Bodies and Souls: The Century Project [Paperback]

Bodies and Souls is the long-awaited publication of Frank Cordelle's The Century Project. Although numerous books present womanhood in picture and word (Laurie Toby Edison's Women En Large and Wise Women by Joyce Tenneson come to mind), Bodies and Souls is perhaps the most successful to date in giving you a strong sense of who the women (from birth to age 94 so far) are and the pain and joys they've experienced.

Each entry consists of a nude photograph of a brave female and her personal statement in the form of prose, poetry, or both. In some cases, Cordelle provides the text or supplements it with his own observations. Many of the participants share their pain and joys. You will find the insecure, the joyful (a pregnant mother stands out here), cutters, cancer survivors, rape and abuse survivors, and many others from various races and walks of life. The pictures are certainly worth more than a thousand words, and the personal statements provide important context for the scars, tears, smiles, and sometimes amusing facial expressions and body language seen therein. Some of their comments and advice for living are priceless. Cordelle has done a remarkable job of opening a window into these inspiring women's souls.

I highly recommend this book to anyone (female or male) concerned with issues of self image and body image. This should prove an invaluable resource to counselors and those struggling to regain footing after a physical or emotional trial.

I went to Frank Cordelle's exhibit in my hometown with more than a touch of skepticism- a man photographing females nude? Expecting to see Playboy (and worse) I was never so grateful to be wrong. I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, rape and anorexia. What I saw in these photos brought me a sense of community among women and a decidedly human view of who and what we are. Frank shows an innate respect and understanding of these women. No pity, no pedestals and no pretense. Real females at all stages of life brave enough to show the rest of us who they are- who WE are. Sometimes sad, sometimes angry, sometimes hurt, sometimes weak,sometimes funny and sometimes strong. I have the book and have shown it to many people now. Each and every one came away from the experience with alot to think about. My 12 year old "step daughter" spent a couple of hours poring over the photos and reading about the women. She immediately "got it" that this book is about the real beauty within us all. This book is the antidote to all of the airbrushed perfectionism expected of women in our culture. If you are a woman, this is what you need to see. If you are a man, this book will give you an insight never before shown about women.

This project is of such importance that I can't believe it's received such a lack of publicity. Cordelle's 25 year journey has brought life to so many people, it's a shame more people haven't seen it. The fact that it's taken him so long to get this work published just goes to show how far American society has to go in terms of people being accepted as they are and feeling comfortable with who they are and what they look like and not feeling like they have to compare themselves to the images of thin people we see everyday on magazines and in the media in general.

We are out here and we are not being represented.