Bibliotherapy: The Girl's Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives

by Nancy Peske, Beverly West

Because women read books differently than guys do...

Every woman knows ... books are more than a way to kill time on the bus — they're therapy that fits in our bag. Whether we're wallowing in a sullen perennial adolescence or our biological clock is ringing and we can't find the snooze button, books are the dog-eared friends that help us deal with our baggage as we navigate life's journey.

Now Bibliotherapy prescribes the best of classic and contemporary Chick Lit that women turn to again and again — for inspiration (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) ... for escape (Ladder of Years) ... for revenge against the patriarchy (Our Blood) ... and for bonding with our girlfriends (Waiting to Exhale).

Upper-thigh spread sparking a midlife crisis? Read A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains and remember that it's not over until the fat lady yodels. Did your pot of gold turn out to be fourteen-karat tin? Open your eyes with Awakening to the Sacred and learn to savor your rainbow. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Climb into bed with Lady Chatterley's Lover and explore your pleasure potential.

With provocative points to ponder as you read ("What is the metaphorical significance of a codpiece?"), fun quotes, and a list of books that must not be read but, in Dorothy Parker's words, "thrown with great force," Bibliotherapy ensures you'll always find the right literary prescription — no matter what phase of life you're teetering on the brink of!

Plus: Doomed but Inspired Heroes ... Books to Read When You're Sick of Your Career and Are Seriously Considering Taking Up Alpaca Ranching in Peru ... Bad Girls We'd Like to Have Over for Girls' Night ... Books That Are the Equivalent of Citronella for Men ... and much more!

Genres: Books About Books, Nonfiction, Reference, Psychology, Womens Studies, Chick Lit, Womens

257 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2001

About the author

Nancy Peske is a freelance writer, author, ghostwriter, and developmental editor, and a former in-house editor at HarperCollins, who has co-written, ghostwritten, and edited many bestsellers and perennial sellers.
Nancy is the coauthor of the successful six-book Cinematherapy series, which has over 270,000 copies in print in all editions including foreign sales to Italy, Germany, China, Korea, Indonesia, and Japan. Television rights for Cinematherapy were sold to Women’s Entertainment, which created a prime-time series based on Cinematherapy that lasted for a decade.
Nancy Peske is also the coauthor of Raising a Sensory Smart Child: A Practical Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues, a groundbreaking book that has won a National Parenting Publications Award and an iMedia Parenting Award. The site for Nancy’s spinoff brand, Sensory Smart Parent, is at www.SensorySmartParent.com.
Nancy has worked with Marianne Williamson, Christiane Northrup, David Perlmutter, John Gray, Dean Ornish, Julie Morgenstern, Julia Ross, Colette Baron-Reid, Alberto Villoldo, and other top authors.
She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Celia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this when I was searching for more book recommendations for the year ahead - however, it's not really what I was looking for. It's very themed - broken heart? Read this! Rebel teenage girl? Read this! There's a section called "Bad Hair Babe Books". Nothing like the pleasures of Nancy Pearl's quirky lists in her Book Lust books. And it includes lots of self-help books, which put me off - no, I don't think Men from Mars, etc, should be included in anyone's must-read book list (at least, not someone whom I want to take book recommendations from).

[Jonna Rubin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not at all useful. It was far too themed, and played like a bad ... well, I don't even know what it was. It was awful, and I didn't gain any insights, nor did I gain any decent recommendations. I guess I never had a "Bad boy" phase with which to pair the perfect novel. And I have to ask, who does?

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love the premise of lists of books to read while experiencing various moods. Not comprehensive at all: I sometimes wanted to scream, “But what about this more perfect book?!” or “Why this book here?!” but it’s an enjoyable read. I love anything that gives me ideas for future reads – a bit dangerous though as I’ll never get to all the books on my various “to-read” lists: the “so many books so little time” dilemma.

[SamZ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this sounded like a fun compilation of good books but instead found it to be a list of books that the author has thrown together around some stupidly named genres. Maybe I was just disappointed because none of the books listed sounded even remotely interesting (except for the four I have already read). Or maybe it was the fact that I don't identify with ANY of the author's "stages of life." Mostly just unimpressed by this and found myself scanning to see if it got more interesting. It didn't.

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun reading about books I read long ago - way before I started tracking my books on goodreads. Color Me Beautiful - I STUDIED that book. The Women's Room? Read it twice! (These authors considered The Women's Room a major man-bashing book - I don't remember that.) Fun fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I never seem to tire of reading books about books, this was at least an entertaining and light read. Lacking, but not so terrible that I couldn't slog my way through it.

The authors did not strike me as true readers; rather as women who came up with a clever way to market books. (They have a whole series of "Girl's Guide" books.) I'm actually not even convinced that the authors have read more than a few of the recommended books, which are for the most part obvious and predictable. Most of them are bestsellers and/or required reading for a high school english class. However, to be fair, I love being reminded of how much I love books and Bibliotherapy did accomplish at least this.

I came away with the following lists . . .

Books that I actually own and which are therefore already on my neverending to-read list but which I have not read as of yet:
1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
2. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
3. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
4. Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen
5. 1984 by George Orwell

Books that never seemed interesting before yet suddenly beg to be read:
1. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
2. Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen
3. Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher
4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Books that I had never heard of before that I will at least look into now:
1. Having Our Say by the Delany Sisters (Reason: One of the sisters confessed that she was afraid that when she met St. Peter at the gate, that he would say, "Lord, child, you were mean." I love that.)
2. A Small Farm in Maine by Terry Silber
3. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
4. Lost Horizon by James Hilton

Will I ever actually read any of the books listed above? Certainly some of the books in the first list, perhaps some in the second, probably not any in the third. For the simple reason that my to-read list grows faster than I could possibly keep up with.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit about every book! The sometimes snarky, always information filled, synopsis of the titles make me want to read most of them and I probably own quite a few of them already, now where to start...

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book about books - the writers were so busy trying to be funny that the details of the book got lost in the detritus of attempted comedy. The premise was to provide book recommendations for certain phases or moods of a woman's life - for bad hair days, for spiritual journeys, for days when you feel like an adolescent, for getting in touch with your sexuality, etc. I didn't think the premise was a bad idea, but when the writers make fun of all the books, including the ones that they are supposedly recommending, the impact of the ideas is lessened. I found the section on spirituality unintentionally funny, focused as it was on all the half-baked fads of the nineties - angel obsessions, and that egregiously written Celestine Prophecy among them.
Overall, I found Bibliotherapy to be very dated: any avid reader will find the classic books, like Rebecca and Little Women, and the books that they picked that were trendy at the time have mostly been consigned to the bargain bin. New versions of Jane Fonda's Work Out by younger celebrities will be the pick of young people, I can't remember the last time anyone talked about finding out what season they were for their colouring - remember that?-- and people who think angels are going to help them probably don't read anything else. Give this one a miss, and trust your instincts to find the book that will suit your mood.

[Elizzy B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Me encantó Cineterapia, pero ésta versión literaria está llena de pocas referencias y todas muy centradas en una determinada generación de un determinado país (EEUU, y los boomers). Vale que el libro tenga 20 años, pero se centra en libros que fuera de EEUU no tienen mucho predicamento, y las críticas no son muy divertidas.
Una decepción.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I got the book because the title caught my eye.
THe premise of the book is a good one. However, I was not at all pleased with the author's language or some of the quotes she used.
I am not oppossed to a book having bad language (I've certainly been known to use some myself), however, it does seem the author overused the language. It took away from the book. Not to mention, if you're going to talk about sex books and such that you don't have to be crude or over-the-top about the subject.
I love the topics she chose, the synopsis and her sharing her "reading journal" (or her thoughts). Topics she chose are bad girl book, bad boy books, coming-of-age books, taking care of business books and a ton of other topics.

Most books I had heard of, some I didn't and of course I have read some of them.

If not for the language and use of bad quotes, it would be a good book. I really think they tried too hard.

[Lisa Rathbun]

I thought I would enjoy this book because I love books and love reading what OTHER people think about books. I definitely enjoyed the commentary on the classic books that were mentioned, but overall this book was extremely liberal and feminist and I couldn't relate to the voice of the author at all. Overall, disappointing. This one's not staying on my shelf.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've actually been browsing this book on and off for a month or two. I gave it to my sister a couple years ago and finally borrowed it back from her. I think it will give me a long list of books that I need to read.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tries too hard. Pages are too cluttered and font often distracting. Chapters or "themes" obscure and reaching. I did enjoy the quotes though.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lame. But I only spent 14 cents on it, so eh.

[🦋Kels🦋 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I randomly found this book on the shelves of my library. It’s definitely a relic of the past, and very early millenium. This book would be an instagram/tiktok account in present day.

It’s very dated and SO many self-help books from yonder-year are recommended. This is fine I guess, but there’s nothing about the abundance of self-help recommendations on the front or back cover. I thought this would all be interesting literary picks but I’d say more than 50% were for self-help books from the 70s and 80s. Which, for the most part, I can’t borrow even if I wanted to because they’re not in the library anymore lol.

The authors also lost me when they recommended the book “go ask Alice” and called it “compelling.” Sure Jan…

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is not what I thought it would be. I was looking for interesting books to read. I liked the idea of grouping the books by theme but the execution was not good. The books listed in here were lots of tragedies, dramas, self help and inspirational books. The way it was written was pretty dumb with lots of depressing books. There were a fews books listed in here that I plan to read but overall the book selection wasn't very good.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining, although some parts are outdated.

[Stasia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Letdown.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lively guide of book recommendations categorized by how you feel. It is aimed at women. I didn’t agree with some of their suggestions, I thought of books that I felt would have been better.

[Hillary roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I am a sucker for books that has list of other books. Book Lust, 1001 Books to Read before You Die, I am a fan and have read all of them. When I saw this book I just had to obtain a copy.

It list different phases of a women's life, such as When You’re Ready to Embrace Your Inner Bitch: Bad Girls Books and When You think You can change Him:Bad Boy Books among others.

It is interesting to note that books can be very therapic. I know I have some of my favorites to fall back on when I need a viewpoint on how to solve a problem. Many of my in real life friends are always asking me how can a work of fiction help me sole a real in life issue. I always respond that it can give one a different framework on how to handle issues. In the same vain this book gives the reader a list of books to help reconcile any issues they may be struggling with.This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land

[Ellen McKeown · Rating 4 out of 5]

These women think a lot like me. They refer to books as “therapy that fits in our bag”. They give you ideas of books to read and points to consider at different times in your life. What a great resource! I, of course, had to read the entire thing, comparing my opinions with the authors, see what I haven’t read yet and decided what I must-read. Who can resist a book with suggestions about: “Embracing your Inner Bitch, Bad Boys, Mother Issues, and Taking-Care-of-Business” among others? There is something about reading other women’s take on books that I find fascinating. This book makes me want to start a women’s book club with adults. (Most of my book discussions tend to be with adolescents or about professional materials.)

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those "if you are x, you'll like y" books - what we in the library world call "Readers' Advisory" - except that this particular readers' advisory is dedicated to a very specific subset of readers: women, especially the youngish sort that might identify with the slim and dreamy woman on the cover. I was one of those young women (except for the slim part) when I initially read this book in 2001.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure this is the sort of book that's intended to be read all the way through. It's maybe supposed to be more of a reference guide kind of thing? I don't know. I'm just kind of a sucker for a quick book synopsis, and I enjoyed the authors' senses of humor, so I kept reading. I definitely found a few books that I now want to read, which I guess was the point. Not exactly something I see myself reading again though.

[Oliver's Mom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't care that much for this book. I mostly skimmed through it to try to find books in which I would like to read, I found five and I hope they are good. It's hard knowing where to get books when you don't have many friends that like books too, or the same types of books. If anyone knows a book that is good which gives good feedback on some books to read, I would like that.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice to take a quick look at guides like this...I always go down the list and see what I have read. I laughed at the chapter titles...

When You're ready to Embrace Your Inner Bitch

When You Discover tht Clitoris is Not a Town in Greece

When You've Said Uncle and Embraced Your Palm Pilioted Destiny

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent compendium of books if you're looking for something new to read. Most of the selections seem targeted toward middle-aged women. I would have liked to see more selections for teens and older women. I was able to add a few books to my "to read" list, and was pleased to see several books I had read featured in this book.

[Kelli J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, this didn't really speak to me like I wanted it too. A lot of the recommendations didn't feel like a truly therapeutic read as much as it was "read this and your problems will feel small in comparison." I just think making recommendations are so personal, and the author and myself are very different, I didn't really connect well with any of it.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun to read, but it was a strange combination of recommendations, kind of like a combo of chick lit, the modern canon, self help, and second wave feminism 101. I have a list of books to read from it, though, so it must have served its purpose!

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This would have been a better resource had I no morals about what I read. But I do. I think there were five books in there that I wouldn't have felt shocked to read. Don't bother ... there are much more comprehensive and much less smutty resources out there.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of the commentary as it isn't my brand of feminism. However, the recommended books are almost all classics that when I read the title and review went "Oh yeah, I've heard of that. That looks good." So for my new "to read" list, I am grateful.