An exploration of the relationship among appearance, identity, and power shows how myths of beauty can be liberating rather than confining, developing insights that can connect women to the archetype of the all-powerful triple Goddess. 25,000 first printing. Tour.
Amateurish, and overly filled with the personal life story of yet another looks-obsessed middle-aged white woman. She conjectures from time to time about points that (IMO) ought to be left to anthropologists and sociologists to hash out; tossing out gems like "Perhaps the very first form of sacrifice was menstrual blood, offered without loss of human life, the most mysterious and awesome human phenomenon observed by early people." This factlessness drove me to put the book down for good.
I'll be re-reading Clarissa Pinkola Estes instead. At least her chunky jewelry and flowing skirts prose is backed by solid research, legitimate synthesis, and engaging narrative!
What a wonderful testimony to how obsessed society is with the outward appearance of people, when they should be looking at the person's heart. Well-written and very moving.