Books To Read

Last night I was looking for books to read, and I remembered all the "bride to be" books I browsed through during my last Powerbooks trip (a month ago, or two?). Just for fun, I plan to drop by again over the weekend and buy one.

I checked out the reviews in Amazon of these books, and all had good reviews... Now I don't know which to purchase... Hmm...

What No One Tells The Bride

"It's normal for brides to feel wildly disoriented. it's normal for your priorities to shift. But don't try to align your star in a fixed point in the sky. Let the things you cherish be a constellation, one more prominent in the sky one night, another brighter the next..."

Amazon Editorial Review: Stark has written a readable self-help guide for brides-to-be and newlyweds who are trying to adjust to this often anxiety-ridden passage in life and to solve the consequent identity crisis. Chapters touch on wedding postpartum, handling money squabbles, falling prey to stereotypes, timing pregnancies, and communication and criticism in a marriage. The text is interspersed with comments from the 50 (mostly white, middle-class) women whom Stark surveyed and interviewed. The result is a "feel good" book whose aim is to reassure newlyweds that their fears and anxieties are normal. Much of it reads like a woman's magazine article, offering somewhat simplistic advice: "breath deeply, and believe that your venture into love will succeed." But Stark does have a clear, readable style and a reassuring sincerity in drawing from her own life as well as others.


The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl

You were a fabulous single girl--you were swell, you were a bombshell, you were a bad girl on the open road. Now you're getting hitched--are your glam days gone for good? Is "matronly" the hidden meaning of matrimony? No way. The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl shows how to retire that little black book without tossing the little black dress.

Full of wisdom gleaned from dozens of savvy Married Girls, The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl serves up the pros and cons of changing your name, the trick to hanging out with singletons without feeling wistful, the art of the grown-up (but not geriatric) cocktail party, and the key to staying wildly in love. Plus you'll get answers to all those sticky questions you might be pondering as you're about to take the plunge.

- Do I have to say good-bye to my exes?? (Yes. It?s impossible to make two men who have both seen you naked into good friends.)
- Can I just marry my guy and divorce his family?? (Sorry, honey, it?s a package deal.)
-How do I deal with the frightening furniture my sans-style guy delivers to our love nest?? (Slip the movers a c-note to ?lose? it.)

From the moment you return from the honeymoon and find that the spotlight, tragically, has moved on from you and your guy, The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl helps you navigate the new terrain of marriage with flair.


The "I Have A Life Bride's Guide"

So you want to plan an unforgettable wedding, but you don't want to get swallowed up in a whole lot of craziness? True enough, some women have the time and inclination to eat, sleep, and breathe every last detail of planning their weddings-but that's not you.

You need a practical, true-to-life guide that boils down your wedding planning details to the nitty-gritty basics. If you're pressed for time-and patience-and want to avoid all the excess fluff and fuss, The "I Have a Life" Bride's Guide is the book for you. This no-nonsense guide shows you how to:

- De-stress and stay cool at all times
- Balance your wedding plans with your hectic schedule
- Steer clear of unnecessary expenses
- Cut to the chase when deciding on where to have your ceremony and reception
- Avoid time drains and pitfalls when choosing a caterer, a band, or a florist