My Little Red Book

Feb 27, 2009

Holly Ord rated it

Most women remember their first periods and no matter what emotion or range of emotions they experienced on that day, they can still look back on it many years later and smile–for one reason or another. No matter what a woman thinks about her period, the bottom line is that it is with us for the long haul. It is one of our long-term relationships and even if we love it or hate it, it is with us for the majority of our lives; and if we live with our periods for the majority of our lives, why do w...moreMost women remember their first periods and no matter what emotion or range of emotions they experienced on that day, they can still look back on it many years later and smile–for one reason or another. No matter what a woman thinks about her period, the bottom line is that it is with us for the long haul. It is one of our long-term relationships and even if we love it or hate it, it is with us for the majority of our lives; and if we live with our periods for the majority of our lives, why do women (in general) constantly feel shamed by it?

A great deal of women will give you an odd, ‘what planet are you from’ look if you ask them to tell you about their first periods. Many women (and especially men) will visibly become bothered if you dare speak its name during a conversation. Most men downright refuse to go on late-night or after work runs to the store to pick up a box of pads or tampons and all of these situations deal with the shame that is associated with menstruation. Sure, our lack of openness can be chalked up to menstruation happening to be an awkward subject, but it goes deeper than that, especially considering that it doesn’t have to be and it only is because our society has let itself become a woman-shaming society.

I have always been very open about my body, my sexuality, and the miracles that the body of a woman can perform in her lifetime. I honestly did not know where this openness came from, being raised by a single father, but I always had strong female role models in my life, one of which was my father’s girlfriend who became my mother-figure throughout my childhood. She taught me that the anatomy of a woman is beautiful and despite the abuse I had endured as a child from my mother (and the reason why my mother has not been in my life for more than a decade) there is nothing to feel ashamed about when it comes to your own body because it is yours and no one else’s and no one can tell you that you are not beautiful and that your body is in any way something to be looked at as vulgar or disgusting; including menstruation. For a while I thought that perhaps my natural-born feminism was something instilled in me from my upbringing, but from running this website (and hello, have you noticed the name of my website?) as well as paying special attention to the women who come from my generation, I am noticing that there are a great deal of women who are coming out of the shame closet; who are demanding that the awkwardness associated with the bodies and bodily functions of women are what is truly shameful and that the period is something that should be spoken about openly and honestly. That is exactly what Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, a young woman of 18, did when she started asking women to tell her about their first periods.

Nalebuff realized with her own first period and hearing the story of her Aunt’s first period that she had kept a secret for over 50 years, that people needed to start talking about this and the other events that happen in a young woman’s life that people are simply refusing to talk about openly. Something needs to be done in this society that would let this silence continue for so long and keep so many women captive in its process of women-shaming. And so she started collecting stories from women and girls all over the world about their first periods and now presents us with an absolute gem, My Little Red Book, for women and girls of all ages who are either just about to get their periods, just got it and feel awkward about it, or for women who remember their first periods vividly and celebrate the right of passage that we as women have to talk openly about it.

There are 90 short stories in all and several names we’ve come to know through their own books and activism work make appearances in this book, including Jennifer Baumgardner, Meg Cabot, Megan McCafferty, and Gloria Steinem’s 1978 essay, ‘If Men Could Menstruate’ which originally had appeared in Ms. Magazine also appears in this book. There are stories of how many women thought themselves to be dying when noticing the small stain in their panties, women who “faked” their periods when knowing that their friends had gotten their periods before them, and my favorite is a story about a mother who when her daughter first got her period and felt awkward about it, she had to do something to mark the day and so she bought her daughter a vase full of red roses and in another story, her daughter talks about how special those roses were to here and how she had kept the vase for years after that first period. Another one of my favorite parts of this book is that so many women talk about the Judy Blume book, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret a book that you would think comes with all little girls at birth due to how widely-read and coveted it is, albeit a bit out of date for those of us who have never seen these menstrual pad belts Margaret speaks of.

My Little Red Book is a must for all women who have ever felt shamed or awkward about their period and also for every girl’s first period kit.

All of the proceeds of this book are being donated to charity because there is a lot to be done as far as making the bodily functions of women something that can be widely spoken about. There is also a great need for activism in countries like Africa, where because of the lack of menstrual supplies, a young girl will not receive the education that she is entitled to because one week out of every month will be spent out of school due to her period.

In the back of My Little Red Book, there is a section of books to read about periods including, yes, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret and there is also a Do More section where your support for organizations like Planned Parenthood, who are the largest provider of sexual education and health services in the United States, as well as Choice USA, a youth-led organization that seeks to protect women’s reproductive rights, can tremendously help girls receive the sexual education that they too are entitled to. A company that I would like to add, is Lunapads. Lunapads are based in Canada and make reusable, cloth and fleece pads. Not only do they make a transition from disposables to reusable pads easy, their pads are completely harmless, unlike disposables that contain bleach and synthetic fibers. Lunapads also does great work for girls in Africa by giving them their Pads4Girls Kit and each pad has a lifespan of 5 years or more that will help African girls attend school when they have their periods.

You can find out even more about this book and even share your own first period story at MyLittleRedBook.net.(less)

like 2 likes

· see review

Mar 01, 2009

Venessa rated it

This book got me thinking about how strange it is that every woman will menstruate and yet it is still such a taboo to talk about. The purpose of the book is to obliterate taboos and make every girl realize that this is nothing to be ashamed of, and indeed, should even be appreciated and celebrated. I can't wait until every young girl I know reaches the age when I can buy this book for her and become a part of their growing up and into life.

Nalebuff gathers stories from famous and no...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 26, 2009

Anna Balasi rated it

My first reaction to this book was that I wish I had something like it before my first period. My second reaction to this book was that I wish I could've contributed my own story.

Women, in general, I think, would be better empowered sharing their first-period experiences to their children, mostly to their daughters. A wonderful book like MY LITTLE RED BOOK emphasises the importance of this, since too many little girls thought they were dying, thought they were freaks, or were just p...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 10, 2010

Margaret Roberts rated it

This book is about first menstrual experiences of female(thankfully, not male) writers, artists, etc. Why did I read this? My mother gave it to me, and I read anything someone gives me out of impulse.
So I read this, and it was a good book. I mostly just liked the nerve of it, writing about a kind of tabooed subject so openly. I personally thought in fifth grade the boys should get to see the "girl talk" because they seem so ignorant about this topic and 1) need to know they're n...more

like 1 like

· see review

Oct 14, 2011

Audrey rated it

Shelves: non-fiction, history

This has been, by far, my best early-reviewing experience. I am going to lend it to most of my friends, but I am insisting they return it![return][return]Menstruation is a universal experience for women, and it's hard to find a woman for whom the "first period" was not a major life event. However, for many women across many different cultures, the monthly physical evidence of womanhood can be a lifelong burden and is considered shameful. The goal of this book, a collection of stories a...more

like

· see review

Nov 30, 2011

Andrea Blythe rated it

Shelves: nonfiction

This is a collection of first-period stories, written by women of all ages from around the world. They are artists, writers, professionals, doctors, and students. Many of these stories have similar themes, for example:
*The author thought she were dying.
*The author was excited about becoming a woman.
*The author got their period in a public situation and bled through her clothes.
*The author didn't know anything about periods until it happened.
And so on.

And yet,...more

like

· see review

May 07, 2011

Sandy H rated it

Recommended to Sandy by: sandyquiltz@gmail.com

Shelves: global-issues, women-s-issues, non-fiction

I read My Little Red Book on recommendation from a friend and appreciated about half of it. The book is a collection of essays from a women recalling their experience of first getting their period. It's a neat idea--it set out to be an exploration, I think, of how our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with the world is shaped through our understanding of this defining event in the path of womanhood.

However, after reading a bunch of essays with relatively the same idea a...more

like

· see review

Aug 01, 2010

Erin rated it

Shelves: non-fiction, teen

What I liked so much about this book was not the book itself, but what the book does. The book is nice in general- attractive binding,k a good variety of short stories, information about each author, often with humourous quips, and even the year at the beginning of each story so that the reader can begin to place them within a chronology. The editing seemed well done, with several little editor's notes at the ends of various stories that briefly added to the whole without getting in the way. ...moreWhat I liked so much about this book was not the book itself, but what the book does. The book is nice in general- attractive binding,k a good variety of short stories, information about each author, often with humourous quips, and even the year at the beginning of each story so that the reader can begin to place them within a chronology. The editing seemed well done, with several little editor's notes at the ends of various stories that briefly added to the whole without getting in the way. But all of that is besides the big point. What the book did, at least to me, is make me want to talk about it. It, as in the book, the women in the book, the girls, now women that I've known, my period, my mom's period. And I think this is a great book to talk about. I don't think that there is anyone out there who My Little Red Book is not appropriate for- prepubescent girls, women, girls getting their period, mothers, dad, boys, grandparents. While dealing with similar issues as Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues, this book is more gentle, less controversial, and less confrontational- Just a simple presentation of true stories that describe a variety of experiences. What one takes away from the book is not determined by the authors, or even the editor. Instead, it makes you think and ask yourself how you feel about the issues the women and girls in the book come across. But all the same, this book deals with the shame that is experienced by many women with all kinds of sexual issues, not the least of which is menstruation. Ever since a little girl at church told me that "down there" was "dirty," I've been thinking about what our society can do to help. I think this book is a good step toward positive acknowledgment of all the bits of being female. While it's still not easy for me, I've been trying to let this book help me, particularly as a vehicle for conversation, feel more comfortable talking with others about menstruation and other issues. My aspiration is to menstruate shamelessly.(less)

like

· see review

Jul 20, 2010

Beth added it

Shelves: inspiration

This book is a must have for women and the men that want to understand them. This was probably the coolest book I have read on the subject. You get to read stories going back as far as 1916 until today. This book really reveals how different cultures look at your first period. What traditions occur during this time. How a girl is now viewed in society. This book has replaced Judy Blume in my opinion in regard to what book should you hand a girl when it comes to her time. This book is very positi...more

like

· see review

Jul 13, 2010

Freda mans rated it

This is a book, that is perfect if you have a daughter and are unsure how to approach the subject of menstruating.
I rather appreciated all the stories, since being a woman I sympathize. I, too, have a red book story;

I was 2 weeks shy of my 11th birthday, and went to the bathroom. As I was going, I noticed blood. Of course I knew what a period was, my mom had used a tampon in front of me once when I was small, and I asked a lot of questions, but it still didn't prepare me for wh...more

like

· see review

Apr 09, 2010

Marie rated it

My Little Red Book is a wonderful collection of stories about women's first periods. The stories come from women from different walks of life, different age groups and different cultures. Because of this, each story was unique, yet equally fascinating.

This book is awesome. While I was reading this book I kept thinking "Where has this book been all my life? Why didn't someone think of this before?" If someone had told me years ago that I'd be reading a book on menstruation (...moreMy Little Red Book is a wonderful collection of stories about women's first periods. The stories come from women from different walks of life, different age groups and different cultures. Because of this, each story was unique, yet equally fascinating.

This book is awesome. While I was reading this book I kept thinking "Where has this book been all my life? Why didn't someone think of this before?" If someone had told me years ago that I'd be reading a book on menstruation (Argh! I hate that word), I would have told them they were crazy. I not only read this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The collection reminds us that even though we are in many ways different from each other, there's a common bond with share with all women. That bond should be celebrated and talked about rather than hidden and silenced.

Gloria Steinem's "If Men Could Menstruate" was priceless...and so true. Also, I especially loved the section on "Euphemisms and Code Words" for periods. Some of them made me cringe a little ("Arts and Crafts week at panty camp", "Ordering l'omelette rouge") and lots of them made me laugh out loud ("Having the painters in", "Cleanup in aisle one", "Closed for maintenance".)

It's amazing how many women mentioned Judy Blume's book Are You There God? It's Me Margaret in their stories. I wonder if anyone realized at the time of its original publication just how many women (or generations) would be affected by the book. I know it was really popular when I was a preteen/teen.

I'm not going to share my first story (it's mostly unremarkable), however, I will say that I've always hated my period. Ok, that's a pretty strong word, eh? Let's go for not-liked-very-much-at-all. Better? I didn't think it was something to celebrate...more like something to hide or be embarrassed about. However, now that Nalebuff has issued this "call for a change in attitude", I can celebrate the 120 or so periods I have left. [Yes, I've counted...using mid-fifties as a guideline for menopause). So...Yippee! Period. Bring it on. I'm ready for you now.

Highly recommended. I can't say that enough. This book would make an ideal gift for any woman in your life...daughter, mother, niece, aunt, grandmother, sister, cousin, friend. Pick up a copy for yourself, too. The royalties from this book will go to a worthwhile charity.

For more information about the book, visit the book's official website.(less)

like

· see review

Aug 10, 2009

Nancy rated it

Shelves: august-2009, feminist-interest, women-s-interest, young-adult-interest, children-s-interest

Nalebuff began collecting stories from women about their first menstrual periods as a high school project. She found that while women had a variety of stories to tell, several themes, taboos, or old wives tales, carried across cultures. The stories collected here are from young women who have just recently started their periods to elderly women long over with menopause. A large number of women mentioned getting their initial, or only information about menstruation from Judy Blume's children's bo...more

like 1 like

· see review

May 26, 2009

Caroline rated it

Shelves: non-fiction

Not since Are You There God? It's Me, Margret has the subject of periods been discussed so meticulously. Women of different generations, nationalities and walks of life discuss their entrance into womanhood in a celebration of a moment, a time period, a cycle, that all too often is one of hassle and embarrassment.

I don't remember any of the gifts I received for my thirteenth birthday. Except for one. One that I found in my cotton panties after first period PE. I blinked at the red s...more

like

· see review

Feb 26, 2009

Brenda rated it

Shelves: advance-reader-copies, non-fiction, women-non-fiction

I really liked the idea of this book. I have to say that before having heard of it, I’d really never given first periods a second thought (except of course immediately after my first). Having these collected stories at hand not only made me think about my first experience but made me wonder at others. It started dialogues with other women, that then segued into other great female topics—and for that alone this book is worth reading. It also made me do some impromptu research on feminine hygiene ...more

like

· see review

Aug 08, 2011

Michelle rated it

Shelves: autobiography, health-and-welness, nonfiction

Very interesting book. The premise sounds kind of strange -- and most men might say, totally gross -- but, it is a book about menstruation. More specifically, it's a compilation of reminiscences of women getting their first periods as 9-18 year old girls/teens. I actually found it validating, kind of comforting, and encouraging. I don't know that I've ever talked about first periods with other women, beyond noting how old we were when it happened. And I liked reading other women's experienc...more

like

· see review

Apr 12, 2009

Lee Anne rated it

Shelves: borrowed-not-bought

This could have been horrible, a compilation of first-period stories edited by an eighteen year old girl, but it's surprisingly entertaining. The stories are short, and for the most part stay away from the hyper-feminist but secretly self-loathing (you know, the "now I'm considered less than men, blah, blah, blah" stuff) side of the issue. I imagine it would be reassuring to read these stories as a tween (or younger), in addition to Are You There God, It's me, Margaret and whatever ...more

like

· see review

Apr 01, 2009

Barky rated it

Shelves: collection, nonfiction, young-adult-nonfiction, womens-health, women, menstruation, borrowed-from-the-library

Rachel Kauder Nalebuff became interested in stories about first menstruation experiences after getting her period for the first time – after which women in her family shared their stories with her. She was really fascinated by their tales, and felt that telling these stories was a great way to open up the topic of menstruation. She compiled this collection to share with girls and women of all ages.

After reading these stories I’m not entirely sure that girls and women do want to dis...moreRachel Kauder Nalebuff became interested in stories about first menstruation experiences after getting her period for the first time – after which women in her family shared their stories with her. She was really fascinated by their tales, and felt that telling these stories was a great way to open up the topic of menstruation. She compiled this collection to share with girls and women of all ages.

After reading these stories I’m not entirely sure that girls and women do want to discuss menstruation – lots of them felt that what was happening to them should not be mentioned to ANYONE. But maybe it’s the stigma and the messiness of bleeding that’s the problem. Menstruation is considered “dirty” and “secret” in a lot of cultures, societies, and religions – even today. That, and the fact that teenage girls are notoriously self-conscious and awkward and private makes it even more likely that they’d be less than thrilled making a big deal over becoming women. There were so many mentions of Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, that I’m sure that’s become the standard “menstruation handbook” of the last couple generations at least. And anyone born after the 1970s is completely perplexed by the idea of a menstrual “belt” to hold your sanitary napkin in place. It’s somewhat comforting, though, to read these myriad experiences and find the same feelings in other young women across the board. Maybe that commonality of experience will be the bridge that makes it easier and normal to talk about periods. While not all of the stories will move everyone to tears or laughter or horror, there are many that do just that. Gloria Steinem’s essay on what the world would be like if men menstruated is particularly amusing (you can also find other versions of this online; it was updated for this collection). You may scream, “TMI!” at some point while you’re reading this, and that’s ok – keep reading; there’s something here that speaks to pretty much everywoman.

Excerpts:
Tampon in hand, I went back to Janet’s bedroom and said to her quizzically, “Okay, what do I do with it?”

She looked at me as if I were stupid. “You just put it up inside you. That’s what you do.”

I looked back at her and replied with a not-knowing look, “The whole thing, just put the whole thing up inside me?” Janet replied, “Yeah, jeez.”

So I went to the bathroom and took off my underpants, unwrapped the Tampax, and slowly put the whole thing up inside me. The whole thing – cardboard applicator and all. I didn’t know there was such a thing as an applicator; no one had cared to tell me that part. (p. 37)

There are periods of world history – large, expansive, extremely important and eventful times in human existence – that I will never remember, yet for as long as I live, I won’t forget the Ming Dynasty, for it was to the noise of its soldiers’ clashing swords that I became a woman. I was in seventh grade, age thirteen, and we were watching a movie on Chinese history…I was very excited, lying there on the carpet, at the notion that now it might be my turn. I ended up sticking it out for the whole film, which I still feel is quite an accomplishment – it was a long movie; there is a lot that happened in fourteenth-century China. (pp. 43-44)

Between moisturizing her legs and blow-drying her hair, my mother paused, placed her right foot upon the toilet seat, reached between her legs, and removed a hot dog on a string. My eyes grew wide as I watched the hot dog dangle from its small string while my mother wrapped it in a tissue and placed it on the counter. I involuntarily gagged, as I was overwhelmed with the sense that I had witnessed something I wasn’t supposed to see…Why did my mother store hot dogs in her vagina? Did she always store one in there? Was she able to store more than one? Why did she take it out? What would she do with it now? Did other women keep hot dogs in their vaginas? Why did this hot dog have a string? (pp. 52-53)(less)

like

· see review

Apr 02, 2009

cecilia rated it

Shelves: red-covers

The contributors ranged from young to old, mothers to daughters to sisters. I especially appreciated those who had a terrible or disappointing "first period" experience with their parents and vowed to change that with their own daughters. I really enjoyed the older stories where "belted" pads were still in vogue - I had never heard of those before (and sadly, I have not read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret). Or that French women cannot make good mayonnaise while they hav...more

like

· see review

May 06, 2009

Nely rated it

My Little Red Book is a collection of stories about first periods from women throughout the world. This anthology includes positive, negative and indifferent experiences from ordinary women and girls, in addition to well known authors and high profile feminists.

This book is riddled with stories of girls thinking they were dying upon getting it, or those that looked forward to getting it for years and when they finally got it, how it took them by surprise, those who were looking forw...more

like

· see review

Aug 10, 2009

Tamora Pierce rated it

Shelves: contemporary, nonfiction

This is a dynamite book, not just for girls just learning about menstruation, but for women looking to see what kinds of experience other women had when they encountered this particular step toward adulthood. It's also a good book for those who want to see a new face of a favorite author: Rachel got writers like Erica Jong, Gloria Steinem, Cecily von Zeigesar, Meg Cabot, and, um, me to contribute. There are stories from all over the world and over the last seventy years, showing how times and ...more

like

· see review

Mar 23, 2009

Emily C. rated it

Shelves: books-i-read-while-in-peace-corps

This was a fun, light read, and would make a good gift. The book is a series of very short (sometimes only a sentence long) essays chronicling "first period" stories from 1916 to 2007. It's an awkward subject and perhaps one of the last remaining taboos, and I am glad Nalebuff tackled the subject. However, after the first 100 pages or so, I felt like perhaps she was making a mountain out of a molehill, celebrating menarche as a glorious event marking the beginning of womanhood. I w...more

like

· see review

Mar 12, 2009

Sara rated it

Shelves: non-fiction, essays, women, 2009

I wouldn't have picked this up on my own, but read it because it was in the house when I wasn't feeling well and wanted something light to read. I found a few of the stories to be moving, and it was worthwhile to learn about the Health and Water Foundation in Kenya, which provides water and sanitary supplies that help girls stay in school. But the pieces are all so short that it felt like a long series of anecdotes; there just wasn't enough depth to hold my attention. I can't remember much abo...more

like

· see review

May 02, 2009

Hendo rated it

My Little Red Book is a collection of "first period" stories compiled by a high school senior. It's a pretty interesting little volume comprised of around 100 stories. There are stories by mothers, daughters, grandmothers, etc., and one of my favorite parts is that the editor lists personal details about each of the contributors--like where they are now and some of their more noteworthy accomplishments. A couple famous people contributed too, like the lady who wrote the Gossip Girl ser...more

like

· see review

May 06, 2010

Upstatemamma rated it

Shelves: 2010-books

I did not expect to have very many thoughts about this book. I pretty much just expected to read it and be done with it. It seemed interesting but not all that amazing really. And then I started reading it and I learned how many girls go through a first period that was similar to mine. That was difficult - and also how many have a worse experience than mine. How many think they are dying. How many have no idea what is happening to them. It has given me resolve to make sure that my daughters neve...more

like

· see review

Feb 24, 2009

Deborah added it

Shelves: ya, books-by-buddies

Books by Robie Harris and others are, thankfully, available on shelves to ably help parents explain and children understand the the birds and the bees; they are necessary, medically accurate, and attentive to the feelings of children as their bodies grow and change. But... if you were a twelve year old girl and full of questions you were too embarrassed to ask anyone, would you be all that eager to read those books, even if they were immediately accessible, and had very conscientiously been give...moreBooks by Robie Harris and others are, thankfully, available on shelves to ably help parents explain and children understand the the birds and the bees; they are necessary, medically accurate, and attentive to the feelings of children as their bodies grow and change. But... if you were a twelve year old girl and full of questions you were too embarrassed to ask anyone, would you be all that eager to read those books, even if they were immediately accessible, and had very conscientiously been given to you by an adult you love and trust? Maybe. It would be a good thing if you did. But I think that stories are what we crave. And that twelve year old girls would much rather read ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET. Or, MY LITTLE RED BOOK - a collection of stories from girls and women of all ages from all over the world, about their first periods.

Of course twelve year old girls are not necessarily the only audience for this book, but I came away feeling that they are the ones who would relish it the most. It's the real scoop, as though told to you by your best girlfriends, your mom, your grandmother. Because the honest stories are both all the same and all different, they are reassuring. And all are stitched together and edited by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, eighteen at the time the book was written, whose friendly and sincere teenage voice enhances the open tone of the book. And while the stories themselves are compelling, I think it is that openness that is the book's greatest strength. Because it invites and encourages women and girls to share their stories with each other, and most especially celebrates talk between mothers and daughters. It has the potential to open up a dialogue that might have seemed a bit uncomfortable or even daunting, and to ease the way into even more difficult conversations that will need to come later.

MY LITTLE RED BOOK is clearly intended to be that opening. Readers are encouraged to share their stories with each other, and for the cyberly inclined, they are also encouraged to visit www.mylittleredbook.net and contribute even more perspectives. "Learn More" and "Do More" sections are included at the end of the book, and proceeds are being donated by the author and contributors to charities that promote women's health and education.(less)

like

· see review

May 03, 2011

Lisa rated it

Shelves: book-club, young-adult

I liked the concept of this book a lot. It was very entertaining, but some of the stories were a little much and she chose all feminists as contributors, so hearing everything from that perspective got a little old. I wish I could make a copy for my daughter including only the stories that would be appropriate for her. I did learn a lot about how I want to go through this transition with my daughter and what she will want and need to hear.

My favorite quote is:

"This me...more

like

· see review

Mar 16, 2009

Bobbie Crawford-McCoy rated it

Recommends it for: Women of all ages and open-minded men.

Shelves: books-that-i-own, all-reviews, non-fiction-reviews

My Little Red Book
Edited By: Rachel Kauder Nalebuff
Published By: Twelve, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, 2009, First Edition, 240 pages, hardcover
ISBN 978-0446546362

My Little Red Book is one of the most honest, soul-bearing story collaborations that I have ever had the good fortune to read. When I heard about this book I was instantly intrigued. What woman hasn’t at some point, felt embarrassment or felt somewhat stigmatized by their monthly flow? I know the...more

like

· see review

Aug 06, 2011

Corin added it

As the mom of a newly transformed 'young woman', this book was really terrific. I feel like I did a decent job in alerting my daughter to how it all works, congratulating her in a positive way, and not totally embarrassing her, either. She also read the book and found it enlightening... and tells me I did a decent job, too. How reassuring! Every woman will find an anecdote in this book to relate to -- something that will seem familiar or make them want to laugh or to cry (in a good way, I hope).

like

· see review

Jun 15, 2010

Emilia P rated it

Shelves: real-books

Well, meh.
I wanted to like it, I think it was pretty useful, but I need to stop reading short essays by non-writers, with a not very invasive editor (in this case, a hard-working and resume-building teenager), on subjects I find profoundly affecting. Very short essays about getting your period spanning the 20th century, a few experiences from abroad. I think it honestly represented that a lot of girls basically feel like meh, this is a little frustrating, my life goes on. To my taste there...more

like

· see review

Jan 31, 2009

Jennifer rated it

Shelves: adult-books

This book is definitely a case of what you see is what you get: 1-2 page personal stories from different women and girls about their experiences getting their periods. After the first 10-12 times reading about the "rusty brown stain" that showed up at summer camp/gym/boyfriend's house/grandma's house, etc. I was a little bored. The reprint of a famous Gloria Steinam article about how the world would be different if men menstruated was amusing, but this whole book is pretty one-note. A ...more

like

· see review

title link	preview: My Little Red Book
avg rating	preview: My Little Red Book Goodreads rating: 3.68 (271 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5960259-my-little-red-book?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255588145m/5960259.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5960259-my-little-red-book?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff[/url]

My Little Red Book

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About My Little Red Book

My Little Red Book

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combine Other Editions (3)

Genres

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About My Little Red Book

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)