Big, big love - book discontinued by Celestial Arts - review by jennifur77

Big Big Love is a book by Hanne Blank, originally published in 2000. This is the updated version of the book. It was published by Celestial Arts Press and is 223 pages long.

There are six chapters and a resource guide.

Chapter one discusses several issues such as cleanliness, weight-loss, and your sex life, and also reinforces that those of higher weight are okay as they are, and they don't need to settle for something less than what they want because they are "more".

Chapter two seems almost a remedial introduction into the world of sexual orientation, with the exception that it discusses those of weight. It is rare I have heard fat admirers mentioned, but of course this book discusses them as well as other sexual orientations you will possibly encounter if you are a person of weight.

Chapter three is a chapter on how to feel better about yourself. In it you will find discussion of how we, as overweight people, hide behind clothes, and this chapter gives some tips on how not to be so intimidated about allowing another person to see you, even if there is more of you than the average person.

Chapter four can be for those who are of average or low weight. "For Fat Admirers" is about how to tell others you are attracted to overweight people, and how to treat overweight people with respect.

Chapter five is about health as an overweight person, especially as it relates to sex. It discusses STDs, of course, but also the possibility of injuries while love making, poly cystic ovaries, and gives tips on getting your annual gynecological check up.

Chapter six is about the sex act itself. Positioning, masturbation, and preventing injuries during BDSM play are included.

The resource guide is 12 pages long, and there is also an index.

I was excited to see this book had been revised from its year 2000 printing, as I had hoped to read it for some time but, being out of print, it was too expensive for me to purchase secondhand. I had expected a more information on me being a person of size and how that relates to others in terms my sex life, as well as more advice for the sex act itself. While there were some illustrations, there were only three of overweight people having intercourse. There was also an illustration of a large female masturbating with what appeared to be a dildo, and an overweight woman wearing a strap-on dildo.

I disliked the general assumptions made in this book with lack of reference to where the author came up with these things. For instance, page 80 says that "fat people often grow up with the belief their sexual desires . . . don't really matter". I'd like to know how the author came up with that assumption. Pages 197 - 199 bothered me as sweeping stereotypes seemed to be made regarding gender and fat acceptance.