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| Pills or exercise? |
I really wanted to enjoy this story more. Wendy Wimmer is another new author for me and "Ghosting" certainly has its merits. The first-person narrative voice is bold and refreshing. Grace is struggling with weight issues and taking care of her ailing mother who has been diagnosed with some form of dementia. The tragicomic narratives gives way to some funny self-deprecating humor, especially pertaining to her weight loss journey. She begins taking these diet pills that have a tremendous impact on her body, especially when it comes to bowel movements. While the poop humor might not appeal to everyone's taste, the author manages to infuse enough witty playfulness where the graphic details are actually funny. 
I kind of wish the story focused more on the narrator's personal struggles with food, fatness and fatphobia. The narrative's momentum and comedic charm abruptly dissipates as it shifts towards the the mother/daughter relationship. This pivotal emotional arc, intended to serve as the story's centerpiece, unfortunately falls flat, leaving the remainder of the narrative to sluggishly meander towards a lackluster finale. Wendy Wimmer is now on my radar but I probably won't be rushing out to read the rest of her debut collection.
You can read this story HERE.
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