For every woman who’s ever felt sad, bad, blue and mad about “overweight”, here's a sharp Lily-Tomlinesque monologue on one woman’s triumph over guilt. FAT GIRL: One Woman’s Way Out (Harper San Francisco) chronicles my struggle and subsequent victory over a lifelong compulsive eating problem.

FAT GIRL is an artist’s approach to a problem that has been scienced to death. It focuses on feelings. The story is told in vivid images and emotions which involve the reader deeply, helping her face her own feelings about food and herself. In poetic prose and over fifty sensitive drawings, Irene O’Garden traces her journey from childhood through maturity, from guilt and self-loathing to discovery and joy. FAT GIRL is a fresh perspective on a common problem, and above all, a very loving book.

“A poetic, funny, deeply touching look at the problem of overeating…O’Garden’s poetry glistens.” -- The Denver Post

“Ohmigod this book rules! Her story is so compelling and soulfully written that it almost made me cry. I love books like that.” -- Sassy Magazine

“Very moving. I couldn’t put down. I was impressed with the writing and the way O’Garden was able to write from inside addiction and make the mechanics of addiction clear. I know this is one of the books I’ll be buying by the dozen to give to people.” -- Ellen Burstyn

“The pain and anger of overweight is clearly delineated, and the struggle over power and powerlessness is presented in a quite poetic, dramatic way. O’Garden teaches us about addiction without being preachy or seeking converts. Her simple statements arise from secret thoughts and deceits and thus show the crisis of personal integrity that a fat person suffers.” -- Judi Hollis, author of FAT AS A FAMILY AFFAIR and FAT & FURIOUS, and director of Hollis Institute

“..a painfully honest little book, illustrated by the author and told in prose, poetry, aphorisms and no small amount of anguish.” -- The Oregonian