This book has been very helpful. It contains a lot of good information and best of all, pages and pages of sources for products in the back. For the past year or so I have been slowly working at making our food, health beauty, and cleaning products more natural and healthy, but weeding through all the choices and information can be overwhelming. The sources provided by this book give me a starting point. I like her approach of "upgrading" to more decadant food choices, as opposed to giving up the things we're used to. Due to PCOS I have a very difficult time losing weight with conventional advice. When I was following her advice I was actually beginning to lose a bit. Unfortunately I have not stuck with it so neither has the weight loss, but that is my fault. This is a book that I read with my highlighter handy and I plan to refer to again and again.
I am so grateful for the reviews. I would never have bought this book based on eating for beauty only. This is much deeper than that. It was well thought out and well done. I might buy this book for everyone I know.. well see! Out of all the raw food books I have bought this is in my top 3, who knows it could be #1. Great book you won't regret it. Beauty starts on the inside... and radiates out so maybe the title is fitting. mmmmmm?
This book was my first foray into reading a retelling of a fairy tale, and I found myself somewhat disappointed. I am a die-hard romantic at heart (which may be some of my problem - there was very little honest-to-God romance to be found here) and I enjoy a book that does not end perfectly. So, according to these standards, the book didn't do so hot. Let me elaborate: br / br /- Characterization: I found most of the characters boring. The family and friends were ALL really caring, good, honest, loving people, which can make a book incredibly dull. There is no struggle, no internal conflict that would keep the reader interested in them. The only time we see any trouble in paradise happens when Beauty must leave to live with the Beast, and the family is really upset, but that's it folks! Every other time they are all content and happy with each other.
When I first began the Beauty books, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. The first book included entirely too much spanking and not much of anything else. The second book was much better and really entertained with some classic character development and a very moving relationship. The third book in the Beauty series was the best yet! Although Rice does a great job of summarizing the adventures from the previous books, it really would be most beneficial to read through all books in the series in order to appreciate the massive character development throughout the series. (Yes, even the first one which could be considered a bit of a bore to some.) br / br /Rice included a variety of spice and some very interesting BDSM aspects in this third installment. The characters remained consistent with the original story line, but showed massive and realistic development through their struggles.
What makes this book so important is that it is just as, if not more, relevant today than it was in 1991. Women continue to be judged more by our appearances than actions, and while there do seem to be a few examples of progress (like Queen Latifah showing that beauty comes in many sizes and everyone loving Ellen DeGeneres' show despite her non-model appearance), these are exceptions that prove the rule. Models are slimmer than ever, anorexia is considered normal, and women continue to lose the battle for self-esteem. br / br /While the average reader may consider the writing to be a bit dry, Wolf presents one intellectually sound point after another. She even inserts a few personal memories which help the reader to identify with her as a person in addition to an accomplished thinker and writer. In addition, the pages and pages of notes prove that her statistics and arguments are based on intense research and not, as critics may suggest, merely whining. I would consider this to be essential "personal is political" reading for any person, of any gender, with a social conscience.
I really didn't care for the first book in this trilogy, but I was encouraged to read the sequel by several fans of the series... GOOD CALL! Immediately, I was amazed at the difference in these two books... Where as the first book seemed to be just one huge relentless spanking with no real character development or story, this book truly developed each main character by explaining events from their perspective AND included a rather interesting story line! br / br /Although I had never given much thought to what a BDSM relationship must be like, Rice's descriptions were mind blowing! I was amazed at the internal battles these characters faced, as well as the torment they endured for the sake or earning approval.