Life, Death, Love, and Marriage Archives

Groom Info

September 13, 2021 Mary Kelly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage 4 comments

Groom to Groom
A Complete Wedding Guide for the Groom
Piljac
1983

For all the guys getting married, here is your how-to manual. I didn’t see a whole lot of “groom specific” information. It actually reads like any other bridal/wedding planning book, except much more condensed. Think of this book as the minimum amount of knowledge required to have a wedding and reception.

Props to this book for also addressing potential issues for couples such as budgets and marriage readiness. I actually think this might be a good candidate for an update, but they should change the title and get some serious book design. (Check out the discussion of bridal gown prices in the 4th image.)

The Art of Loving

January 19, 2021 Holly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage 6 comments

The Art of Loving
Fromm
1974

Submitter: This book was submitted into our library as a donation. Due to its age it won’t be joining the collection. First published in 1954 and later again in 1974 (this is that edition) it’s your standard love and romance psychology book. However, there are plenty of newer books on this topic and ones that deal with a more diverse set of couples.

The Dating Game for Christian Teens

July 9, 2020 Mary Kelly Department of God, Life, Death, Love, and Marriage 5 comments

The Dating Game
Miles
1975

If you are old enough you probably looking at the cover and expecting the book to be about the actual Dating Game. Similar font and general look. However, this Dating Game is directed at young people. Although the author is self-professed biblical fundamentalist, it isn’t as bad as some books in this category.

If this was 1975, and you were looking for a Christian teen dating book, this would probably be fine. Themes and topic aside, these materials age because the references and examples. Today’s teens (and their parents) probably wouldn’t understand or relate to any of the references. By the mid 1970s the Dating Game tv show was more or less relegated to re-runs and was kind of outdated reference for a teen book in 1975.

Teen Dating in the 1980s

May 26, 2020 Mary Kelly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 4 comments

Teen Dating
Stewart
1984

Aside from the crunchy brown paper, and a girl sporting a Cosby sweater, this isn’t too bad on the teen dating advice front. Yes it is outdated, but the advice is pretty generic. Look for qualities that are about friendship, be respectful, etc. A lot of the book is devoted to understanding social situations. There are tips on throwing a party, entertaining a date, going to prom, and other group activities as well.

However, it is glaringly out of date in terms of technology and social norms. I also think it is important to reiterate how important cover art is to getting someone to actually pick up the book. Fast forward 10 or so years, and the book looks dated. After 30 years, it is a book suitable for this blog.

Cyber Seduction

May 12, 2020 Mary Kelly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage 2 comments

Online Seductions
Gwinnell
1998

Before all the dating apps, Facebook, and other social media all sorts of interactions were happening in the early media of AOL, Prodigy, and BBS groups. The author professes to neither be “for” or “against” online matches. She has mostly anecdotes of both successful and not so successful matches.

Online dating is pretty mainstream now, so although her advice is not wrong, it is out of date. Time to let this one go and update with something from this century.

Love on the Job

March 4, 2020 Mary Kelly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage, Working 9-5 7 comments

Love at Work
Using Your Job to Find a Mate
Kent
1988

Remember the bookHow to Marry the Man of Your Choice? How to Marry the Man of Your Choice? Well, our author strikes again by offering up the workplace as a potential spouse hunting ground. Thinking of my jobs past and present, I am not so sure I would choose someone from my workplace. I can feel every person in HR just cringing and saying “this should end well”.

Will I Go to Heaven?

March 2, 2020 Holly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage 12 comments

Will I Go to Heaven?
Mayle
1976

Submitter: This book comes from a small public library. It has had 4 circulations since 2001. That alone is enough to pull the book. Then there are some questionable illustrations and text that are a bit confusing and likely offensive in today’s social climate. For a children’s book there is A LOT of text. There are also some torn and stained pages. We do get requests for children’s books on death and heaven on occasion. It’s a difficult topic to explain and this book would likely confuse young minds.

Holly: Ughhhhh. I’m really tired of these cartoony images of historical and cultural groups of people. It’s not cute. And did we ever need children’s books with beer-guzzling Vikings? Ummm…no. We didn’t.

Happy VD!

February 14, 2020 Mary Kelly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage 5 comments

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We feature so many love themed books here on this site, so let’s revisit some of these posts as we enjoy a day of romance, or not. Back when I was a teen, I thought it was hilarious to wish someone Happy V.D. So let’s kick off this holiday with some real VD. Tacky teenage humor aside, books like these need to be weeded asap. Aside from the downright outdated versions, there is also a subtext about the women who are diseased.

Let’s be safe out there this Valentine’s Day.