Kristin D. (kdurham2813) reviewed The Magic Room: A Story about the Love We Wish for Our Daughters on + 753 more book reviews
A book full of stories that made me laugh, cry and hope for the future. Taking place in a coveted room inside a family owned bridal boutique that has been open for many decades and many generations have found their all important wedding dress. Grandmothers are now accompanying their grand daughters on this special shopping trip. Author of The Girls From Ames, Jeffrey Zaslow gets to the heart of how the relationships between women, whether it be mother/daughter, grandmother/granddaughter, or bride/friend; the art of shopping for the wedding dress has changed over the year and the quest for the dress is as important as many of the other wedding decisions that are made.
This act is something that I have dreamed about for years with my mom, sister and those I hold close to me. I can't wait to try on a few dresses and get some honest opinions from, the big butt to utter perfection - these are what dreams are made of! Zaslow highlights different brides that have entered through their doors and what brought them to this special decision. Not only does he chronicle the history of the store, but the family behind this landmark in Fowler, Michigan.
Such a great book for women of all ages - young and old and in between will enjoy this book as they remember their own shopping adventures or have had a few dreams about their upcoming shopping adventures.
This act is something that I have dreamed about for years with my mom, sister and those I hold close to me. I can't wait to try on a few dresses and get some honest opinions from, the big butt to utter perfection - these are what dreams are made of! Zaslow highlights different brides that have entered through their doors and what brought them to this special decision. Not only does he chronicle the history of the store, but the family behind this landmark in Fowler, Michigan.
Such a great book for women of all ages - young and old and in between will enjoy this book as they remember their own shopping adventures or have had a few dreams about their upcoming shopping adventures.
Nada A. reviewed The Magic Room: A Story about the Love We Wish for Our Daughters on + 1361 more book reviews
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2011/12/magic-room.html
The Magic Room - with the subtitle A Story About The Love We Wish For Our Daughters - is a look at our hopes for love, weddings, and marriages through the stories of the owners and customers at Becker's Bridal in Fowler, Michigan. Becker's Bridal, established in 1934, has provided wedding dresses for thousands of brides over the years. The brides come in, try on dresses, pick a few that are possibilities and then hopefully find the "one". That is the dress each bride tries on in the Magic Room. With a pedestal for the brides and lots of mirrors, it's a chance to appreciate the one perfect wedding dress and the hopes and dreams of the bride and those who come with her to shop.
The book follows and slowly tells the story of several brides. Chapters move back and forth between the different characters, alternating between the stories of the women who run Becker's Bridals over the years and some of the brides that come to shop there. Each one brings their own story - finding and losing a love, recovering from abuse, ensuring that love survives trials that come, maintaining choices and values in a world that is taking a different direction, losing a parent, and others.
The story of the Becker women moves through the generations and focuses on the family relationships through the years. The stories of the other brides are told in three parts - when they first come to Becker's, when they return for their second fitting, and at the time of the wedding. Sprinkled throughout the book is evidence of research and background information that broadens these individual stories to a commentary on our society and how it has evolved.
The challenging part of the book is the movement of the chapters between the different characters. Getting to a chapter heading (some of which are based on the character names), it often becomes necessary to flip back to get the continuity of that particular story. Sometimes, that structure makes the stories seem drawn out. However, presenting each story in its entirety and sequencing the book that way would not have the same impact this setup does.
The book ends up not focused on "the love we wish for our daughters" but rather more broadly focused on relationships and family dynamics. It does not make a central point, but rather alludes to many different family issues and topics. The individual stories range from heart warming to heart breaking. The characters are brought to life through the words and the snapshots. The book presents information but seamlessly builds it into the story. The first reading of the book was really the story. Perhaps, a second read may focus more on the research and facts presented.
***Reviewed for LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program***
The Magic Room - with the subtitle A Story About The Love We Wish For Our Daughters - is a look at our hopes for love, weddings, and marriages through the stories of the owners and customers at Becker's Bridal in Fowler, Michigan. Becker's Bridal, established in 1934, has provided wedding dresses for thousands of brides over the years. The brides come in, try on dresses, pick a few that are possibilities and then hopefully find the "one". That is the dress each bride tries on in the Magic Room. With a pedestal for the brides and lots of mirrors, it's a chance to appreciate the one perfect wedding dress and the hopes and dreams of the bride and those who come with her to shop.
The book follows and slowly tells the story of several brides. Chapters move back and forth between the different characters, alternating between the stories of the women who run Becker's Bridals over the years and some of the brides that come to shop there. Each one brings their own story - finding and losing a love, recovering from abuse, ensuring that love survives trials that come, maintaining choices and values in a world that is taking a different direction, losing a parent, and others.
The story of the Becker women moves through the generations and focuses on the family relationships through the years. The stories of the other brides are told in three parts - when they first come to Becker's, when they return for their second fitting, and at the time of the wedding. Sprinkled throughout the book is evidence of research and background information that broadens these individual stories to a commentary on our society and how it has evolved.
The challenging part of the book is the movement of the chapters between the different characters. Getting to a chapter heading (some of which are based on the character names), it often becomes necessary to flip back to get the continuity of that particular story. Sometimes, that structure makes the stories seem drawn out. However, presenting each story in its entirety and sequencing the book that way would not have the same impact this setup does.
The book ends up not focused on "the love we wish for our daughters" but rather more broadly focused on relationships and family dynamics. It does not make a central point, but rather alludes to many different family issues and topics. The individual stories range from heart warming to heart breaking. The characters are brought to life through the words and the snapshots. The book presents information but seamlessly builds it into the story. The first reading of the book was really the story. Perhaps, a second read may focus more on the research and facts presented.
***Reviewed for LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program***
JOANNE (joann) -
The Magic Room is a former bank vault upstairs at Becker's Bridal. Shelley Becker, the owner, has purchased the business from her mother, making her the fourth generation owner. Shelley created this magical room for brides to enter, wearing the gown that they have chosen for their special day. The room has a pedestal in the middle and is surrounded by mirrors, so the bride can catch herself at all angles and feel very special.
Becker's Bridal has been open for business since 1934 in Fowler, Michigan. Fowler is a middle-class community with a population of 1,100. Becker's Bridal carries anywhere up to 2,500 gowns in it's small shop. Shelley Becker spends 6 days a week working the store and has done work at the shop since she was 14, helping her mom.
She has seen countless brides and mothers come through the doors and has learned of their loves, tragedies, fears, etc that have brought them here to choose their bridal gowns. We are brought into the lives of eight different brides and their families and histories. Some are young, some older, some are first-time brides, others are second-timers. All are made very personal to you, with histories being told.
There is sadness, and lots of happiness in these stories. There have been accidents, deaths and divorces among them, as with every one's lives.
The premise of the writing of the book was to show the love that parents have for their daughters. This was well done with the lives that were brought forward. Each family had it's own history, but the love for the daughters pursuing their own lives was a prevalent theme.
I loved the inclusion of the Becker family being brought into the book. The hard work and sacrifice to keep such a business running is a book in itself.
Becker's Bridal has been open for business since 1934 in Fowler, Michigan. Fowler is a middle-class community with a population of 1,100. Becker's Bridal carries anywhere up to 2,500 gowns in it's small shop. Shelley Becker spends 6 days a week working the store and has done work at the shop since she was 14, helping her mom.
She has seen countless brides and mothers come through the doors and has learned of their loves, tragedies, fears, etc that have brought them here to choose their bridal gowns. We are brought into the lives of eight different brides and their families and histories. Some are young, some older, some are first-time brides, others are second-timers. All are made very personal to you, with histories being told.
There is sadness, and lots of happiness in these stories. There have been accidents, deaths and divorces among them, as with every one's lives.
The premise of the writing of the book was to show the love that parents have for their daughters. This was well done with the lives that were brought forward. Each family had it's own history, but the love for the daughters pursuing their own lives was a prevalent theme.
I loved the inclusion of the Becker family being brought into the book. The hard work and sacrifice to keep such a business running is a book in itself.
