Low-Fat Love: Expanded Anniversary Edition

209 Pages·2015·3 MB·English

by  Patricia Leavy (auth.)

Low-FatLove
Social Fictions Series

Series Editor
Patricia Leavy
USA

The Social Fictions series emerges out of the arts-based research
movement. The series includes full-length fiction books that are
informed by social research but written in a literary/artistic form
(novels, plays, and short story collections). Believing there is much to
learn through fiction, the series only includes works written entirely in
the literary medium adapted. Each book includes an academic
introduction that explains the research and teaching that informs the
book as well as how the book can be used in college courses. The
books are underscored with social science or other scholarly
perspectives and intended to be relevant to the lives of college
students—to tap into important issues in the unique ways that artistic
or literary forms can.

Please email queries to [email protected]

International Editorial Advisory Board

Carl Bagley, University of Durham, UK
Anna Banks, University of Idaho, USA
Carolyn Ellis, University of South Florida, USA
Rita Irwin, University of British Columbia, Canada
J. Gary Knowles, University of Toronto, Canada
Laurel Richardson, The Ohio State University (Emeritus), USA
Low-Fat Love
ExpandedAnniversaryEdition
PatriciaLeavy
SENSEPUBLISHERS
ROTTERDAM/BOSTON/TAIPEI
AC.I.P.recordforthisbookisavailablefromtheLibraryofCongress.
ISBN978-94-6209-990-6(paperback)
ISBN978-94-6209-991-3(hardback)
ISBN978-94-6209-992-0(e-book)
Publishedby:SensePublishers,
P.O.Box21858,3001AWRotterdam,TheNetherlands
https://www.sensepublishers.com/
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Allrightsreserved©2015SensePublishers
Nopartofthisworkmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorby
anymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,microfilming,recordingorotherwise,withoutwritten
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PRAISE FOR LOW-FAT LOVE

“Sometimes, when I read an especially wonderful book I say to
myself, “I wish I had written that!” And that is how I feel about Low-
Fat Love. To write a page-turner of a book that teaches about
contemporary gender relationships is a major feat. Patricia Leavy has
done that with Low-Fat Love. Truth be told, I love Low-Fat Love
because it creates a fictional world that mirrors the gendered one we
live in. I can identify with all the different characters and their issues.
I would love to be in any college class or book group that was
fortunate enough to be reading and discussing it. Brilliant!” Laurel
Richardson, Ph.D., The Ohio State University

“Patricia Leavy writes with passion, verve and skill. I loved the first
edition of LFL, but this expanded edition exceeded my expectations.
I would run, not stroll, to get a copy for yourself and all of the
important people in your life. I will use this in my relational
communication and women’s studies classes because it is beautiful,
relatable, and offers smart critique of how pop-culture’s expectations
for intimate relationships often lets us down. Leavy offers readers a
way to think through their close relationships and demand better of
themselves and others.” Sandra L. Faulkner, Ph.D., Bowling
Green State University

“I couldn’t put it down! Low-Fat Love is a remarkable novel that
every women’s studies class and interpersonal class would do well to
read. The title is indicative of the search for meaningful, deep,
enriching relationships beyond the artificial, low-fat love that is all
too pervasive in society today. I wholeheartedly recommend this
book.” Robin Patric Clair, Ph.D., Purdue University

“My students LOVE the book. One keeps saying, ‘I feel as if I am
inside this story … so colorful, so contemporary!’” Jeasik Cho,
Ph.D., University of Wyoming
“Low-Fat Love is absolutely brilliant. This new edition is a must-read
for anyone who has lived, loved, dreamed, and at times, settled for
less than what we deserve – in other words, this is a book for
everyone. Get it now, set it on your course reading lists, and give it
away for birthday and holiday gifts. It will change the way you
think about identity, the media and popular culture, gender,
communication, feminism, education, emotion, relationships, and the
sociology of human being-ism.” Anne Harris, Ph.D., Monash
University and Australian Research Fellow in Creativity and
Arts in Education

“More than anything, Low-Fat Love proves the astonishing talent that
Leavy possesses as both a writer and social commentator. This novel
manages to synthesize years of research without ever feeling
researched, and teaches so much without the reader feeling as if they
were being educated. It’s a novel that appeals to multiple audiences,
and I know that many of my students, both male and female,
recommended this novel to their friends and siblings for the fun
enlightenment they gained. In short, read it now. You definitely
won’t be disappointed. It manages to be a short, ‘can’t put it down’
book to read on the beach or on a plane, while still inspiring the sort
of reflection usually reserved for self-help novels and sociology
tomes. A wonderful and inspiring read that I will be using for years
to come. Every student should read this book.” U. Melissa Anyiwo,
Ph.D., Curry College

“This book is a great read. Leavy writes characters that you care
about. I read this book over a weekend, barely able to put it down.
The story is well-developed, fun, and has great pacing. What makes
this book particularly interesting is the way that Leavy, a sociologist
with expertise in gender studies, weaves the findings of her social
research into the story. She makes sociology accessible to a wide
audience. A pioneer in arts-based research, Leavy transcends
traditional academic writing to engage a variety of audiences. As a
sociology professor myself, I am using this book in my Introductory
Sociology course, not only to springboard discussions about gender
identity and women’s roles, but also to demonstrate the power of
sociology beyond the classroom.” Jessica Smartt Gullion, Ph.D.,
Texas Woman’s University
“Based on my students’ responses and my own enjoyment of the
novel, I highly recommend it!” Barbara Gurr, Ph.D., University of
Connecticut

“The characters are deep and complex, the storyline intertwined, and
I couldn’t put it down.” Linnea Rademaker, Ph.D., Northcentral
University

“I use Low-Fat Love in my Sociology of Gender and Sociological
Theory courses. My students and I enjoy reading the text. The
students repeatedly tell me in their reviews that reading this book is
one of their favorite parts of the class; they find the material relevant
and helpful for understanding sociological concepts in an accessible
way. If you are looking for a fun read and/or a supplement to your
gender courses, I suggest Low-Fat Love!” Cheryl Llewellyn, Stony
Brook University

Also from Patricia Leavy

American Circumstance

Gender & Pop Culture
A Text-Reader
Edited by Adrienne Trier-Bieniek and Patricia Leavy

For more information, visit the author’s website
www.patricialeavy.com