Ocean State Libraries

James Henry, a kind-hearted professor of English literature, is forced to move back home to Quincy's Gap, a tiny town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, to care for his aging father. Shortly after moving into a house that hasn't changed since his childhood, the overweight, divorced, book-loving cheese puff addict accepts a position as head librarian and joins a supper club for dieters who call themselves the "Flab Five." Avoiding carbs is almost impossible...

"An aging screenwriter in coastal South Carolina deals with stress from the pandemic by binge-eating and believing there's a nefarious Russian influence on the local coroner's race."--

"Smithy is an American original, worthy of a place on the shelf just below your Hucks, your Holdens, your Yossarians." —Stephen King
Every so often, a novel comes along that captures the public’s imagination with a story that sweeps readers up and takes them on a thrilling, unforgettable ride. Ron McLarty’s The Memory of Running is this decade’s novel. By all accounts, especially his own, Smithson "Smithy"...

Roger Micheldene, an English publisher, is on the loose in the U.S. He spends an October week shuttling between New York and Budweiser College in Pennsylvania. This exercises all his British appetites ... snobbery, gluttony, anger, sloth and lust. But Amis roasts Americans as well and serves us familiar dishes, though in a piquant sauce: the precocious undergraduate author of a far-out novel, an earnest young priest, and an alcoholic literary agents...

A poignant, funny, and, above all, honest look at obesity from the inside out. Is it the goal of life to be thin, or to be happy? In this inspiring story, those two elusive goals become one, as a fat man learns acceptance, loses the guilt, and gains the wisdom to manage his weight. A self-proclaimed "fat man" who is also a happy man--successful in his career, marriage, and friendships--Mike Berman has earned his insight and peace of mind through decades...

Bruni, restaurant critic for "The New York Times," tells his heartbreaking and hilarious account of his lifelong, often painful struggle with food.

"A semi-autobiographical novel follows the experiences of a successful but lonely, slightly overweight movie star who seeks to escape depression through a new romance and an Oscar-worthy role, only to discover the universe's alternative plans."--Provided by publisher.

James is a struggling actor, living with his widowed mother in Chicago, who wants three things in life: someone to love, a great part, and to lose weight. Unfortunately, he is 0 for 3. His girlfriend dumps him, he loses a title acting role, and he sneaks out of an Overeaters Anonymous meeting only to wind up at an ice cream parlor. There, he meets Beth who quickly wins his heart, but will this cause James more problems than it solves? Or has he finally...

Smith puts the power of healthy living within your reach with these recipes he created on his own journey to health and wellness.