Calendar Girl: In Which a Lady of Rylstone Reveals All
Registered by dancing-dog of Cordova, Tennessee USA on 5/23/2010
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
4 journalers for this copy...
from amazon.com:
A few years ago, a certain calendar caused a worldwide stir with its tasteful nude photos of the middle-aged women of the Rylstone Women's Institute in northern England. This book, already published in the U.K. and now a feature film there, chronicles the genesis, creation and subsequent fame of the "calendar girls," told by Miss October. Stewart's recounting carries a journal-like quality, so readers may either love or hate the abundance of minutiae as they are taken through the decision of the Women's Institute, following the death of a member's husband, to create the calendar and donate the proceeds to cancer research. These details, however, reveal that life in a tiny English town can be as multidimensional and hip as life in a big American city: Stewart teaches yoga and enjoys shiatsu, meditation and tarot. She humorously describes the recruitment of the calendar girls (the youngest was 45), the photo shoots ("breathing in and trying to look unwrinkled"), getting the blessing of the national Women's Institute, and how the ladies handled the subsequent, unexpected fame. The only drama concerns the author's belief throughout that her marriage was deteriorating and the strain of their increasing renown ("before the calendar, I could never understand why groups like the Beatles or the Spice Girls split up"). Although the women experience a tiny bit of shock due to their sudden celebrity, their relationships are ultimately what's important, as evidenced by the author's reconciliation with her husband. In the end, this is more than a "making of" story: it's a reminder of the beauty and power of women's friendships.
A few years ago, a certain calendar caused a worldwide stir with its tasteful nude photos of the middle-aged women of the Rylstone Women's Institute in northern England. This book, already published in the U.K. and now a feature film there, chronicles the genesis, creation and subsequent fame of the "calendar girls," told by Miss October. Stewart's recounting carries a journal-like quality, so readers may either love or hate the abundance of minutiae as they are taken through the decision of the Women's Institute, following the death of a member's husband, to create the calendar and donate the proceeds to cancer research. These details, however, reveal that life in a tiny English town can be as multidimensional and hip as life in a big American city: Stewart teaches yoga and enjoys shiatsu, meditation and tarot. She humorously describes the recruitment of the calendar girls (the youngest was 45), the photo shoots ("breathing in and trying to look unwrinkled"), getting the blessing of the national Women's Institute, and how the ladies handled the subsequent, unexpected fame. The only drama concerns the author's belief throughout that her marriage was deteriorating and the strain of their increasing renown ("before the calendar, I could never understand why groups like the Beatles or the Spice Girls split up"). Although the women experience a tiny bit of shock due to their sudden celebrity, their relationships are ultimately what's important, as evidenced by the author's reconciliation with her husband. In the end, this is more than a "making of" story: it's a reminder of the beauty and power of women's friendships.
Journal Entry 2 by dancing-dog at Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, May 23, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (5/23/2010 UTC) at Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Adding to Nattabee's First Book Box - enjoy!
Adding to Nattabee's First Book Box - enjoy!
From Nattabee's Bookbox
I am going to have to put some of my TBR shelf back as available as it is getting overwhelming and my husband scowls every time a book enters the house. As much as I had hoped to read this, it looks like it's not going to happen any time soon, so it's now available.
Putting in the Calendar bookbox - traveling home next week.
This book returned in my Calendar Bookbox.
I've read this book before. It's a great story!
Saved for a bookbox.
I've read this book before. It's a great story!
Saved for a bookbox.
This book is reserved for Debbie4OSU's Non-Fiction VBB.
Journal Entry 8 by JennyC1230 at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (6/22/2012 UTC) at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending to JudySlump612 from Debbie4OSU's Non Fiction VBB - US/Canada. Enjoy the book!
Arrived safely here today. Thank you, JennyC!
This was a little disappointing, although that's unfair to Tricia Stewart, who never claimed to be a professional writer. But it's a great example of why authors are taught "Show, don't tell." She tells us again and again of the funny or glorious experiences the original Calendar Girls had, but never shows us any details.
On the other hand, she handles very fairly the divisions between the women. Many of them signed up for just a picture session and maybe a few weeks of promotion for the calendar. When this stretched to over a year of television specials, billboards, a trip to the US and eventually a film, you can see why conflicts would arise. I'm glad I read it, since I loved the film, but it's not a book I'm tempted to keep.
But that's just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?
On the other hand, she handles very fairly the divisions between the women. Many of them signed up for just a picture session and maybe a few weeks of promotion for the calendar. When this stretched to over a year of television specials, billboards, a trip to the US and eventually a film, you can see why conflicts would arise. I'm glad I read it, since I loved the film, but it's not a book I'm tempted to keep.
But that's just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?
Journal Entry 11 by JudySlump612 at Red Cross Blood Donor Center - 505 W 98th St. in Bloomington, Minnesota USA on Friday, August 17, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (8/17/2012 UTC) at Red Cross Blood Donor Center - 505 W 98th St. in Bloomington, Minnesota USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
On bookshelves in donor waiting area.