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Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume Review
"I wonder if Judy Blume really knows how many girls' lives she affected. I wonder if she knows that at least one of her books made a grown woman finally feel like she'd been a normal girl all along. . . ." -- FROM Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume Whether laughing to tears reading Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great or clamoring for more unmistakable "me too!" moments in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, girls all over the world have been touched by Judy Blume's poignant coming-of-age stories. Now, in this anthology of essays, twenty-four notable female authors write straight from the heart about the unforgettable novels that left an indelible mark on their childhoods and still influence them today. After growing up from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing into Smart Women, these writers pay tribute, through their reflections and most cherished memories, to one of the most beloved authors of all time. User Submitted Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume ReviewsFebruary 3, 2008 Chick lit true confessions more than Judy Blume admiration! This book did something surprising to me---it made me feel very old! I am not really VERY old yet, although my teenager might think so, but I guess I am old enough so the Chick Lit style of writing doesn't really appeal to me. Most of the essays here are written in that style---they are very centered on the feelings and experiences of the writer, and most of the writers seem convinced that their own thoughts and feelings and childhood family are quite fascinating. Almost every essay follows the same path---telling about a childhood experience and then telling how they read a Judy Blume book and it made them realize they weren't alone in what they were feeling. My friends and I read plenty of Judy Blume growing up too, and I admire her as a writer. However, we didn't really read her because she mirrored our own lives. Her characters live in a pretty small world, really---suburban,fairly well-to-do families. It's the world she herself knows, and she writes about it very, very well. It didn't really interact much with the world we lived in, in rural Maine, mostly in families that struggled with money. Although of course some issues of childhood are universal, I think the book would have been more powerful if we heard from some authors who lived a life UNLIKE those of the characters in Blume's books. Maybe that is what I find I don't like about chick lit type books also. Although they probably don't think so, the writers and the characters usually share membership in a pretty exclusive club---suburban or urban professionals or the children of such! I don't meant to knock this book. I think if I had lived that life or if I lived it now, and if a Judy Blume book had been a real guide to life for me, I would love reading about others like myself. And if you did, you probably will enjoy this book a great deal. January 21, 2008 Judy knew best When I felt that wave of nostalgia that hit me when I spotted Judy Blume's name scripted in girly letters in on the front cover, I knew this book was a must read. And, reading the essays written by the 20-to-40-something female authors in this book, I remembered just how much Judy Blume's own books were must reads for navigating the perpetual perplexities of puberty. More than just a trip down memory lane, these essays depict how Judy's fictional stories comforted so many of us during the real-life struggles of adolescence. A common thread in these essays is that reading Judy's books as teens allowed the authors to feel less alone in their overwhelming confusion surrounding their changing bodies, friendships, family dynamics, identities, and overall place in their ever-changing worlds. Returning to these books decades later, these authors can appreciate Judy's wisdom, advice, and insight at a completely different level. It turns out that "Judy's Blume moments" are Forever... October 19, 2007 wonderful trip down memory lane I am a huge Judy Blume fan and came of age reading her books. This anthology is such a treat to read, I read it on a recent business trip and it made the hours at the airport fly by! September 22, 2007 A Chick Lit Extravaganza This book features a wide variety of young adult and chick lit authors paying tribute to Judy Blume in different ways. The authors range in age from late 20's to late 40's, and each of the 24 essays is unique. The idea was to write something along the theme of the book's title, but surprisingly, many different approaches were taken. Some of the contributers wrote about incidents in their lives and compared them to events in Judy Blume books. Others described how reading a particular JB book had made a difference in their lives, or helped them in some adolescent situation. Still others analyzed elements of JB books heavily and only briefly compared them to their own childhoods or lives. Among the essays, JB's novels "Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret", "Forever", and "Deenie" seem to be discussed more often than others. Some get only a few mentions, and others, such as "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" are virtually overlooked. JB fans of my generation will be pleased to know "Just as Long as We're Together" is featured in several essays. This collection of essays is sure to please fans of chick lit and/or fans of Judy Blume. I enjoyed some of the essays more than others, and have found myself wanting to read the published novels of several of these ladies, since I enjoyed their writing so much. Overall, it is almost like reading a JB book in and of itself. It'll take you right back to adolescence. You'll relate, you'll remember, you'll laugh, and best of all, you'll be immersed in some high-quality, honest writing. August 9, 2007 Courtesy of Teens Read Too Judy Blume is one of the most beloved and well-known authors of our time. She has written countless stories for pre-teens, teens, and adults alike, and millions of readers have been charmed by her lovable characters and easy-to-relate-to storylines. In EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A GIRL I LEARNED FROM JUDY BLUME, twenty-four of the most popular female authors today, including Megan McCafferty, Jennifer O'Connell, Megan Crane, Cara Lockwood, and Meg Cabot, contribute essays relating their own experiences with Judy Blume. Covering everything from their own "Judy Blume moments" to hiding under the covers with Forever . . ., these stories are intensely personal recollections that offer an insight into the influence that Judy Blume's works have had on everyone who reads them. As a Judy Blume fan myself, I really loved reading this book, and it brought to mind my own memories of reading her novels. Whether you just want to know more about some of your favorite authors today, or, like me, you grew up with Blume and her characters, this book is well worth reading and you definitely don't want to miss it. Reviewed by: Andie Z. July 4, 2007 I liked this book a lot, even though I'm evidently not the target audience. A few of the essays make mention of reading Blume's one or two books with male protagonists and getting some idea of what was going on in boys' heads. I don't think that's what I was doing (only in reverse) when I read the "girl books" as a teen and preteen. Or when I read this as a 30-something, for that matter. I just think, and thought, good writing is good writing, no matter what sex is being written about. Judy taught some of us things about being boys, too, y'know. Most of the essays here are good writing, in fact none of them are really bad, some I just liked reading more than others which is only natural. A few (Megan Crane, Lara M. Zeises, Kristin Harmel & Kayla Perrin) even made me want to look for more work by the same writers. June 26, 2007 Loved it! Props to Jennifer O'Connell for a great book idea - this was so much fun to read! The essays in this book totally take you back to your own adolescence - a must-read for any Judy fan. The essays were all really entertaining - funny, touching and a great tribute to Judy Blume. I particularly enjoyed the ones by Megan McCafferty, Stephanie Lessing, Meg Cabot and Elise Juska. Highly recommend this book! June 23, 2007 Are you there Judy?? It's me Laura This book was a great trip down memory lane - and yes, I too wish I could have contributed an essay. It was great to read how Judy affected other girl's lives just like she helped me through so many issues. I would have loved to see some more diverse essays though- too much Forever and Are you there God- no Tiger Eyes which was one of my favorites. (I think it got a slight mention in the essay about mothers.) Anyway, well worth the read. June 21, 2007 Thanks for taking me back! I absolutely love this book, it brought back so many memories of adolescent angst, joy, despair, friendship...just all the things that are a part of growing up...and all the things that Judy Blume wrote for us to make it easier. I am now also curious about what these women are writing for the girls that are growing up in THIS crazy generation. I hope that they help them as much as Judy helped us! I HIGHLY recommend it, grab a copy for yourself and your friend, or reconnect with one that you haven't been in touch with. Because after reading this, you will feel compelled to share! June 20, 2007 A nostalgic treat! Okay, I love this book, and not just because I'm in it! My fellow contributors took me on a wonderful ride back through my young adulthood, and made me laugh, cry, cringe and commiserate. If the best thing one can say about having a chapter in an anthology is that the rest of the essays make you wish you had written them, then I can make that admission. I am honored to be a part of it. For more Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume reviews click here.
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