Six notable books with overweight protagonists

Jami Attenberg's new novel is The Middlesteins.

Jonathan Franzen (author of Freedom) says: “The Middlesteins had me from its very first pages, but it wasn’t until its final pages that I fully appreciated the range of Attenberg’s sympathy and the artistry of her storytelling.”

At The Week magazine Attenberg named her six favorite books with overweight protagonists.  One title on the list:

Heft by Liz Moore

There is so much humanity and honesty in this novel about a 550-pound man, housebound for a decade, now reconnecting with a woman from his past. I also love a character with an appreciation for food: It's fun to walk away from a book a little hungry.

Read about the other entries on the list.

The Page 69 Test: Liz Moore's Heft.

Visit Jami Attenberg's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue