Something's Wrong with Your Scale

by Van Whitfield

Book Overview

Equal parts love story and inspirational tome, Whitfield's plot shines for its original ploys and reflections of everyday people and life experiences.' - Ebony A perfect mix of humour and heart, this... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385489358
• ISBN13: 9780385489355
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

I Was Pleasantly Surprised!

I bought Something's Wrong With Your Scale! because I read Beeperless Remote, and really liked it. When I first started reading SWWYS! I didn't think I was going to like it. But after about the first chapter, I started to warm up to the book. And I really started to feel for Sonny and Kayla, especially in the scenes where other people treated them like they weren't even human just because they were overweight. I have never had a weight problem myself, but I think Whitfield did an excellent job of showing me what it feels like to have a "battle of the bulge." I particularly liked the scene where Sonny, Chet, and E got drunk, and Sonny finally told them about themselves! They had bigger personal problems than Sonny, yet they had the nerve to treat him like some kind of outcast because of his weight, and because he was dating an overweight woman. Even though Whitfield told Sonny's story in a rather comical, lighthearted manner, he made some pretty serious points about the level of disrespect shown to overweight people, and about the need to lose weight because of internal factors, instead of external ones. Even in Sonny's relationship with Kayla, Whitfield was making a BIG statement in showing us how even an overweight man has problems with dating and being seen in public with an overweight woman. Big GUYS definitely get cut more slack than big GIRLS in this society. I think that may be why Kayla appears to never really win her battle with the bulge. It seems like she was almost rebelling against everyone else's insistence that she lose weight. She was a pretty good woman (smart, doing well financially, funny, witty, bold, and just an all-round nice person), yet she was treated like a leper because of her weight (especially in the clothing store scene). Well, as you can see, I got a lot out of the book, even though it's a light easy read. I see some of the criticism of other reviewers of this book, but I find Whitfield's writing to be different from the standard popular African-American authors out today, so I enjoy reading his books. He's different, and after all, variety is the spice of life.

The laugh I needed.

The title itself was catchy. I had just begun a workout program, when I purchased it. I found the book to be hilarious at times and serious at other times. It demonstrated a man's perspective to being overweight. Recalling the part when he and Marsha first split, and his thoughts were on that cheesecake...had me rolling! It recalled something I've done myself, the segment when he cut a slice big enough for two people; knowing that the other party wasn't going to want any of the cake. Whitfield has his own style of writing. I like his style and I appreciate not reading something that sounds like the masses. Keep you own style Whitfield and I will continue to buy and read your novels. "Something's Wrong with Your Scale" has motivated me to keep working out. After reading it, I got a message: You have to learn to accept who you are or even what you've become whether you're overweight or bulimic. If a change needs to be made you need to be the deciding mechanism.

What do you get when you cross COMEDY and ROMANCE...

...you get a romantic comedy written by Van Whitfield. From page one, you don't know whether to cry or laugh so be prepared to laugh until you cry. Mr. Whitfield takes a subject that many people are very sensitive about and sheds new light on it. We can either change or accept ourselves the way we are. Hopefully, others will learn an important lesson from this book also, which is let's not judge from the outside, but from the inside. For many tried to judge Kayla (strong female character), but they misjudged her, with all her confidence and strength.A good read

Nothing's Wrong With THIS Scale - Delicious!!

Loved this book. LOVED IT! I see that Mr. Whitfield is now writing for a TV show (Grown Ups with Jaleel "Urkel" White) and that show is on par with his book. I can't wait for the movie. Queen Latifah would make a great Kayla!

I Laughed Until I Cried!!!

As a full figured woman struggling with my own weight issues and the prejudice that goes along with it, I thoroughly enjoyed this book that caught my eye and attention from the first paragraph. The scene in Leon's, the relationship with KJ and the mail box scam were my favorites. I was reading on the train when KJ's character was introduced. I unsuccessfully tried to contain the laughter while tears were running down my face and eventually gave up. I laughed so loud and hard that people around me started laughing and in turn wanted to know what I was reading!!! I have then passed the book around and told everyone I know to read it. I respect the way Van took a sensitive subject that needed to be addressed and presented it in a way that all can emphathize with. I also enjoyed the way Van developed Kayla and Sonny's relationship. The way the relationship grew and evolved was very realistic. I also wanted to note that there are many "Kayla's" out there - Beautiful full figured women who are together and have it "going on". I can't wait to read "Beeperless" and look forward to more of Van's books. (P.S. - I really feel a movie should be made from this book).