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The Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish for Our Daughters
The New York Times bestselling journalist and author of The Girls from Ames, Jeffrey Zaslow, takes us to a multi- generational family owned small-town bridal shop to explore the emotional lives of women in the 21st century. You may not have heard of Fowler, Michigan, much less Becker's Bridal. But for the thousands of women who have stepped inside, Becker's is the site of some of the most important moments of their lives-moments that speak to us all. Housed in a former bank, the boutique owners transformed the vault into a "magic room," with soft church lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that make lifelong dreams come true.Illuminating the poignant aspects of a woman's journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for years, Becker's has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage; some of the shop's clientele are becomi
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 27, 2011
About the author
Jeffrey Zaslow
21 books107 followersThrough his Wall Street Journal column and bestselling books, Jeffrey Zaslow has told the stories of some of the most inspirational people of our time.
The Last Lecture, written with Randy Pausch, has been translated into 48 languages, and was #1 on best-seller lists worldwide. Five million copies have been sold in English alone, and the book has remained on The New York Times best-seller list for more than 112 weeks.
In 2011, Jeff collaborated with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, veteran astronaut Mark Kelly, on their memoir, GABBY: A Story of Courage and Hope. The book was launched with a cover story in People magazine, and an hour-long ABC TV special hosted by Diane Sawyer. GABBY debuted near the top of the New York Times bestseller lists for both hardcovers and e-books.
Jeff’s 2009 book about female friendship, The Girls From Ames, spent 26 weeks on The New York Times list, rising to #3. People magazine named it one of the “Ten Best Books of the Year.” Lifetime Television is adapting the book for a movie.
Also in 2009, Jeff coauthored Highest Duty, the memoir of Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, who famously landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. Highest Duty debuted at # 3 on The New York Times list.
Jeff’s final book, The Magic Room: A story about the love we wish for our daughters, was published in January 2012. The nonfiction narrative is set at a small-town Michigan bridal shop, and looks at the lives of a handful of brides (and their parents) who’ve journeyed to the store’s “Magic Room.”
Jeff died on February 10, 2012, at age 53 in a car accident while on tour promoting, "The Magic Room."
The Last Lecture, written with Randy Pausch, has been translated into 48 languages, and was #1 on best-seller lists worldwide. Five million copies have been sold in English alone, and the book has remained on The New York Times best-seller list for more than 112 weeks.
In 2011, Jeff collaborated with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, veteran astronaut Mark Kelly, on their memoir, GABBY: A Story of Courage and Hope. The book was launched with a cover story in People magazine, and an hour-long ABC TV special hosted by Diane Sawyer. GABBY debuted near the top of the New York Times bestseller lists for both hardcovers and e-books.
Jeff’s 2009 book about female friendship, The Girls From Ames, spent 26 weeks on The New York Times list, rising to #3. People magazine named it one of the “Ten Best Books of the Year.” Lifetime Television is adapting the book for a movie.
Also in 2009, Jeff coauthored Highest Duty, the memoir of Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, who famously landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. Highest Duty debuted at # 3 on The New York Times list.
Jeff’s final book, The Magic Room: A story about the love we wish for our daughters, was published in January 2012. The nonfiction narrative is set at a small-town Michigan bridal shop, and looks at the lives of a handful of brides (and their parents) who’ve journeyed to the store’s “Magic Room.”
Jeff died on February 10, 2012, at age 53 in a car accident while on tour promoting, "The Magic Room."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
February 21, 2017
I put this on my list to read slightly more than five years ago, when my daughter was first talking about marrying the man she later became engaged to, and will be marrying in the coming months.
When I was first starting college, I remember walking into one of the rooms where a girl I knew from HS was sitting surrounded by five or more other girls, all with stacks of bridal magazines, all making poster boards of their dream weddings. None were engaged, as far as I knew none even had boyfriends then, but that dream was so deeply embedded in them that this was how they bonded. On the other hand, even though I grew up with the Disney movies with dashing Prince Charmings, I don’t think I ever had any dreams about a wedding, and certainly no elaborate plans for a wedding. My daughter, on the other hand, used to talk about the kind of wedding she wanted: a Disney wedding. In Disneyland.
Since then, which really wasn’t as long ago as it should be, she’s revised her dream wedding. The first was for a “circus” themed wedding – which is understandable if you know she’s a photographer and she was thinking of Annie Leibovitz type photographs to remember the day. I can at least relate to that.
So now that this momentous day is coming up, there is the planning for the day. Yes, the planning for the wedding day (which is decidedly more relaxed than earlier dream-weddings), too, but the day I’m talking about, thinking about, is the day she looks in the mirror, wearing the dress that makes her feel that same glow, and smiles outwardly because this is the one, the dress that makes her heart smile. The one she will wear the day she says her vows, they say their vows to each other.
The brides in this story, their mothers, even the owners of the store in this story have shed tears over many such moments. Especially in The Magic Room of this family owned store. Four generations, unbroken, of Becker women since the year 1934, have owned and run this store. Succeeding despite the Depression, despite the Dust Bowl, and WWII. Over 100,000 brides. With love comes hope.
In this two-story brick building that was once a bank, in what was once the bank vault now softly lit with a circular pedestal, that’s the Magic Room. A special room reserved for showing the brides-to-be a 360-degree glimpse of themselves. A glimpse of how they’ll appear that moment when all eyes are warmly and softly focused on them, glowing with love.
That's what I hope for, we all hope for. In those moments are where the threads of eternity lie, tying us all together. The love we all wish for our daughters, our sons and daughters, to be filled to the brim with love.
September 21, 2017
Great book that brought back memories of my wedding. This novel consists of personal stories of a few brides, the bridal shop history, family stories of the shop’s owner, and research/statistics. The stories are interesting and everything tied together nicely. I really liked the statistics/research part of the book. I learned quite a bit. Here is a random example: “Couples are more successful in marriage if they see themselves as helpmates rather than soul mates.” This book is not only for brides-to-be. I think anyone that likes nonfiction will enjoy it. What a shame that the author passed away while on a book tour.
January 10, 2015
Immediately after finishing this book I learned that Jeffrey Zaslow died on February 10, 2012. He lost control of his car and was hit by a semi on a snow-covered road in Northern Michigan.
He leaves his wife and three daughters behind.
The Magic Room was written specifically by Jeffrey Zaslow to help all of us understand the best way a father can show his love to his daughters. Zaslow's wife Sherry gave Jeffrey the "wedding dress" theme with which to write his book.
I have such a heavy heart knowing what has happened to the Zaslow family. The irony that in the book, car accidents impacted several of the characters Zaslow wrote about.
This book follows the history of a bridal shop located in Fowler, Michigan. Zaslow follows four generations of the Becker family who still currently own the store. Zaslow also follows eight brides-to-be in their quest for their wedding gowns. The reader is allowed into each life just long enough to grasp the lesson to be learned.
I personally liked reading about the statistical information. I thought it was captured in a logical manner and adapted well into the storyline.
I had the hair on my arms stand to attention when I found out Shelley and I were married on the same date. September 7, 1985. I live across Lake Michigan from Shelley in Wisconsin, but what stood out for me is that whenever I think of my wedding day, the first thing that pops into my head is the memory of how hot and humid the weather was. I had long sleeves on my wedding dress and I literally wanted to rip them off. There was a lot of sweating going on at my wedding also.
I visited the Becker's Bridal website after finishing the book. I was very impressed and pleased to see a picture of all of the Becker Bridal employees. Shelley should be very proud of the business.
The book was a very emotional read for me. The vehicle Zaslow used to convey his message was absolutely brilliant.
Jeffrey Zaslow's body of work is outstanding. I am sad that there will not be anymore books in the future.
Rest in peace.
He leaves his wife and three daughters behind.
The Magic Room was written specifically by Jeffrey Zaslow to help all of us understand the best way a father can show his love to his daughters. Zaslow's wife Sherry gave Jeffrey the "wedding dress" theme with which to write his book.
I have such a heavy heart knowing what has happened to the Zaslow family. The irony that in the book, car accidents impacted several of the characters Zaslow wrote about.
This book follows the history of a bridal shop located in Fowler, Michigan. Zaslow follows four generations of the Becker family who still currently own the store. Zaslow also follows eight brides-to-be in their quest for their wedding gowns. The reader is allowed into each life just long enough to grasp the lesson to be learned.
I personally liked reading about the statistical information. I thought it was captured in a logical manner and adapted well into the storyline.
I had the hair on my arms stand to attention when I found out Shelley and I were married on the same date. September 7, 1985. I live across Lake Michigan from Shelley in Wisconsin, but what stood out for me is that whenever I think of my wedding day, the first thing that pops into my head is the memory of how hot and humid the weather was. I had long sleeves on my wedding dress and I literally wanted to rip them off. There was a lot of sweating going on at my wedding also.
I visited the Becker's Bridal website after finishing the book. I was very impressed and pleased to see a picture of all of the Becker Bridal employees. Shelley should be very proud of the business.
The book was a very emotional read for me. The vehicle Zaslow used to convey his message was absolutely brilliant.
Jeffrey Zaslow's body of work is outstanding. I am sad that there will not be anymore books in the future.
Rest in peace.
December 17, 2011
When I reviewed Jeffrey Zaslow's book The Girls From Ames, I liked it (very much, as a matter of fact) but was surprised about how little of Jeffrey Zaslow leaked into the content of the pages. The Magic Room is quite different: although Zaslow does not talk about himself and his daughters except in the preface, his tenderness for parents and daughters seemed to infuse warmth and grace into the stories he tells.
The Magic Room in question is a softly lit, mirror-filled room in Becker's Bridal, a bridal mecca in Fowler, Michigan. Zaslow follows a number of brides through their dream-dress journeys, and takes the time to delve into the secrets, joys and sorrows of the Becker family as well. This could have been "Say-yes-to-the-dress" shallow, but instead it is rather lovely: each of these brides is an individual with unique circumstances, history, and dreams. Their stories are often poignant; one woman suffers a devastating car crash mere weeks before her wedding; another is a widow marrying for the second time, to the bitter disgust of the teenage daughters of her beloved first husband. Their stories are complicated, and both joyful and sad; Zaslow is good at mining the emotional resonance of their moments in the Magic Room. He made me wonder how I will handle these moments when my own daughters come to marry.
The Magic Room in question is a softly lit, mirror-filled room in Becker's Bridal, a bridal mecca in Fowler, Michigan. Zaslow follows a number of brides through their dream-dress journeys, and takes the time to delve into the secrets, joys and sorrows of the Becker family as well. This could have been "Say-yes-to-the-dress" shallow, but instead it is rather lovely: each of these brides is an individual with unique circumstances, history, and dreams. Their stories are often poignant; one woman suffers a devastating car crash mere weeks before her wedding; another is a widow marrying for the second time, to the bitter disgust of the teenage daughters of her beloved first husband. Their stories are complicated, and both joyful and sad; Zaslow is good at mining the emotional resonance of their moments in the Magic Room. He made me wonder how I will handle these moments when my own daughters come to marry.
May 25, 2022
Review originally published June 2012
The idea for Jeffrey Zaslow’s latest book, The Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish for Our Daughters, came about because he and his wife had been searching for a way to write a book about how all of us can best show love to our daughters today. They tossed around various settings until his wife thought back to the happiest memory of spending time with her own father. Don’t skip the introduction; her story is wonderful!
A very surprising part of the book is the location of Becker’s Bridal. Fowler, Michigan, is a small blue-collar town of 1,100 residents and 2,500 wedding dresses. Becker’s is the largest business in town, at the south end of a tired-looking two block Main Street.
When the author first visited the store, he only knew it was popular, but from the first day he sensed that this was a place that could show the most touching aspects of a woman’s journey to the altar.
Zaslow truly has a gift for writing. The stories of six brides are joyful and at times heart-breaking. Each story offers insights on marriage, family, and the lessons that parents, especially mothers, pass on to their daughters. These brides all learned what the power of love can do.
Shelly, the current owner, knows that every bride that has ever walked through the door has a story to tell about expectations on love, romance, fidelity, and tradition.
This is also a four generation family business story. Each Becker woman made huge sacrifices so that the bridal store would continue to flourish. Shelly has a special affection for each bride, often thinking about them on Saturday evenings.
The author also shares some interesting statistics on weddings, bridal shops, marriage, and public opinion on these subjects. Increasing wedding budgets, celebrity weddings, and reality television all have changed the way people marry.
The concept for this book is imaginative and thought provoking. I am so impressed with the research the author did, yet this work of nonfiction reads like fiction, and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed every word of each bride’s story, the Becker family history, and everything that led to the creation of The Magic Room. Read the book for the whole scoop!
This book and others by Jeffrey Zaslow can be found at LaCrosse County Library locations in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, and West Salem. Check out our web site at www.lacrossecountylibrary.org.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
The idea for Jeffrey Zaslow’s latest book, The Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish for Our Daughters, came about because he and his wife had been searching for a way to write a book about how all of us can best show love to our daughters today. They tossed around various settings until his wife thought back to the happiest memory of spending time with her own father. Don’t skip the introduction; her story is wonderful!
A very surprising part of the book is the location of Becker’s Bridal. Fowler, Michigan, is a small blue-collar town of 1,100 residents and 2,500 wedding dresses. Becker’s is the largest business in town, at the south end of a tired-looking two block Main Street.
When the author first visited the store, he only knew it was popular, but from the first day he sensed that this was a place that could show the most touching aspects of a woman’s journey to the altar.
Zaslow truly has a gift for writing. The stories of six brides are joyful and at times heart-breaking. Each story offers insights on marriage, family, and the lessons that parents, especially mothers, pass on to their daughters. These brides all learned what the power of love can do.
Shelly, the current owner, knows that every bride that has ever walked through the door has a story to tell about expectations on love, romance, fidelity, and tradition.
This is also a four generation family business story. Each Becker woman made huge sacrifices so that the bridal store would continue to flourish. Shelly has a special affection for each bride, often thinking about them on Saturday evenings.
The author also shares some interesting statistics on weddings, bridal shops, marriage, and public opinion on these subjects. Increasing wedding budgets, celebrity weddings, and reality television all have changed the way people marry.
The concept for this book is imaginative and thought provoking. I am so impressed with the research the author did, yet this work of nonfiction reads like fiction, and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed every word of each bride’s story, the Becker family history, and everything that led to the creation of The Magic Room. Read the book for the whole scoop!
This book and others by Jeffrey Zaslow can be found at LaCrosse County Library locations in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, and West Salem. Check out our web site at www.lacrossecountylibrary.org.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
August 9, 2016
Let me start this review by telling you that I got married 10 days after we decided to tie the knot. The day after deciding that we didn't want to wait any longer, I ran into a local wedding-dress shop and asked for something simple and cheap. I tried on one dress off the clearance rack and said "I'll take it." I shopped alone and I called my then non-official fiance (he never really proposed) and asked him if he would o.k. me using $200 from my paycheck to buy the blasted dress.
I felt it appropriate to start this review with my own wedding dress story as this book is a compilation of wedding dress stories. In The Magic Room Zaslow did a great job of telling the story of Becker's Bridal in Fowler, Michigan. In this teeny tiny barely thriving US town, there are a few constants, Beckers is perhaps the most impressive, only outlasted by the loyal long-standing families that reside there.
Even though I am not much of a romantic, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a great job of interlacing the stories of various recent brides with the stories of the Beckers' royal family. For five generations the Beckers have faithfully served a very large portion of the bridal industry within the United States, many times selling dresses to mothers who years later bring in their own daughters to the same shop to purchase a dress of their own.
Unexpectedly, I learned a lot about the worldwide and US trends of marriage in this book. Zaslow has a knack for making statistics interesting, statistics like "25% of first-time brides have children. Another 7 to 8 percent are pregnant" and "forget the seven year itch, UofM researchers have found that more divorces now happen in the fourth year of marriage than any other."
Overall, this is a great book jam-packed with various intriguing biographies, families' dreams and losses, wedding magic, and like it says on the cover it's mostly "a story about the love we wish for our daughters." Indeed, I do hope to one day take one of my four daughters to this magic room or at least one just like it in my own region of residence.
I felt it appropriate to start this review with my own wedding dress story as this book is a compilation of wedding dress stories. In The Magic Room Zaslow did a great job of telling the story of Becker's Bridal in Fowler, Michigan. In this teeny tiny barely thriving US town, there are a few constants, Beckers is perhaps the most impressive, only outlasted by the loyal long-standing families that reside there.
Even though I am not much of a romantic, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a great job of interlacing the stories of various recent brides with the stories of the Beckers' royal family. For five generations the Beckers have faithfully served a very large portion of the bridal industry within the United States, many times selling dresses to mothers who years later bring in their own daughters to the same shop to purchase a dress of their own.
Unexpectedly, I learned a lot about the worldwide and US trends of marriage in this book. Zaslow has a knack for making statistics interesting, statistics like "25% of first-time brides have children. Another 7 to 8 percent are pregnant" and "forget the seven year itch, UofM researchers have found that more divorces now happen in the fourth year of marriage than any other."
Overall, this is a great book jam-packed with various intriguing biographies, families' dreams and losses, wedding magic, and like it says on the cover it's mostly "a story about the love we wish for our daughters." Indeed, I do hope to one day take one of my four daughters to this magic room or at least one just like it in my own region of residence.
March 2, 2012
This book was so much more than I thought it would be. I expected some nice, poignant stories about brides who come to Becker's Bridal in Fowler, Michigan to pick out their dresses. A lot of awwwwws and moist eyes. Instead, I got some very interesting sociological observances about how our society has changed over decades and decades. I got stories about the bridal store's owners, their various histories, which were almost pure paradoxes when set up against what the store is selling: the promise of forever happiness.
Clearly Zaslow tapped into the complexity of relationships - each back story about each bride differed from each other. Some were connected by courage, others by triumph over adversity. They of course stand in sharp contrast to the caricatures we see on the cable TV bridal shows, which Zaslow mentions. He covers the whole gamut - mother/daughter, father/daughter, grandmother/mother/daughter, step parents, etc.
I did shed tears as I read, especially over the recent tragic death of Zaslow himself. A father of three daughters, he was killed last month in a winter car accident while on the book tour. He was very clear that this book was a gift to his daughters, and some of the stories reflect the fleeting nature of life, that none of us knows how long we have on this earth. He will never walk his daughters down the aisle. As I put the book down, I felt so glad that they will have these words of love to carry with them as they make their way through life without the father who clearly adored them.
We should all be so blessed and lucky to have someone in our lives like that. The stories of the women in The Magic Room attest to it as well.
Clearly Zaslow tapped into the complexity of relationships - each back story about each bride differed from each other. Some were connected by courage, others by triumph over adversity. They of course stand in sharp contrast to the caricatures we see on the cable TV bridal shows, which Zaslow mentions. He covers the whole gamut - mother/daughter, father/daughter, grandmother/mother/daughter, step parents, etc.
I did shed tears as I read, especially over the recent tragic death of Zaslow himself. A father of three daughters, he was killed last month in a winter car accident while on the book tour. He was very clear that this book was a gift to his daughters, and some of the stories reflect the fleeting nature of life, that none of us knows how long we have on this earth. He will never walk his daughters down the aisle. As I put the book down, I felt so glad that they will have these words of love to carry with them as they make their way through life without the father who clearly adored them.
We should all be so blessed and lucky to have someone in our lives like that. The stories of the women in The Magic Room attest to it as well.
December 29, 2011
Don't judge a book by its cover. Or maybe the lackluster cover is a good reflection of the shop featured in the book. From the outside, the former bank building that houses Becker's Bridal is nothing fancy. But inside are thousands of wedding dresses, a staff with decades of experience, a mirror that has captured the reflection of hundreds of thousands of future brides, and countless stories.
The introduction did not grab my attention and was pretty weighty. I kept on reading. Once the first chapter began, Zaslow's conversational writing style and keen observations totally got me interested.
Zaslow follows eight brides through their process of finding a wedding dress. Along the way, we meet their families and their fiancées. Not every story has a picture perfect ending.
I loved how he balanced these stories with real-life facts and figures. This isn't a romance novel. This isn't about one bride finding "the one" for a dress and a groom. It's a very good look at the bridal gown industry. He illustrates the changes in the bridal business over the last 50 years or so. Now brides expect to be waited on, fawned upon and be the "princess for a day". Brides can take cell phone photos of dresses and then search the internet for lower priced knockoffs. In the 50s, parents bought the dress and often had the final say and in the 30s dresses were often handed down from sister to cousin to neighbor.
I also enjoyed how he came back to each bride at the end of the book to share details of their weddings and often a photo of the bride in her Becker's dress. He features women with very different stories and backgrounds. I found it an interesting coincidence how many of the fathers worked in packaging.
I especially liked getting to know Shelley, the current owner and granddaughter of the indomitable Grandma Eva who founded the shop, along with her mother and daughter who also work in the shop. They have taken the legacy of Grandma Eva and turned it into a must-stop bridal store for brides in the Midwest.
While I didn't have a Magic Room experience when bridal dress shopping, I did have it when prom dress shopping. The ladies who worked at Emma's Bridal in Dedham found a dress for me that was stunning. I stood up on the pedestal and they all ooohed and ahhed. So I remember how magical that moment can really be when you put on a dress that makes you look and feel like you are walking the red carpet.
This is a very well-written book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be passing it along to my mom and friends.
This is a paid review of The Magic Room by Jeffery Zaslow for the Blog Her Book Club. All opinions expressed are mine.
The introduction did not grab my attention and was pretty weighty. I kept on reading. Once the first chapter began, Zaslow's conversational writing style and keen observations totally got me interested.
Zaslow follows eight brides through their process of finding a wedding dress. Along the way, we meet their families and their fiancées. Not every story has a picture perfect ending.
I loved how he balanced these stories with real-life facts and figures. This isn't a romance novel. This isn't about one bride finding "the one" for a dress and a groom. It's a very good look at the bridal gown industry. He illustrates the changes in the bridal business over the last 50 years or so. Now brides expect to be waited on, fawned upon and be the "princess for a day". Brides can take cell phone photos of dresses and then search the internet for lower priced knockoffs. In the 50s, parents bought the dress and often had the final say and in the 30s dresses were often handed down from sister to cousin to neighbor.
I also enjoyed how he came back to each bride at the end of the book to share details of their weddings and often a photo of the bride in her Becker's dress. He features women with very different stories and backgrounds. I found it an interesting coincidence how many of the fathers worked in packaging.
I especially liked getting to know Shelley, the current owner and granddaughter of the indomitable Grandma Eva who founded the shop, along with her mother and daughter who also work in the shop. They have taken the legacy of Grandma Eva and turned it into a must-stop bridal store for brides in the Midwest.
While I didn't have a Magic Room experience when bridal dress shopping, I did have it when prom dress shopping. The ladies who worked at Emma's Bridal in Dedham found a dress for me that was stunning. I stood up on the pedestal and they all ooohed and ahhed. So I remember how magical that moment can really be when you put on a dress that makes you look and feel like you are walking the red carpet.
This is a very well-written book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be passing it along to my mom and friends.
This is a paid review of The Magic Room by Jeffery Zaslow for the Blog Her Book Club. All opinions expressed are mine.
March 11, 2012
This book is the story of a small, family run bridal shop in Michigan which has served the Midwest for nearly 80 years. Not only does it tell the story of the history of the shop and it's owners, but
also tells us about the brides-to-be who come to buy their dresses. All their stories are different, of course, and nearly all the brides the author chose to write about have overcome some kind of adversity or
have a unique story to tell. But all the stories share the common thread of the strength of family and
the heightened emotions that surround a wedding.
I found the book engrossing in a weird way - just before I started to read it, I learned that the author
had been killed in a car accident less than a month ago. Jeffrey Zaslow was the co-author of "The Last Lecture" with Randy Pausch which garnered world wide attention. I knew he was the father of 3 girls, and reading his stories about women about to get married and their relationships with their fathers and mothers was especially poignant when you realized that he would never have those special times with
his own daughters.
also tells us about the brides-to-be who come to buy their dresses. All their stories are different, of course, and nearly all the brides the author chose to write about have overcome some kind of adversity or
have a unique story to tell. But all the stories share the common thread of the strength of family and
the heightened emotions that surround a wedding.
I found the book engrossing in a weird way - just before I started to read it, I learned that the author
had been killed in a car accident less than a month ago. Jeffrey Zaslow was the co-author of "The Last Lecture" with Randy Pausch which garnered world wide attention. I knew he was the father of 3 girls, and reading his stories about women about to get married and their relationships with their fathers and mothers was especially poignant when you realized that he would never have those special times with
his own daughters.
August 16, 2012
This is not typically the type of book I'd seek out - a somewhat sappy, overblown tale of the magic of wedding dresses, as seen through the eyes of 8 brides who journey to the "magic room" at Becker's Bridal, a family-owned business since 1934 in rural Michigan, to try them on. However, I've enjoyed Zaslow's previous books and reading this became all the more poignant knowing he had been killed this past February in a car accident while on tour for the book. He ends the book talking about the power of weddings and how he hopes that he'll be walking his 3 daughters down the aisle some day. Tragically, this will never happen.
And yes, the book did grow on me, even me - the little girl who never dreamed of her own wedding and was determinedly NOT pursuing an "M.R.S." degree in college (although I did achieve the degree!) Many of the stories are heart-wrenching, though perhaps none more than the backstory of the untimely death of the author himself and the unwritten stories of his 3 daughters that will face their own weddings without their dad.
And yes, the book did grow on me, even me - the little girl who never dreamed of her own wedding and was determinedly NOT pursuing an "M.R.S." degree in college (although I did achieve the degree!) Many of the stories are heart-wrenching, though perhaps none more than the backstory of the untimely death of the author himself and the unwritten stories of his 3 daughters that will face their own weddings without their dad.
January 27, 2012
I'm about halfway through and I've been so moved and uplifted by the stories in this book that I don't want it to end. Every mother and father of a daughter would enjoy the heck out of this book. The author is a columnist for the Wall Street Journal (of all things) but it turns out he was "Ann Landers" for about 15 years, so he's heard it all! The actual Magic Room is actually a converted bank vault with a pedestal, beautiful lighting and infinity mirrors at a wedding store in Fowler, Michigan. The store's been around since 1934 (took over in a bank building that went default during the depression). The little town has only 1400 residents, but this wedding shop has 2500 dresses and has been run by women from the same family for 3 generations and counting. The true stories and backgrounds are beautiful and so well written. I can't recommend it enough!
January 25, 2012
A quaint little shop where I bought my wedding dress. I do remember feeling like the only woman in the world when I stood in the magic room with my mom looking over my shoulder.
The stories were moving especially when you had some connections to the characters (albeit it not close connections--such as our nursing supervisor's sister Julie or Meredith who worked at Wolverine which is where my parents worked until they retired). Every girl has a story and you just never know it most of the time.
Brought lots of thoughts as to how marriage has changed over the years and across continents.
The stories were moving especially when you had some connections to the characters (albeit it not close connections--such as our nursing supervisor's sister Julie or Meredith who worked at Wolverine which is where my parents worked until they retired). Every girl has a story and you just never know it most of the time.
Brought lots of thoughts as to how marriage has changed over the years and across continents.
December 31, 2016
I LOVED this book - from the Introduction to the very last Acknowledgments page. Zaslow was such a gifted writer, weaving people's stories into factual information about the wedding industry or sociology. Does that sound boring? His book was not boring, not at all!
It's so sad that he will not have "a chance to be a father of the bride."
This would be a good book club selection.
It's so sad that he will not have "a chance to be a father of the bride."
This would be a good book club selection.
December 30, 2011
I thought this might be a cheese fest, but it was really SO interesting and occasionally quite moving. Full review here: http://everydayreading.blogspot.com/2...
December 15, 2011
Just read this for the BlogHer book club, my review will be up on my book blog end of December. Interesting book.
February 3, 2012
Jeffrey Zaslow has written a book capturing women and their families as they embark on buying a wedding dress / marriage at a small town shop, Beckers Bridal, in Fowler, MI.
As soon as I saw this, I had to read it. I went to Becker's to try on dresses for MY wedding. While, I did not end up getting a dress there, I will say the shop is super cute and completely overwhelming with the amount of gowns! I think I tried on 3 or 4 there and wasn't impressed and so we continued on to a couple other shops before I found my dress.
The book talks a lot about 'the one.' I just never got that feeling, yet I completely adored my wedding dress. I just never got the tears or breathlessness that others talk about. I just though, hey it's what I was looking for, I look good in it. Hmm, works for me! But, I'm not a romantic. I'm a realist.
"Couples are more successful in marriageif they see themselves as helpmates rather than soulmates. " pg. 20
I really agree with the above. So many people stay single because they are searching for a 'soulmate' or someone who will knock them off their feet. But marriage isn't always rosy and romantic. It's work. It's sharing the same ideals and goals. It's supporting each other. It's teamwork.
The book jumped back and forth with telling the history behind Beckers, statistics about marriage / women/families, and individual brides. The beginning started out kind of slow but by the middle I was engrossed.
An Excerpt from the book's website
One hundred miles northwest of my home, in a tiny, rural town with one stoplight, I found a place where 100,000 daughters, along with their mothers and fathers, have found themselves reflecting on the word “love.”
It’s a place where, every day, parents can’t help but be enveloped by a swell of emotion as they think back to the love they felt when their daughters were little girls. They think ahead, too, contemplating the love needed to carry their daughters onward from here. These parents know the disappointments and betrayals associated with the word “love,” especially these days. They know the losses that define life. Still, most make their pilgrimage here with a sense of hope and optimism.
My favorite sections where when he talked about the individual brides and their journey to Beckers.
It was a quick read and I would recommend it to those who've made the search for a wedding gown, those who've dreamed of it and those who like the history of a place and a thriving family business.
As soon as I saw this, I had to read it. I went to Becker's to try on dresses for MY wedding. While, I did not end up getting a dress there, I will say the shop is super cute and completely overwhelming with the amount of gowns! I think I tried on 3 or 4 there and wasn't impressed and so we continued on to a couple other shops before I found my dress.
The book talks a lot about 'the one.' I just never got that feeling, yet I completely adored my wedding dress. I just never got the tears or breathlessness that others talk about. I just though, hey it's what I was looking for, I look good in it. Hmm, works for me! But, I'm not a romantic. I'm a realist.
"Couples are more successful in marriageif they see themselves as helpmates rather than soulmates. " pg. 20
I really agree with the above. So many people stay single because they are searching for a 'soulmate' or someone who will knock them off their feet. But marriage isn't always rosy and romantic. It's work. It's sharing the same ideals and goals. It's supporting each other. It's teamwork.
The book jumped back and forth with telling the history behind Beckers, statistics about marriage / women/families, and individual brides. The beginning started out kind of slow but by the middle I was engrossed.
An Excerpt from the book's website
One hundred miles northwest of my home, in a tiny, rural town with one stoplight, I found a place where 100,000 daughters, along with their mothers and fathers, have found themselves reflecting on the word “love.”
It’s a place where, every day, parents can’t help but be enveloped by a swell of emotion as they think back to the love they felt when their daughters were little girls. They think ahead, too, contemplating the love needed to carry their daughters onward from here. These parents know the disappointments and betrayals associated with the word “love,” especially these days. They know the losses that define life. Still, most make their pilgrimage here with a sense of hope and optimism.
My favorite sections where when he talked about the individual brides and their journey to Beckers.
It was a quick read and I would recommend it to those who've made the search for a wedding gown, those who've dreamed of it and those who like the history of a place and a thriving family business.
May 27, 2012
mixed feelings about this book, which could have been aptly titled "chicken soup for the stereotypical michigan bride's soul." one day it was on the hold shelf for me, and i hadn't even remembered putting it on hold. but it takes place in a family owned bridal store in michigan, and the author died shortly after its publication...so i guess that explains my interest (ie i like michigan and also i'm morbid.)
zaslow follows a handful of engaged white ladies shopping for dresses at becker's, the aforementioned store in fowler, michigan. each bride has her own story: one waited until engagement to even kiss her boyfriend, one mangled her hand in a car accident shortly after choosing her dress, one is 40 and thought she'd never meet mr. right, one is a widow with five horrible bratty young adult children who don't support her remarriage, one's mother died when she was in high school so she's doing the whole wedding planning thing with her grandma, etc. we also get the story of shelley becker mueller, the store's owner, and her daughter alyssa, who may take over from her someday but isn't sure she believes in marriage.
as evidenced by the subtitle, zaslow is also framing this from a parent's perspective. in one way, that's the part that got me- that his own three daughters can read his introduction and epilogue now that he's dead, and be able to see how much he loved them and wanted them to be happy in a pretty white dress, marrying a nice solid dude. but then, that gets kind of creepy. zaslow even says on the video posted on goodreads that "the purchase of the wedding dress is the culmination of the bride's life until that moment." uhh...what? that's not every daddy-daughter story at all. one of my friends recently lost her father, and although he couldn't have had expectations of his badass daughter swanning down the aisle in white lace, he was fiercely proud of her, who she was, and where she was going. so to me this isn't really an accurate portrayal of "the love we wish for our daughters." who exactly is "we"?
anyway. it's not my intention to say this is a bad book. it's just a book for a certain set of people of which i- contrary to appearances, as i am a happily married white lady from michigan with a daddy who loves her- am not one.
zaslow follows a handful of engaged white ladies shopping for dresses at becker's, the aforementioned store in fowler, michigan. each bride has her own story: one waited until engagement to even kiss her boyfriend, one mangled her hand in a car accident shortly after choosing her dress, one is 40 and thought she'd never meet mr. right, one is a widow with five horrible bratty young adult children who don't support her remarriage, one's mother died when she was in high school so she's doing the whole wedding planning thing with her grandma, etc. we also get the story of shelley becker mueller, the store's owner, and her daughter alyssa, who may take over from her someday but isn't sure she believes in marriage.
as evidenced by the subtitle, zaslow is also framing this from a parent's perspective. in one way, that's the part that got me- that his own three daughters can read his introduction and epilogue now that he's dead, and be able to see how much he loved them and wanted them to be happy in a pretty white dress, marrying a nice solid dude. but then, that gets kind of creepy. zaslow even says on the video posted on goodreads that "the purchase of the wedding dress is the culmination of the bride's life until that moment." uhh...what? that's not every daddy-daughter story at all. one of my friends recently lost her father, and although he couldn't have had expectations of his badass daughter swanning down the aisle in white lace, he was fiercely proud of her, who she was, and where she was going. so to me this isn't really an accurate portrayal of "the love we wish for our daughters." who exactly is "we"?
anyway. it's not my intention to say this is a bad book. it's just a book for a certain set of people of which i- contrary to appearances, as i am a happily married white lady from michigan with a daddy who loves her- am not one.
May 27, 2012
"The Magic Room" is named after a room in Becker's Bridal, a shop in tiny Fowler, Michigan. The magic room's walls are covered in mirrors and soft lighting, and prospective brides step onto its pedestal to determine whether or not a specific wedding dress is "the one." This book tells the tales of several brides, most with heart-wrenching stories on the way to the altar: one was in a serious car wreck that mangled one hand and part of her face. Another waited 40 years to marry. Another waited until her wedding for her first kiss, a la the Duggars. Mingled in with these stories is background on Becker's and its owners, who have gone back several generations. Their tale is bittersweet as well; the current owner is divorced and several family members have questioned whether all the hours and effort required by store ownership are worth the sacrifices.
This is a really touching book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Making it even more poignant is the fact that, just weeks after its publication this year, its author Jeffrey Zaslow was killed in an auto crash on his way to a book signing for this book, thereby depriving him the opportunity to see his own three daughters' weddings (they're all in their late teens/early twenties, and he was just 53).
The only quibble I have with the book is that Zaslow introduces several brides, then returns to each about 100 pages later. This may work if one reads the book in a couple of days, but when you take a few weeks (as I did), I found that I had to do a lot of flipping back and forth to remember just who he was talking about. If not for this irritation, it would have earned 5 stars.
This is a really touching book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Making it even more poignant is the fact that, just weeks after its publication this year, its author Jeffrey Zaslow was killed in an auto crash on his way to a book signing for this book, thereby depriving him the opportunity to see his own three daughters' weddings (they're all in their late teens/early twenties, and he was just 53).
The only quibble I have with the book is that Zaslow introduces several brides, then returns to each about 100 pages later. This may work if one reads the book in a couple of days, but when you take a few weeks (as I did), I found that I had to do a lot of flipping back and forth to remember just who he was talking about. If not for this irritation, it would have earned 5 stars.
January 26, 2012
The Wedding Dress! Three simple words packed with such feeling, mystique and expectation.
Many of us, the female persuasion, have thought about our wedding days from the time we were little girls. Though The Dress was not high on my list, I can appreciate its significance in the wedding plans.
In a series of essays, Zaslow, the father of three girls, brings to life reflections on love, using the backdrop of Becker’s Bridal in Fowler, Michigan. He describes Fowler as a town with 1,100 residents and 2500 wedding dresses. Here, brides to be, their mothers, sisters, attendants and other loved ones come to find the perfect dress, the one that will make their day special. But Zaslow wants to capture more than just the gown, he wants to understand the women, their hopes, their dreams, their fears, their thoughts on the institution of marriage; not only for his readers, but for the role he may someday play as father of the bride.
Zaslow succeeds. I absolutely loved Jeffrey Zaslow’s the Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish For Our Daughters. Not only was it interesting to read about this family business established in 1934, handed down through the generations, but also to hear the stories of the brides.
Becker’s seems a special place with its long-standing history, caring staff and Magic Room. A fairytale of a book and yet one where not all dreams come true, as Zaslow explores the realities of the women who enter Becker’s doors.
Many of us, the female persuasion, have thought about our wedding days from the time we were little girls. Though The Dress was not high on my list, I can appreciate its significance in the wedding plans.
In a series of essays, Zaslow, the father of three girls, brings to life reflections on love, using the backdrop of Becker’s Bridal in Fowler, Michigan. He describes Fowler as a town with 1,100 residents and 2500 wedding dresses. Here, brides to be, their mothers, sisters, attendants and other loved ones come to find the perfect dress, the one that will make their day special. But Zaslow wants to capture more than just the gown, he wants to understand the women, their hopes, their dreams, their fears, their thoughts on the institution of marriage; not only for his readers, but for the role he may someday play as father of the bride.
Zaslow succeeds. I absolutely loved Jeffrey Zaslow’s the Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish For Our Daughters. Not only was it interesting to read about this family business established in 1934, handed down through the generations, but also to hear the stories of the brides.
Becker’s seems a special place with its long-standing history, caring staff and Magic Room. A fairytale of a book and yet one where not all dreams come true, as Zaslow explores the realities of the women who enter Becker’s doors.
March 25, 2012
4.5 Stars
This book made me tear up no less than ten times and at first I couldn't decide if this was because of the touching stories or because I knew the author would never get to walk his daughters down the aisle for their weddings. I've decided it was both and that almost makes me love it more. I also must add that I'm from Grand Rapids, MI, so some of the stories hit pretty close to home. I'm one of those crazy people who has a hard time separating her love for nostalgia from her intellectual thoughts, so this may also influence my rating. I really don't care.
This was a beautiful book about love, loss, and redemption. It was about the societal changes taking place in weddings around the country over the last 75 years. It was about the hopes and dreams parents have for their daughters. It was about the dreams brides have for their futures. As a wife, I fully empathized with these brides. I had (have) those same dreams. As a mother of two boys, I also understand now that the moms and dads of little girls are counting on my husband and I to teach our boys how to respect, honor, and cherish their future wives. No small task, of course, but I assure you, I am up to the challenge. Books like this one help guide me on this crazy path of raising men.
Jeffrey Zaslow was taken from his family far too early, but what a gift he left behind. I hope, wish, and pray that his girls find comfort in their father's words during the years to come.
This book made me tear up no less than ten times and at first I couldn't decide if this was because of the touching stories or because I knew the author would never get to walk his daughters down the aisle for their weddings. I've decided it was both and that almost makes me love it more. I also must add that I'm from Grand Rapids, MI, so some of the stories hit pretty close to home. I'm one of those crazy people who has a hard time separating her love for nostalgia from her intellectual thoughts, so this may also influence my rating. I really don't care.
This was a beautiful book about love, loss, and redemption. It was about the societal changes taking place in weddings around the country over the last 75 years. It was about the hopes and dreams parents have for their daughters. It was about the dreams brides have for their futures. As a wife, I fully empathized with these brides. I had (have) those same dreams. As a mother of two boys, I also understand now that the moms and dads of little girls are counting on my husband and I to teach our boys how to respect, honor, and cherish their future wives. No small task, of course, but I assure you, I am up to the challenge. Books like this one help guide me on this crazy path of raising men.
Jeffrey Zaslow was taken from his family far too early, but what a gift he left behind. I hope, wish, and pray that his girls find comfort in their father's words during the years to come.
February 20, 2012
The Magic Room is located in a bridal salon in a small town in Michigan not far from Detroit. This particular store is a destination stop for brides throughout the Midwest. But this story is not the story of bridezillas and their families as they are portrayed on television. This book goes into the back story of a number of young women who are arriving at this particular moment in their lives (impending marriage) surrounded by love in all its many forms. Some have gone through hardship to arrive there, for some it is their intended or someone else in their family who has suffered a loss to get them there, but love wins in every case. Even the story of the family that has owned the store for several generations is not without struggle. Each individual has to find her own way in the world, but we need to encourage them to keep at it. For me, that was the message of the book--despite the hardships in life, love can and will win--and that is certainly what every parent wishes for a daughter.
Tragically, this fine author died several weeks ago in an auto accident in Michigan. He also wrote "The Last Lecture" and "The Girls From Ames" among other things, and was a journalist for the Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Sun Times.
Tragically, this fine author died several weeks ago in an auto accident in Michigan. He also wrote "The Last Lecture" and "The Girls From Ames" among other things, and was a journalist for the Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Sun Times.
February 23, 2012
I've always enjoyed Jeffrey Zaslow's human interest articles in the WSJ and I loved his collaboration with Professor Randy Pausch on The Last Lecture. So when I saw this book in the bookstore, I wanted to get it but talked myself out of it the first time. A few days later, I was very saddened to see that Zaslow, age 53, was killed in a car accident while on his way home from a book promotion visit. It seemed especially sad since the book is about the love we, as parents, wish for our daughters-and Jeff Zaslow's daughters are 16,20 and 22. In his memory and honor, I went out and bought the book and read it. It tells the stories of 8 or so women who are about to be brides - some for the first time and some for the second. And it tells the story of the women who run Becker's Bridal Shop in Fowler, Michigan. It's a strange book concept but it works. Very poignant especially considering his tragedy. In the book he talks about the randomness of life and how we should hug our children and tell them we love them because one never knows. There are no new, deep insights but there are good people stories in this lovely book.
June 23, 2013
I am saddened that the author passed away! Although the stories about the brides weren't "unique" or "astounding" in any particular way, I enjoyed this book for its statistics and facts. I liked the different stories of each of the girls, and I could see them each categorized as a genre of women in our day. I enjoyed the hard work ethic of the owner and that she managed the shop from several generations ahead of her own family. This brought back memories of when I worked at my own parents' restaurant, which I have loathed and loved. I am hopeful that her own daughter will run it for herself one day. I also love the title of the book and found that the book was written to portray such feelings and support the title. I would want my own daughter and young women I love, to read this book one day and have a discussion about it. Weddings are so full of hope but are just a short time in life. Marriage is reality and enduring, and I think I appreciated this the most; that the threads on marriage went beyond the wedding.
June 5, 2012
Ehh. I thought the book came across as critical of the younger generation of brides (anyone under 30). I'm not sure if it was Zaslow's view or Becker's view but a good portion of the book was spent talking about how times have changed for the worse. Brides no longer have respect for their mothers (i.e. Mothers no longer pick dresses for their daughters and sometimes daughters don't care if their mom likes their dress or not), brides are so self- absorbed (i.e. they spend hours trying on multiple gowns and bring friends with them) and brides are cheap and have no respect for a family run shop (i.e. they try to write down names of dresses they like so that they can find a better price elsewhere - maybe even, online!). Becker's came across as whiny and Zaslow tried to mold Bride's stories into a piece on parent's love for their daughters. The stories were interesting but they were a stretch for what Zaslow intended. Pass.
July 24, 2012
I put this book on my "to-read" list as soon as I saw it. I read The Last Lecture and The Girls from Ames and I really enjoyed Jeffrey Zaslow's storytelling. Then the oldest of my three daughters got engaged and suddenly this moved to the top of my list. As usual, Zaslow's ability to find the real stories of the people in his books makes for a terrific read. When I went dress shopping with Tess, I was in the middle of the book. Enjoying the experience with all three of my girls, while mourning the fact that their father is no longer here to walk them down the aisle, the emotions of the book became that much more relatable. I was sad when I learned of Jeffrey Zaslow's death earlier this year, but when I saw that he was also the father of 3 daughters with whom he will not get to share the moments he so vividly describes, it saddened me even more. This book is about the love we have for our children and the love we wish for them in their lives.
February 24, 2014
I loved this book. It was like "Say Yet To the Dress" in a small town. Everything I love and hate about weddings all rolled into one delicious non-fiction read. Sometimes true stories are better, and this book that is certainly true. It made me homesick for growing up in a small town in the middle of Michigan. There is nothing better.
April 3, 2017
4 and a half stars
Though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I know it would not be interesting to everyone. At the point I am in my life with our four daughters and the second about to get married, this was the perfect book for me!
I really enjoy how this author tells stories. He finds interesting and impacting the same things I do. It was very moving in this book how he wrote about sudden, unexpected family tragedies and how they effected the way survivors live and live on. This is especially moving knowing that, tragically, Mr. Zaslow died himself about a month after this book was published in a car accident while on tour to promote this very book leaving behind his own three teenage or young adult aged daughters. I can only hope that they find some comfort in how much he cared about family relationships and especially those of girls to their parents since that spoke to him and is so obvious both in this book and the one he wrote just previous to this one, The Girls from Ames. It makes me very sad that an author I related to so well is gone too soon.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I know it would not be interesting to everyone. At the point I am in my life with our four daughters and the second about to get married, this was the perfect book for me!
I really enjoy how this author tells stories. He finds interesting and impacting the same things I do. It was very moving in this book how he wrote about sudden, unexpected family tragedies and how they effected the way survivors live and live on. This is especially moving knowing that, tragically, Mr. Zaslow died himself about a month after this book was published in a car accident while on tour to promote this very book leaving behind his own three teenage or young adult aged daughters. I can only hope that they find some comfort in how much he cared about family relationships and especially those of girls to their parents since that spoke to him and is so obvious both in this book and the one he wrote just previous to this one, The Girls from Ames. It makes me very sad that an author I related to so well is gone too soon.
November 29, 2022
Very interesting premise. Would love to go to Becker’s. But the book is a bit preachy
November 27, 2011
In a small town in Michigan, there is a room. This room is on the second floor of a bridal shop that's been a cornerstone of Maine Street for decades. This room is lovingly called the Magic Room and this is where generations of future brides have looked upon themselves in the dress they have decided is the perfect one.
Zaslow seems to have made his writing career by focusing on stories that are intended to pack an emotional punch - he was the coauthor of "The Last Lecture" and wrote another book on friendship. According to the subtitle of his latest, this book is intended to be about the love we feel and want for our daughters. But this book never really becomes about that. Instead, Zaslow has written a profile of the family who owns Becker's Bridal (where the Magic Room is located) and a select number of the brides who come to Becker's looking for their perfect gown. That doesn't make it a bad book, just makes it clear that what Zaslow intended to write and what he actually wrote are not the same thing at all (and perhaps he doesn't realize this as he still gave the book the same subtitle). Having said that, I found this book a decent read. It's by no means extraordinary, either in subject or quality of writing, but, like many people, I find something infinitely appealing about wedding stories. But, there is no clear design to Zaslow's little study (not that he claims it's a study but it sort of reads like one) - why did he choose these brides of the many that he must have observed? These stories are all so unique that I feel like he chose them for uniqueness - which is unusual for a book that's supposed to be about something universal (that daughter love bit that he alleges). So, overall, I don't believe that Zaslow produced what he originally intended with this book, but it's not terrible and might find an audience. Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy.
Zaslow seems to have made his writing career by focusing on stories that are intended to pack an emotional punch - he was the coauthor of "The Last Lecture" and wrote another book on friendship. According to the subtitle of his latest, this book is intended to be about the love we feel and want for our daughters. But this book never really becomes about that. Instead, Zaslow has written a profile of the family who owns Becker's Bridal (where the Magic Room is located) and a select number of the brides who come to Becker's looking for their perfect gown. That doesn't make it a bad book, just makes it clear that what Zaslow intended to write and what he actually wrote are not the same thing at all (and perhaps he doesn't realize this as he still gave the book the same subtitle). Having said that, I found this book a decent read. It's by no means extraordinary, either in subject or quality of writing, but, like many people, I find something infinitely appealing about wedding stories. But, there is no clear design to Zaslow's little study (not that he claims it's a study but it sort of reads like one) - why did he choose these brides of the many that he must have observed? These stories are all so unique that I feel like he chose them for uniqueness - which is unusual for a book that's supposed to be about something universal (that daughter love bit that he alleges). So, overall, I don't believe that Zaslow produced what he originally intended with this book, but it's not terrible and might find an audience. Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy.
February 26, 2012
The Magic Room is a former bank vault upstairs at Becker's Bridal. Shelley Becker, the owner, has purchased the business from her mother, making her the fourth generation owner. Shelley created this magical room for brides to enter, wearing the gown that they have chosen for their special day. The room has a pedestal in the middle and is surrounded by mirrors, so the bride can catch herself at all angles and feel very special.
Becker's Bridal has been open for business since 1934 in Fowler, Michigan. Fowler is a middle-class community with a population of 1,100. Becker's Bridal carries anywhere up to 2,500 gowns in it's small shop. Shelley Becker spends 6 days a week working the store and has done work at the shop since she was 14, helping her mom.
She has seen countless brides and mothers come through the doors and has learned of their loves, tragedies, fears, etc that have brought them here to choose their bridal gowns. We are brought into the lives of eight different brides and their families and histories. Some are young, some older, some are first-time brides, others are second-timers. All are made very personal to you, with histories being told.
There is sadness, and lots of happiness in these stories. There have been accidents, deaths and divorces among them, as with every one's lives.
The premise of the writing of the book was to show the love that parents have for their daughters. This was well done with the lives that were brought forward. Each family had it's own history, but the love for the daughters pursuing their own lives was a prevalent theme.
I loved the inclusion of the Becker family being brought into the book. The hard work and sacrifice to keep such a business running is a book in itself.
Becker's Bridal has been open for business since 1934 in Fowler, Michigan. Fowler is a middle-class community with a population of 1,100. Becker's Bridal carries anywhere up to 2,500 gowns in it's small shop. Shelley Becker spends 6 days a week working the store and has done work at the shop since she was 14, helping her mom.
She has seen countless brides and mothers come through the doors and has learned of their loves, tragedies, fears, etc that have brought them here to choose their bridal gowns. We are brought into the lives of eight different brides and their families and histories. Some are young, some older, some are first-time brides, others are second-timers. All are made very personal to you, with histories being told.
There is sadness, and lots of happiness in these stories. There have been accidents, deaths and divorces among them, as with every one's lives.
The premise of the writing of the book was to show the love that parents have for their daughters. This was well done with the lives that were brought forward. Each family had it's own history, but the love for the daughters pursuing their own lives was a prevalent theme.
I loved the inclusion of the Becker family being brought into the book. The hard work and sacrifice to keep such a business running is a book in itself.
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