35 review for Teen Girl Talk: A Guide to Beauty, Fashion and Health

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Anna – Dec 06, 2011

   I got this book when I was barely in jr. high, I think, and damn if it doesn't do it's darndest to set you up for an eating disorder! It goes into excruciating detail about how much you should weigh (with a delightful appendix with a detailed chart), meal plans (heavy on the grapefruit). Although it did teach me the phrase "je nais se quoi" - - which is apparently the attitude which everyone should strive for, and then you will be magnetic for boys! Which is literally the least helpful advice I I got this book when I was barely in jr. high, I think, and damn if it doesn't do it's darndest to set you up for an eating disorder! It goes into excruciating detail about how much you should weigh (with a delightful appendix with a detailed chart), meal plans (heavy on the grapefruit). Although it did teach me the phrase "je nais se quoi" - - which is apparently the attitude which everyone should strive for, and then you will be magnetic for boys! Which is literally the least helpful advice I could possibly imagine giving to an 11 year old. (Want boys to like you? Your personality should be intangibly attractive.) And those are the things I remember reading from this terrible book.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Rachel – Sep 30, 2018

   Good Lord! I've been having nostalgia reading some of the YA books i loved on open library. I remember I loved being part of the "Especially for Girls" Club when i was about 11 or 12: this book came with it, and you got a new book every month. This book made me realize this was probably how i developed body image issues/eating disorders i've battled most of my life. Ok, not just this book, but these tended to be the messages (although toned down) that girls got in the 80s'-90's..this one is just Good Lord! I've been having nostalgia reading some of the YA books i loved on open library. I remember I loved being part of the "Especially for Girls" Club when i was about 11 or 12: this book came with it, and you got a new book every month. This book made me realize this was probably how i developed body image issues/eating disorders i've battled most of my life. Ok, not just this book, but these tended to be the messages (although toned down) that girls got in the 80s'-90's..this one is just blunt about it. "if your fingertips and thumbs don't meet around your waist, you've got work to do..." um, what? Like buying a corset? Even when i was very skinny i could do that. It goes on to talk about "chubby girls", "Thick stumpy neck". a "full length mirror is your most honest friend"..then whole segments about "big fannies" that I LOL'd at (I didn't know anyone under 80 that used the term fanny..still don't)..."Stay cool, stay cheerful, keep smiling" when something pisses you off. "don't complain about colds" , a calorie chart.... This is basically the feminist anti-christ. I can't believe i read this when i was a preteen. i remember trying out some of the styles too and listening to some of the advice. my mom must not have read it or else it would have been burned.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Justin Fraxi – Dec 31, 2010

   This came for free in the mail when I was twelve. It's really, really bad. Never give something like this to a young girl unless you want her to become neurotic. This came for free in the mail when I was twelve. It's really, really bad. Never give something like this to a young girl unless you want her to become neurotic.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Reading with Cats – Jun 04, 2017

   Things I learned from this book: -Don't be fat or freakishly tall (defined as over 5' 7") -Don't follow fad diets; you know, like being a vegetarian -Never, ever be unhappy; nobody likes a frowny face, girls -French fries should be cut in half and eaten with a fork (huh?) -Too much Vitamin B can cause gastric antony (ummm...okay...maybe teen girls were horribly worried about gastric antony in 1981?) Things I learned from this book: -Don't be fat or freakishly tall (defined as over 5' 7") -Don't follow fad diets; you know, like being a vegetarian -Never, ever be unhappy; nobody likes a frowny face, girls -French fries should be cut in half and eaten with a fork (huh?) -Too much Vitamin B can cause gastric antony (ummm...okay...maybe teen girls were horribly worried about gastric antony in 1981?)

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Queen – Aug 23, 2012

   Apparently at one point in my life, I had a membership to a "just for girls" book club. I have several coming of age romances, and now I've discovered this guide! 1981! If I had read it, I would have been more effeminate and proper, for sure. I glanced through to see how out-dated it was. The information is still top of the line, but some old-fashioned commentary and cultural expectations of etiquette, listing *how to eat* clams, for instance, as if we were preparing for a role in Pretty Woman. Apparently at one point in my life, I had a membership to a "just for girls" book club. I have several coming of age romances, and now I've discovered this guide! 1981! If I had read it, I would have been more effeminate and proper, for sure. I glanced through to see how out-dated it was. The information is still top of the line, but some old-fashioned commentary and cultural expectations of etiquette, listing *how to eat* clams, for instance, as if we were preparing for a role in Pretty Woman. Here's one of my favorite lines in the exercise section, focused on womanly curve problem areas: "Many sizeable sighs are caused by sizable thighs!" LOL Oh! I can still learn from this! It gives detailed directions about applying foundation and such. This book is for ones whose the mom fails to educate the daughter on being a woman, *on the surface.*

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Lisa Marbly-Warir – Oct 24, 2015

   I still have this book in my possession (don't know where it is though :) ) I read this book back in the early 80's as either a preteen or very early teen and I devoured this book. Like most young women we were anxious to grow up, get boobs, get a boyfriend etc and this book at the time made me feel like the girly girl that I was. I was into fashion, and make up and everything in between and this book covered a lot of that. I must find it and look at it as a 40 something year old woman. lol. I still have this book in my possession (don't know where it is though :) ) I read this book back in the early 80's as either a preteen or very early teen and I devoured this book. Like most young women we were anxious to grow up, get boobs, get a boyfriend etc and this book at the time made me feel like the girly girl that I was. I was into fashion, and make up and everything in between and this book covered a lot of that. I must find it and look at it as a 40 something year old woman. lol.

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Partridge Public – Sep 06, 2007

   Douglas, Molly

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Ember –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Renee Parsons –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Chandra –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Abby –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Angela –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Julia –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Mary –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Samantha –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Irene –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Suzanne –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Monica –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Lenore Catalano –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Philip –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Christine –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Madi –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Pris –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Tony Publiski –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Dai –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Rachel Ringler –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Bailey Clark –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    T –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Megan –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    BookDB –

31. 

    5 out of 5

    Michelle Durst-rash –

32. 

    4 out of 5

    Monika –

33. 

    4 out of 5

    christina Ferris –

34. 

    4 out of 5

    Desira –

35. 

    4 out of 5

    Jennifer –