Celebrating Women

Rating:
Summary: A must read for all women and all who love them!
Review: From the moment I opened Celebrating Women I was totally swept away by the double page spread of its stunning first chapter photograph. The energy and spirit behind this ambitious journey by photographer Paola Gianturco comes alive not only through her gorgeous photographs, but also her enlightening words. The descriptive details are told in such intimate and animated language; and the rich color photographs capture the texture of these festivals in a way that explodes the senses.

It's amazing how each culture celebrates women for such different roles. What an opportunity to travel the world with this beautiful book, and in addition to the festivals profiled here, the book includes a listing by month of well over 100 more festivals to explore. The world becomes a bit smaller and hugely more wonderful. I loved seeing women not only celebrated as nourishers and providers, but also as political and as brave. The historical background for the festival in Thailand greatly intrigued me--depicting how women in 1826 saved their own lives and their city from armed invaders by their cunning use of seduction. Some festivals are steeped in history and religious ceremony, while others emerged out of necessity like the one in Guadeloupe. Back in 1916 women who worked as cooks (earning a modest income) formed an association to provide medical care and funerals for their members. Over the years this has become an annual opportunity to get together and present the best Creole cuisine by cooks resplendent in colorful Creole dress accompanied by musicians coming as far as France.

I highly recommend this book for all women everywhere and everyone else who knows and loves them. A beautiful, exciting, illuminating, and intriguing treat for the soul!

Rating:
Summary: Celebrating All Women...and men too
Review: I saw this book on the front display table at one of those large mall bookstores, and was so impressed by it that I plan to buy 5 more from Amazon as gifts for family and friends this holiday!

Beautiful large photos, great production quality, and an absolutely encyclopaedic amount of information on festivals and celebrations around the world. The chapter on Wife Carrying (by men) is hilarious, the chapter on the Miss USA Competition is insightful, and the section on virgin rituals is eye-opening.

Whether used as a reference text, or browsed casually as a coffee-table photography book, "Celebrating Women" offers something for everyone. I highly recommend this book and Amazon is selling it at a great price.