If “laughter is the best medicine” then this book is, indeed, excellent medicine! Nancy Peske and Beverly West are two ladies who really know their stuff and dish it out with a wry sense of humor and yet amazing truth. There are “literal-ly” hundreds of titles – the best, the worst, the best-loved, the most popular, and the hidden pearls of wisdom – in both fiction and non-fiction for women to read to fit any mood (“Feeling Unnoticed and Unloved”) or challenge (“Embracing Your Inner Bitch”) or situation (“When the Mom Tapes Are Looping”). Humor, however, only works when there is at least an ounce of truth to it, and herein lies a whole pound! I found myself laughing and nodding all at the same time while reading their reviews.

I do have an important caveat about this book, so let me get it out of the way. This book is NOT for girls! It is not for pre-teen girls and definitely not for younger girls. This book is for women. I am aware that girls are more sexually sophisticated than I was when I grew up, but I am still not sure that I would want my daughter asking me or her friends for clarification on S&M and comments on the characteristics of the great “O”! I am sure that the authors never intended this book for a young audience, but the title and cover artwork might lead a well-meaning, but unsuspecting shopper to casually purchase it as a birthday present for a child. A young reader, who still value presents from adults and loves to read, will probably read it cover to cover, and either ask a lot of embarrassing questions or worse, ask for a copy of the The Story of O because “It sounds cool!” As for the intended audience, women who are old enough not to be called a “girl” yet vicariously thrill at hearing it none-the-same, this book is an absolute joy!

As a librarian, I have either read or come in contact with the vast majority of these titles. Peske and West are right on target in zeroing in on the key draw or value of each of these titles for women. While many of the reviews are written in a tongue and cheek manner, there is still much truth to what they write. They are right on target at pointing out why women gravitate to this or that title and what can be gained or loss from that experience. “Books to Be Thrown with Great Force” provide a reality checks for a number of titles that are truly misguided and are at their best “wall-bangers” or “door stops.” There are thought provoking “Points to Ponder” after many of the lengthier reviews that bring up interesting and often challenging questions. “Notes from Our/Bev’s/Nancy’s Reading Journal” offer wonderful and perceptive insights into the most popular and best-loved books from girlhood. Another wonderful feature are the collection of lists, my personal favorite is “Literary Heroines We’d Like to Go Bar Hopping With” (Need I say more?) The best feature, however, is the quotes scattered throughout the book. They are the best and the worst (“Crackers in Bed” and “Pearls from the Patriarchy”) comments ever made about the female experience by both men and women. These alone are worth the price of the book!

Would I recommend this book? Whole-heartedly! It is well worth the price. This is a book to be read again and again. Given its short snippet style, it is an excellent book to keep in the bathroom or on the nightstand for a quick read. Besides, it is quicker, cheaper, and less taxing than real therapy, and unlike chocolate will never led to buying “Thin thighs in 30 Days.” My prescription for women’s bibliotherapy? Buy this book!


Suzanne Garrison-Terry
Education: B.A. in History from Sacred Heart University, M.L.S. in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State College, M.R.S. in Religious Studies/Pastoral Counseling from Fairfield University, and a M.Div. in Professional Ministry from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. She is currently completing a Certificate in Spirituality/Spiritual Direction from Sacred Heart University (July 2001). She is a Licensed Minister of the United Church of Christ and an Assistant Professor in Library Science at Dowling College, Long Island, NY

Interests in Mental Health: I am interested in the interplay between psychology and spirituality. My current research focuses on the role of hormonal fluctuation during puberty, pregnancy, and peri-menopause as a stimuli for mystical experiences. Through the study of autobiographical accounts of the mystical experiences of “historically accepted” female Christian mystics and additional biographical information, I am analyzing the connection between the onset of mystical experiences and biological data/symptomology for the potential existence of hormonal fluctuation or irregularity. If this sounds like an unusual topic, nota bene how many medieval female mystics began having “vision” on or about the age of 40!

Categories: SelfHelp, General