I am sure that the book could be very entertaining and a highly worthwhile read. I also think the book could be very motivating and touching to morbidly obese people, but personally I could not identify with what the author is going through. If you are not interested in Ruby the person, I would pass on this book and find another.
reviewed Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained on + 24 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Love the story, and the person, but it wasnt a great book per say. Does that make sense!?!