by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff
Publisher: Twelve
Publication Date: February 26, 2009
ISBN: 978-0446546362
240 pages
Nonfiction
Book Description (from the publisher):
My Little Red Book is an anthology of stories about first periods, collected from women of all ages from around the world. The accounts range from light-hearted (the editor got hers while water skiing in a yellow bathing suit) to heart-stopping (a first period discovered just as one girl was about to be strip-searched by the Nazis). The contributors include well-known women writers (Meg Cabot, Erica Jong, Gloria Steinem, Cecily von Ziegesar), alongside today's teens. And while the authors differ in race, faith, or cultural background, their stories share a common bond: they are all accessible, deeply honest, and highly informative. Whatever a girl experiences or expects, she'll find stories that speak to her thoughts and feelings.
Ultimately, My Little Red Book is more than a collection of stories. It is a call for a change in attitude, for a new way of seeing periods. In a time when the taboo around menstruation seems to be one of the few left standing, it makes a difficult subject easier to talk about, and helps girls feel proud instead of embarrassed or ashamed. By revealing what it feels like to undergo this experience first hand, and giving women the chance to explain their feelings in their own words, it aims to provide support, entertainment, and a starting point for discussion for mothers and daughters everywhere. It is a book every girl should have. Period.
Ultimately, My Little Red Book is more than a collection of stories. It is a call for a change in attitude, for a new way of seeing periods. In a time when the taboo around menstruation seems to be one of the few left standing, it makes a difficult subject easier to talk about, and helps girls feel proud instead of embarrassed or ashamed. By revealing what it feels like to undergo this experience first hand, and giving women the chance to explain their feelings in their own words, it aims to provide support, entertainment, and a starting point for discussion for mothers and daughters everywhere. It is a book every girl should have. Period.
My Opinion:
I was excited to find out that this book existed because I think it fills a gap in the resources out there to help young women understand more about what will happen when they get their first period. Not just the mechanics of it, as most of us learn about in health class, but the actual emotional impact of it, as well as the many exciting or nonchalant ways that a period can enter a girl's life.
I was excited to find out that this book existed because I think it fills a gap in the resources out there to help young women understand more about what will happen when they get their first period. Not just the mechanics of it, as most of us learn about in health class, but the actual emotional impact of it, as well as the many exciting or nonchalant ways that a period can enter a girl's life.
Even as an adult I feel like I benefited from reading this book about other women's experiences, if for nothing else than to say, "Thank God that didn't happen to me."
Some of the experiences that I read about were heartbreaking, such as those back in the days where girls weren't given any information at all, or were slapped on the arrival of their first period in order to carry on an old tradition. Others' experiences were inspiring to read, telling of congratulations and celebrations of womanhood. These were the stories that made me wish I had daughters so that I could be one of those lovely moms who were celebratory.
Then of course there were all of the stories in between, those who were prepared, and while there was no party, there was also no public humiliation. I would imagine that most of our stories fall somewhere in the middle.
I think that this book is a fantastic resource, and would make an excellent gift for mothers and daughters who are heading into that time of life where they need to prepare for that first period.
Rating: 5/5
The Period Poll
Author Information:
RACHEL KAUDER-NALEBUFF is a recent graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall, and will soon attend Yale University. In Choate's annual Pratt-Packard oratory contest, she adapted her own first-period experience and other stories from MY LITTLE RED BOOK to an audience of 1,000 classmates: "This is a speech about first periods, and I don't mean your 8:00 AM class," the speech began. The inspiration to begin collecting first period stories arose out of a conversation with her mother.
Check out these other blogs on the tour, and keep your eyes open because some of them are giving away copies of My Little Red Book!
Posts
14 comments:
Alyce,
Excellent review of a wonderful book that young girls need!! I got my period while I was camping with a friend. I woke up and thought someone had murdered Garfield! He was the picture on my sleeping bag. To make matters worse I had to go to the camp store to get pads and my cousin and his friend kept circling me and my friend with their bikes and kept asking, "What's in the bag?"
Mortifying!!
Have you read The Red Tent? this is a beautiful story based around when girls come of age, but this is of course aimed toward adults. I don't have a daughter to share this with either but I'm so glad that you have made us aware of it!!
Happy Blog tour! I wanted to do this one but I knew I was over booked. I look forward to reading and recommending this book!
I was 15 when I got my first period and was wearing a pair of red pants so it wasn't so bad. The worst part was telling my Mum because she made such a big deal of it, saying over and over, "Oh, my baby's a woman now!". On the up side, she made me my favourite meal for supper! LOL!
great review!! I loved this book too. I think we did it on the right day, but I went to visit the rest of the links and there is nothing up. Was there some mistake!?!
Anyway, I am anxious to see how your polls end up.
I have to say I answered Other because I don't even remember it!
Staci - Thank you for sharing your story. I laughed so hard reading about how you "murdered Garfield!" :)
Toni - It really is a great book. I'm sure you'll love it when you find the time to read it.
Loves3cats - How lucky you had red pants! I think it's awesome your mom made such a fuss!
Bethany - The blog tour had different dates scheduled for some bloggers who were doing reviews, interviews and giveaways. Thanks for taking the poll!
Darn, how did I miss that there was a blog tour for this? Oh well, I'll just have to go blog hopping and follow it rather thean participate with my blog.
Wonderful review Alyce!
This book sounds interesting! Personally, I don't remember getting my period, but I was younger, and my memory isn't very good further back than high school.
Great review Alyce. This does sound like an interesting read. I was only 11 when I got my period so I was not really prepared, just scared. My mom was good about it but this was back in the 70's so things weren't really open yet.
Alyce.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I've been looking for a good 'red' book for the colourful reading challenge. This sounds like a great read. I can only remember trying to will my first period to go away as I had a volleyball tournament that weekend.
I also enjoyed the book and also can say "Thankfully it didn't happen to me!" Great review. I posted my own review and story here: http://www.brimfulcuriosities.com
Teddy Rose - I know that some of the bloggers on tour are hosting giveaways, so maybe you can get one that way.
Meg89 - Well if you can't remember it I'm sure it wasn't too traumatic (I hope). :)
Dar - How nice that your mom was good about it. I'm glad things have become more open as time goes on.
Kerri - I understand. I remember raking the front yard pretending like it wasn't happening because I didn't want my dad to know.
Brimful Curiosities - I'm glad you liked the book too!
Oh, I already have a copy. I just ment that I would have gotten involved in the tour. I already hosted a giveaway of the book in February, so I guess that counts. LOL! I just somehow missed that there was going to be an official tour.
Teddy Rose - How funny! :) Sorry I misunderstood. I'm glad that you have a copy though!
I've heard so many good things about this one. I'll have to keep it in mind, as I'm getting close to that stage with my daughter. Trying not to think about it, though.
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
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