#ReadFatBooks 📚✨❗
It’s Fat Liberation Month and I Want More Fat Stories—Now!
The first time I encountered a fat character in books, it was the child who devours the chocolate cake in Roald Dahl's Matilda. I still remember how it felt to watch the scene in the 1996 movie adaptation: how delicious the cake looked paired with how gross that young actor playing Bruce Bogtrotter looked as he covered himself in it, licking the plate as Miss Trunchbull forced him to finish every crumb in front of his peers.
Although I was too young to know it then, this character and this scene made a lasting impression on me. Every time one of my peers sneered at me about my size, my appetite, my clothes, or the amount of space I claimed just by existing in my fat body, I thought about Bruce. The chocolate cake. How vindictive Miss Trunchbull looked as a fat child suffered humiliation at her hands—the kind of humiliation she likely experienced herself as a fat child. For a long time, I feared eating dessert in front of people because of how I thought it would make me look: Just. Like. Him.
For someone like Trunchbull, who abuses children with glee, the scene where she forces Bruce to eat the cake is particularly disturbing. He stole a single slice of her dessert, not because he couldn't or didn't want to eat more—even if he's mostly motivated by spite, he's also content to devour the rest of the cake—but because he didn't want to get caught. Because he was trying to restrain himself. Trunchbull removes the restraints and takes a perverse kind of pleasure in the show, not just because now she can punish Bruce even more harshly, but because he's demonstrated that he's a more ill-behaved fatty than her. Adulthood has left the room. Anti-fatness, shame, and false morality have taken the stage.
Anti-fatness is instilled in us from a young age and unlearning it often takes years. It's worth noting that by the time I encountered Bruce in Matilda, I had already asked my grandmother to call multiple weight-loss services after seeing infomercials on TV and watching Oprah espouse the benefits of Weight Watchers. I was three years old the first time I tried to dial one of those 800 numbers. If you know a fat person, they likely have stories just like these. More often than not, we are taught by even the most unlikely sources to shrink and keep shrinking.
Unfortunately, books might be some of the worst purveyors of anti-fat rhetoric—especially the ones that win acclaim and prestige.
In 2024, Housemates author Emma Copley Eisenberg said it quite plainly for The New Republic: "Fatphobia, which many understand to be part of the larger issue of ableism, may be the supposedly liberal literary world’s least discussed form of hate, oppression, and discrimination."
Not only are fat characters (especially ones who aren't written as disgusting, unlovable, selfish creatures little better than monsters) few and far between, but fat people in publishing itself are a rarity—especially at traditional brands. Eisenberg does an excellent job breaking down the numbers in her article, which posits a seemingly simple solution: give fat authors, editors, agents, illustrators, and professionals more opportunities to tell fat stories of all stripes.
Like Eisenberg and other fat people and our allies in the publishing space, I want to read and write and hear these stories. I want abundance in fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, poetry; and as much as I love how fat-positive adult romance has grown to be in recent years, I want to see fat characters in every single genre on the shelves at my local indie bookstore—particularly sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, which are spaces where fatness is particularly despised as a so-called moral failing.
But fatness isn't a problem to be solved. Despite well-funded claims made by the multi-billion-dollar diet industry that its product, "skinny," is the must-have for everyone, everywhere, forever, fat people have and do and will continue to exist. Fat people deserve to be treated like people. And fat people deserve to see themselves on the shelf, just like everyone else.
Particularly in the so-called "Ozempic Era," as formerly fat influencers and other public figures shed pounds to keep up with beauty trends, abandoning the pro-fat ethos they once espoused to the tune of thousands of followers, brand sponsorships, and endorsements, fat representation that isn't rooted in repulsion is more important than ever. Rather than turning away from the fat liberation movement and fat-positive content, publishing would do itself a favor to embrace fat liberation and invite in more fat creatives.
Earlier this year, I debuted a new project in the hopes of not just celebrating books by fat authors, about fat experiences, and featuring fat characters, but eventually publishing more fat books, too. For my birthday in May, I took inspiration from Nonbinarian founder K. Kerimian and launched Fat Forward Books, a bookish community under the Bindery banner that highlights fatness in publishing.
In addition to exclusive author interviews, book reviews and recommendations, giveaways, a community Discord server, and a monthly, virtual book club, Fat Forward will soon offer guest posts by industry professionals, panel discussions, and even merch (!)—all to highlight how much demand there is for fat stories in the books we read. If you’re just learning about Fat Forward Books, I would be so grateful if you subscribed to the page (for free!) and told your circles about it.
And if you’re just learning about the egregious anti-fatness problem in publishing, you’re not alone. Books aren’t the only problem; anti-fatness is, unfortunately, everywhere. But the fat liberation movement is still going strong, and if you’d like to get more involved, you can check out the resources below!
This August marks the 5th Annual Fat Liberation Month, which was started by the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) after writer Clark Beltran wrote an essay for its Community Voices Blog about how much he desired a Fat Pride Month. This is an ideal time to #ReadFatBooks, learn (more) about the fat liberation movement, and advocate (more) for our rights!
In solidarity,
Samantha Puc (she/they)
Nonbinarian Book Club Coordinator & Newsletter Editor
Fat Liberation Resources
End of Summer Weekend Sales!
Wrap up the summer season with 20% off different sections on Saturdays & Sundays throughout August at The Nonbinarian Bookstore. (Note: this sale discount does not apply to used books, which are priced at 50% off.)
8/16-8/17:
Staff Picks
Trans & Queer Nonfiction
Social Sciences, Collective Action/Organizing, & Theory
Art & Design
8/23-8/24:
Graphic Novels (all ages)
Kids: Early Reader, Middle Grade, & Young Adult
Anthologies, Drama, Poetry, & Cookbooks
Mind/Spirit & Sex/Relationships
Spanish Language (all ages)
Resource/Guides (all ages) & Parenting/Allyship
8/30-8/31:
Fiction: Literary, Romance, Mystery, Horror, Sci-Fi, & Fantasy
Picture Books
Board Books
🚲 🚲 🚲
Bookshop.org Nonbinarian Book List Recs
+ Partner Wishlists
When you choose The Nonbinarian Bookstore as your bookstore of choice on Bookshop.org and shop our booklists or any item on Bookshop.org, we receive a 30% affiliate fee from every sale! The affiliate fee directly supports us as a newly opened bookstore as well as sustaining our mutual aid initiative, The Nonbinarian Book Bike.
If you would like to purchase books to donate to The Nonbinarian, please shop below:
Nonbinarian General Inventory — We love it, you love it, help us restock some of our favorite books for adults.
Nonbinarian Kids Book Inventory — Board & picture books are always the first to go at outings—help keep us stocked!
Spanish-language Books — Help us increase our high demand Spanish-language offerings in-store & on the book bike.
If you would like to donate books to our partners, please shop their wishlists below:
Drag Story Hour x The Nonbinarian — Picture books from the DSH NYC book list!
Trans formative Schools x The Nonbinarian — Help stock the permanent classroom library for a trans-centered afterschool program!
The Reading for Black Lives Project x The Nonbinarian —Specifically Black + Queer, all books from this wishlist go towards our comrade in mutual aid distro R4BL.
Project Human Dignity x The Nonbinarian — We provide books to build a permanent library for an adolescent (9-17) in-patient psych ward—because everyone deserves to see themselves on the shelf.
Oklahoma Bar Project x The Nonbinarian — Help stock in-house libraries for 3 of the remaining lesbian bars in the states.
August’s programming is already under way, so here’s what’s happening this month. All times EST; 💻 = virtual, 🛍 = in-store, 🚲= book bike outing, 📍 = off-site meet-up.
Reminder: All in-store events at The Nonbinarian Bookstore are masks required! Testing is encouraged and we have free tests on-site, but negative tests will not be accepted in lieu of a well-fitted mask.
🛍️ Masc4mask C-19 Rapid PCR Testing Site: Saturday, August 2, 1—4 p.m., Test Signup
🛍️ T4T Clothing Swap: Sunday, August 3, 1—4 p.m.
🛍️💻 Hybrid Radical Study Group: Thursday, August 7, 6—7:30 p.m., RSVP for in-store via Givebutter; register for virtual via Zoom
🛍️ Masc4mask C-19 Rapid PCR Testing Site: Saturday, August 9, 1—4 p.m., Test Signup
🛍️ Meditative Greeting Card Making with Nonbinarian Teresa: Thursday, August 14, 6:30—8 p.m., RSVP via Givebutter
🛍️ Masc4mask C-19 Rapid PCR Testing Site: Saturday, August 16, 1—4 p.m., Test Signup
🛍️ Queer Cookbook Club with Nonbinarian Neha: Sunday, August 17, 4—6 p.m., RSVP via Givebutter
🛍️ Intimate Fragments — A Smutty Trans Open Mic with Nonbinarian L'or: Thursday, August 21, doors 6:30 p.m., event 7—9 p.m. (after-hours), RSVP via Givebutter
🛍️ Masc4mask C-19 Rapid PCR Testing Site: Saturday, August 23, 1—4 p.m., Test Signup
🚲 Bed-Stuy Strong Book Bike Pop-Up: Sunday, August 24, 12—4 p.m., Herbert von King Park ✨ FREE! Outdoors, no registration required, all are welcome!
🛍️💻 Hybrid Reading Trancestors — A Trans History Book Club with Nonbinarians Philomena & Alexander: Monday, August 25 8—9:30 p.m. (after-hours). Register via Zoom or RSVP via      Givebutter      for in-store attendance. Open only to TGNC attendees.
🛍️ QT RPG Night with Nonbinarian Dillin: Thursday, August 28, 7—9 p.m. (after-hours), RSVP via Givebutter
💻 The Nonbinarian Book Club with Nonbinarian Sam: Friday, August 29, 8—9 p.m., Zoom
🛍️ Masc4mask C-19 Rapid PCR Testing Site: Saturday, August 30, 1—4 p.m., Test Signup
🛍️ Queer Disability Aid Art as Therapy Support Group with Nonbinarian Umi: Saturday, August 30, 7—9 p.m. (after-hours), RSVP link from QDA via Eventbrite TK. ✨ Materials provided!
🛍️ Little Readers ROAR! Storytime with Nonbinarian k.: Sunday, August 31, 12—12:45 p.m. ✨ No registration required; appropriate for ages 0-5; coloring materials provided!
Happy Fat Liberation Month! This month, we are reading Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield.*
Join us on Friday, August 29 at 8 p.m. ET on Zoom to meet other club members and chat about the book! The Zoom link will be sent out on the day of the meeting.
The Nonbinarian Book Club is a monthly, virtual, queer and trans-focused book club. Attendees will receive $5 off their next purchase at The Nonbinarian Bookstore, in-store or online. Meetings take place on the last Friday of each month and book club picks will be announced via the Nonbinarian Newsletter and social media on the 1st of each month.
If you prefer to listen to the audiobook, support indie bookstores and the Book Bike by purchasing through Libro.fm and selecting us as your store of choice!*
Hosted monthly by Nonbinarians Philomena and Alexander, Reading Trancestors will meet monthly both in-store and virtually on Zoom. Each month we will collectively suggest and vote on our next book together.
In August, we’ll be reading the first part of Transgender History by Susan Stryker (available in print, audiobook, and ebook),* then continuing the book in September.
Reading Trancestors is a free, monthly, hybrid reading and discussion group centering trans authors and readers, focused on learning from a past that insists on continually repeating itself. How did our trancestors survive the things we’re scared will happen again? Where did they find purpose in a world with no concept of their existence? What beautiful siblings are in the archive, siblings we may not even know existed?Â
Attendees (both virtual & in-person) will receive $5 off their next book club pick purchase at The Nonbinarian Bookstore.
Note: This book club centers the trans gaze and is open only to trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming attendees.
*If ever you cannot afford to obtain a copy of the book club pick for any of our meetings, please reach out to us via email*. No judgment, no questions. We take care of us.*
The Nonbinarian Bookstore was featured in a July round-up of queer indies at Bookstr!
We were also featured in a piece for Xtra. about the return of queer third places!
And last but definitely not least, in a profile of the company in BikePortland, Icicle Tricycle owner Ryan Hashagen cited the Nonbinarian Book Bike as a "favorite" cargo bike that now has a brick-and-mortar as well!
If you'd like to partner with us for an event or sponsorship, please reach out via e-mail! In addition to subscribing to our newsletter, following us on social media, visiting the store, and participating in events, you can also support the Nonbinarian in the following ways:
đź“š Donate a book (or books)! See our used book policy for details.
đź“š Donate funds to help upkeep costs rent and bike maintenance! You can make a one-time donation or set up a monthly one on Ko-Fi, or you can donate via Venmo.
đź“š Buy a book from our wishlist!
đź“š Buy a book through our Bookshop storefront!
đź“š Support us with a Libro.fm subscription!
đź“š Buy Nonbinarian merch!
To get involved in our virtual or in-person programming, please email info@thenonbinarian.gay!
Thank you to the Nonbinarian community for always showing up and showing out! We wouldn’t be here without our comrades, cheerleaders, volunteers, and backers! It has been a joy to meet you in-store and at pop-ups, interact with you on social media, and get to know the Brooklyn community and its various neighborhoods.
Want to contribute to the Nonbinarian Newsletter?
If you want to submit something to the newsletter, including events, mutual aid needs, book recs, or ideas you'd like to see us include, please email us at newsletter@thenonbinarian.gay.
Thank you for supporting the Nonbinarian Book Bike! Look for our next newsletter on the 1st of the month. In the meantime, follow us on social media for daily updates.