Bibliotherapy: The Girl's Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives: Amazon.ca: Beverly West, Nancy Peske: Books

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Also by Nancy Peske and Beverly West:

The Girl's Guide to Movies for Every Mood

Available from Dell

Product Description

Because women read books differently than guys do...

Every woman knows ... books are more than a way to kill time on the bus — they're therapy that fits in our bag. Whether we're wallowing in a sullen perennial adolescence or our biological clock is ringing and we can't find the snooze button, books are the dog-eared friends that help us deal with our baggage as we navigate life's journey.

Now Bibliotherapy prescribes the best of classic and contemporary Chick Lit that women turn to again and again — for inspiration (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) ... for escape (Ladder of Years) ... for revenge against the patriarchy (Our Blood) ... and for bonding with our girlfriends (Waiting to Exhale).

Upper-thigh spread sparking a midlife crisis? Read A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains and remember that it's not over until the fat lady yodels. Did your pot of gold turn out to be fourteen-karat tin? Open your eyes with Awakening to the Sacred and learn to savor your rainbow. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Climb into bed with Lady Chatterley's Lover and explore your pleasure potential.

With provocative points to ponder as you read ("What is the metaphorical significance of a codpiece?"), fun quotes, and a list of books that must not be read but, in Dorothy Parker's words, "thrown with great force," Bibliotherapy ensures you'll always find the right literary prescription — no matter what phase of life you're teetering on the brink of!

Plus: Doomed but Inspired Heroes ... Books to Read When You're Sick of Your Career and Are Seriously Considering Taking Up Alpaca Ranching in Peru ... Bad Girls We'd Like to Have Over for Girls' Night ... Books That Are the Equivalent of Citronella for Men ... and much more!

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars a book to help you find more books!, Jan 10 2004

By

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bibliotherapy: The Girl's Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives (Paperback)

I like this book. It does not promise to be a complete reference, nor does it purport to be a literature course of any kind. It offers to be a friendly and casual guide, and that is exactly what it is. There are 13 chapters, distinguished by topic: bad girl books, exploring our sexuality, hearing your inner voice, coming of age, mother issues, existential crises, taking care of business, midlife crisis, political, bad hair babe, martyr queen and embracing your inner light books. The approach is breezy and mildly informative, though one does wonder why it is "our" sexuality but "your" inner voice. Each chapter begins with a one or two page humorous essay followed by reading suggestions, each with a paragraph or two of description and comments, a couple of humorous discussion questions, and a miscellany of quotes, facts and reminiscences. The first chapter, for example, "When You're Ready to Embrace Your Inner B!tch: Bad Girl Books" features Moll Flanders (1722), The Scarlet Letter (1850), Gone With the Wind (1936), The Portable Dorothy Parker (1944), Auntie Mame (1955), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1962) and Too Good for Her Own Good: Searching for Self and Intimacy in Important Relationships (1990). Also included are a list of bad girls to invite to a girls' night, Notes from Nancy's and Bev's Reading Journals, and quotes from a number of bad girls, including Cher and Carrie Nation.

One's unsurprising complaint with a book like this: I want more. There are only 6 or 7 recommendations in each chapter. It's clear these authors are well read, so I would have liked more actual book and author recommendations, particularly ones I'd never heard of. The books that were recommended were interesting and appropriate choices I thought -- there was one I'd never heard of, a couple I'd never got round to reading, a couple I'd read many years ago, and a couple where I thought 'Oh yeah, I should read that'. I enjoyed reading about books I'd already read and appreciated being reminded of the ones where I'd let myself be satisfied with the film, but would have liked at least another five I'd never heard of. There is a lot of humorous filler, which works because the authors are good writers and funny, but the next edition needs more reviews. Also, putting the selections in chronological order would lend some historical context. Complemented by a good index, this is not a book to read straight through, but rather to be perused as the mood hits.

As for previous critics' claim that the book falsely purports to be for young women -- that would have been "Grrrl's Guide to Books", wouldn't it? The unnecessary meanness suggests some unresolved issues with mom. You know what? You'll like her again some day. Reread Chapter 5 and give her a call.

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4.0 out of 5 stars It is all in what your take is ..., Feb 7 2002

By

Evelyn D. Cruze "evwings" (Crescent City, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Bibliotherapy: The Girl's Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives (Paperback)

I enjoy this book. But I also take it in a slightly different way than some of the other reviewers. I have never "read" it as a total book. I have taken it a section at a time by how my moods are or where I am in my life. These books have made a difference to the authors during different periods of their lives. Hopefully they can for someone else, too. I really wish a book like this had been around when I was a teenager to give me a good head's up start. I keep it with my reference books and turn to it time and again. Sure, I have read a number of the books already, but it is great to know I have good company. Besides, there were a few I had forgotten and returned to them for a good read. Or I even used "The Diary of Anne Frank" as a starting place to continue learning more about Anne and her writings, as example. Some authors I checked for more of their work. For the previous reviewer who complained about the "girls" aspect and the authors being middle-aged or as old as her mother ......... women can be "girls" at any age ... it is all in the attitude, girlfriend. ;-)

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2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, Jan 23 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Bibliotherapy: The Girl's Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives (Paperback)

I fortunately checked out this book from the library so I can't complain too much about the price. I read constantly so I thought this book might give me some ideas on some new books to read. I couldn't have been more disappointed. Most of the books suggested are predictable choices - books that most voracious readers read long ago, like "Gone with the Wind" or "Diary of Anne Frank" to use two examples. I got the impression they were getting kickbacks from bookstores to sell some of these books. Their "cutesy" writing gets old after a few chapters and I didn't agree with a lot of their observations. If you can, check this out at the library and wait for someone to write better book selections.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Attitude sometimes falls short
After looking over the reviews and excerpts of this book, I was really looking forward to reading it over my vacation. Read more

Published on Jan 3 2002 by Courtney L. Lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars I really liked this book
I liked this book alot, it was very different and it gave me alot of ideas of books to read based on what "mood" I am in. Read more

Published on Dec 2 2001 by Ellen