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The Halloween Handbook : 447 Costumes

The collaborative effort of Halloween costume experts and enthusiasts Bridie Clark and Ashley Dodd, The Halloween Handbook: Dress-Up For Grown-Ups showcases 447 imaginative, easy-to-make, do-it-yourself costume concepts. From traditional favorites such as Wonder Woman or Peter Pan, to more eyebrow-raising unique costumes like the One-Night Stand (the costumegoer appears as an actual stand with lampshade over the head, bra and pantyhouse dangling on the tablecloth) or the Green Card (wearing a large green sandwich board humorously displaying a parody what a real green card looks like). Black-and-white photographs illustrate fun, zany, sometimes edgy ideas with practical suggestions to efficiently and frugally make a Halloween guise to remember. Especially recommended not only for Halloween, but as a source of ideas for costume parties year round or even school and community theater apparel.




Halloween : A Grown-Up's Guide to Creative Costumes, Devilish Decor & Fabulous Festivities


Reviews

Finally, here's a Halloween book that's definitely for adults. It's brimming with practical and inventive ideas for parties, decorations, and costumes, and with an amazingly atmospheric design that's a luscious treat for grown-up eyes. Take the dread out of a costume party with creative and playful ways to dress for success on All Hallow's Eve; there are even actual costume elements to use, from wings and tails to masks and hats. You'll find ways to repurpose items right out of your own closet or benefit from a quick trip to the thrift shop. Unique make-up tips for a ghoulishly great appearance will complete the effect. An elegant "Pumpkin Primer" supplies projects to enhance the holiday spirit, including menacing hex dolls and simple, spooky candlescapes. Finally, a selection of theme party ideas, from Day o' the Dead to a Masked Ball, will make for a Happy Halloween. After all: why should kids have all the fun?


bug costumes actually looked pretty good, and so on. I especially loved the Monet costume, which was of watery blue cloth and bedecked in water-lilies, with a garden bridge on the hat. Many of the costumes and decorations are very artistic. Even some of the no-sew costumes made me say "Oooh, cool!"

I give it one star for the several infuriatingly innaccurate Asian-inspired costumes and decor. The "samurai" armor was just a joke and perhaps could be said to have its own peculiar charm, and the Yuki Ona costume (which is supposed to be spelled Yuki Onna, it's pronounced differently) was quirky and didn't look even remotely Japanese or even Asian (actually, it looked like the Snow Queen) and the bedsheet kimono was actually pretty good and began to look authentic in comparison to the other things, but when it had flat paper masks from the "Kabuki, or CHINESE opera"...! Ooh, that makes me SO MAD! Aargh! If they'd just stopped at one horribly innaccurate Japanese costume, I would have shrugged and skipped over it, but when they kept doing it, one after another... grr. It's not racist, just not researched enough.

Something similar happens when it talks about using a voodoo-doll motif for a Halloween party. It then tells you a bit about the religions of Vodoun and Santeria, from which the "voodoo dolls" come. This raises the question of why it's using very serious religious symbols as fun party decor.

The book has historical information about Halloween, monsters, and other cultural things. For example, after the instructions for the Green Man costume, it has two pages telling what is known (and not known) about the Green Man's history. With the fairy costume, it tells about different kinds of fairies, and how some kinds of fairies are more dangerous than cute.

However, after having seen how innaccurate this book was when it came to Japan, I'm highly suspicious of its educational value and authenticity in other areas of history and culture. It's clear the book *tried,* since it does at least include historical information for everything it can, but I'm not going to use it as history reference. Enjoy, but take with a grain of salt.

The section about the Mexican Day of the Dead seems considerably more accurate than the others, and fairly true to the spirit of that holiday and culture, but I still feel a bit suspicious about its authenticity.

Sorry if I seem grouchy about the book- I really did enjoy its originality of design. It's a relieving change of pace from the "country charm" Halloween craft books where you've seen everything before. None of those hokey books had scarecrows like the one in this book, which is a terrifying art statue with broken garden implements for claws, a faceless pumpkin head,and a metal wire body wrapped in dead vines! That's probably the scariest thing in the whole book, and genuinely scary at that. Not all of the things in it try to be adult or scary, mind you; there's plenty of light-hearted Halloween silliness too. I am going to have to try some of the things in here!

The book title caught my attention as the word "Grown Up" jumped out at me. I am big fan of everything Halloween so I had to have this book. I should have borrowed it at the library first! I read other reviews on Amazon.com about how wonderful this book was so I purchased it solely based on the reviews.
DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER:

The cover threw me off. It had pictures of a paper mache skull with horns, a pumpkin with star holes, floating candles in a bucket filled with flowers and mini pumpkins and a picture of hand-made crepe paper witch hats on the front door. I was thinking: all right! A cool book on how to decorate and cool crafts to make!

What they should have put on the front page was a picture of a man in spider costume, a picture of a woman in a poodle outfit, a picture of a man wearing a bird beak..you get the picture.

COSTUME 101

The first 107 pages out of 173 pages were all about costumes only. Here's a sampling: black spider, poodle, bees, really ugly paint spattered thing...

The good thing about this book - you can make most of the costumes listed here because they are items that are readily available.

The bad thing about this book - it really shows.

Many of the costumes just require you to take your old dress/shirt/gown and throw paint all over it or sew a few things on it here and there. There was even an outfit called "Dancing Queen" and can you guess what you are supposed to do? Slap used CD's all over yourself. You are supposed to look like a dancing queen...isn't that what being covered in CD's is all about?

The Queen bee outfit looks...anemic. I thought bees were supposed to be fat. In this case the Queen bee stands in skin tight clothing with what looks like black chicken wire around her waist (I think its supposed to be black netting).

The "Mother Nature and Green Man" costume I find hilarious. Just looking at the picture you'd think they were hippies covered in vegetation and/or mossy stuff. On the next page there is an entire page on "Who is The Green Man?" I figure if you have to go around explaining who the heck you are it takes the fun out of it after the 500th time. "No...I'm NOT the moss man or the hippy man covered in vegetation...I am the Green Man (insert expletives and other cuss words here)...!"

I must admit there are a few neat outfits: the shimmery mermaid outfit, the gladiator and the bedsheet geisha, but not much else going for it. For every one male costume there are about 3 or 4 women's costumes (mainly old dresses with things sewn onto them).

The second part of the costumes section take you step-by-step on how to make things like birds beaks, hairy legs (I am not making this up), thundering hooves, walrus tusks (WALRUS? where's the matching costume for this tusk?). There's one page on how to make an outfit for your dog.

The third part of the costume section teaches you how to paint your face (3 pages of really boring stuff), how to make a hat, how to make paper bags LOOK like a face. Are you sleeping yet? The only thing remotely fresh that I saw in this section was the medusa wig. You get a bunch of plastic snakes and pin it to your swim cap covered in black tulle.

FINALLY...THE DECOR SECTION:

The first ten pages in this section covers pumpking carving basics, how to add a "nose" to a pumpkin simply by turning it over so the stem acts like a nose, how to make a pumpkin look like a "bushy head" by sticking twigs and leaves out of its head, how to carve squares into a pumpkin to make it look geometric, how to....urgh.

The next five pages are all about making dolls. Voodoo dolls, corn "dollys" and hex dolls which are nothing more than twigs hanging eerily off some dead branches. Phhhhfft.

Then..get this...another craft article on how to make a GIANT 6 FOOT SPIDER! That's right...in your very own back yard! How did the craft section go from tying together twigs and corn to make faceless dolls to a gigantic, humongous, insanely huge spider? I take that back, the spider is 6 feet in diameter, which means its actually bigger.

FOOD SECTION:

There are differently themed parties throught this book: the New Orleans voodoo cocktail party, the Day of the Dead dinner party and the Masked Ball party. Not many recipes. Just a lot of nice pretty pictures, I do give this book some credit!

Review: I am a fan of adult Halloween books - nothing cutesy or for the kiddies. I bought this book thinking it would have equal amounts of decor and costumes as I am the type of person that likes Martha Stewart's Halloween decorating ideas. While this book is very good, it is primarily costumes and masks. I would have liked to see more decor. The first 108 pages out of 175 pages are costumes. The remaining pages covers jack-o-lanterns, decorating with candles, a few recipes, etc. Nothing new or spectacular. Great if you like to craft your own costumes...mediochre if you want new decor ideas and crafting your own Halloween items.

Maybe it's because I'm not a seamstress, or even a casual sewer, but I don't understand the objections of an earlier review. It's hard to believe we're talking about the same book! Yes, there is a costume using duct tape, but throughout the book I found many new, very original and creative ideas that I will be able to use for my annual Halloween extravaganza. I have read dozens and dozens of books on Halloween costumes, crafts, and decorating, and never been quite so inspired. As a Halloween afficionado, I recommend it highly!

So many times you see these books on line and wonder if they have enough good ideas to make it worth the purchase price. In my humble opinion this book at 172 pages, is worth the purchase price. Great costume ideas including making wonderful fairy wings using a laminator machine. Horns, hooves, and other accessories you don't often see are described with nice pictures. One section is devoted to hats, wigs, and make-up and includes a Medusa Wig! Pet costumes are also included in this book! The decor section has some truly original ideas along with the traditional hex dolls, corn dolly's, and a giant spider. The table top Victorian graveyard was my favorite! The last section is devoted to theme parties with a Day of the Dead dinner party and Voodoo cocktail party. Handy copyright free images are also provided to make decorations.

Plus Style: The Plus-Size Guide to Looking Great (Paperback)
by Suzan Nanfeldt

Review: Best Book on Style
I bought this book some months ago, and it sat on my shelf until the other day, when I picked it up. It was SO good that I finished it in two days. I only wish I had read it sooner!

This author writes very clearly, and in an interesting, readable style. The color photos of plus-sized models are FANTASTIC. The drawings and diagrams included in the book are extremely informative and helpful. I learned so many things in this book. For example, the reason many plus-sized clothes in stores (or sewn from certain patterns) don't fit is that they are not designed for the TRUE shapes of plus-sized bodies-they are just sized up by two inches from sizes designed for small-sized bodies. Also, when ordering from many catalogs, they give various measurements (such as arm length or hip), for which I have never quite figured out PRECISELY where to measure. This book explains VERY precisely and exactly IN PLAIN ENGLISH, in a clear way that leaves no ambiguity. Now I feel really confident taking ALL my measurements, for the first time ever.

Aside from all I learned, the three MOST useful things, to me, in this book were as follows. First, I thought I knew how to put outfits together before I read this book. But this book taught me SO much more than I had known before. For example, it discusses how to put together a lot of things I had never even considered, such as two different patterns in the same outfit-how to tell which ones could be worn together, and which ones couldn't. Second, it presents the idea of "capsules"-not claiming the credit for this idea, but showing HOW PRECISELY to plan your wardrobe on a long-term basis, and how to intelligently decide what pieces you need to tie everything together. It suggests you get out your EXISTING clothes, AND A NOTEBOOK (I had never thought about using a notebook before, and it REALLY made a difference). You also get out all of your accessories, such scarves. Then, you systematically evaluate, for each piece in your wardrobe, what different combinations you can wear together, and WRITE THEM DOWN in the notebook-all the different possibilities. I didn't have time to get out my whole wardrobe in one day. But I did start with three or four skirts/dresses. I had one scarf I had received as a gift several years ago, and always loved, but had never figured out what to wear it with, or how to wear it. This scarf has a pattern of bright red, turquoise, and purple-kind of odd colors together. Following these suggestions, I suddenly discovered that a purple dress I had purchased recently was the same purple as in this scarf, and I remembered I had a turquoise turtleneck that I had also not really found anything to wear with for several years. I put the three together (even though I never would have DREAMED previously of putting together purple and turquoise), and suddenly, I had a smashing outfit. I wore it the same afternoon and got compliments from four separate people! Now I can hardly wait to go through the rest of my wardrobe with the same technique. By using the notebook technique, you can figure out EXACTLY what you NEED in your existing wardrobe to tie certain outfits together (for example, a red blouse, or a scarf with certain colors). Then you can go shopping intelligently for those particular items, instead of buying things on impulse, and finding you don't have the right things to go with them. She also discusses the concept of "cost-per-wearing." When you get things to go together in outfits, you wear them more often, and they don't sit expensively in your closet, seldom worn. Something else may have been expensive to buy, but if you end up wearing it all the time, then the cost-per-wearing is low-in other words, you are really getting your "money's worth" out of the piece. The third really helpful resource was the 19-page appendix at the back, listing clothing resources for the plus-sized woman (for UK readers, these are USA locations, but many/most can be found on the internet, and do mail-order business). My only criticism of the whole book was that while the author did list names, addresses and phone numbers, she did not list web site addresses, leaving the reader to search for those on her own. However, I was able to find the ones I needed right away. I would not have been able to find them had I not seen them listed in this book.

In summary, while is the best book I have ever seen for plus-sized women and fashion, I feel it is also one of the best books I have EVER seen on ANY SIZED-women's fashion. No matter what your size, you can benefit from this book. Enjoy!!!

Review: THE BEST BOOK ON FASHION-HANDS DOWN. WHATEVER YOUR SIZE
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Yes, its billed as for just plus size but we ALL have our little flaws or features that we waqnt to play up or down. This has, by far, the best information on putting together an outfit or whole look than any other book I've read...plus size or other wise. The hints are timeless. classic, attainable and i kept banging my forehead theinking "now why didnt I think of that" this books great.

Review: Even my not-plus-size friends loved it
I've had this book for a few years and would skim through it now and again. I finally picked it up this past fall when I decided to do a wardrobe overhaul. I am SO glad I did.

This book isn't just for and about plus-sizes, it's for every woman who wants to make her clothes work for her, regardless of budget. I have spent over $100 on a sweater that I feel more frumpy in than when I wear my $11 sweater I bought off of Ebay.

It's so good, I loaned it to two friends who are not plus sizes. It took me days of begging just to get it back. One friend even told me she was getting compliments on her commuter train on how "different" she looked. Why? She followed Suzan's advice on how a bra should fit. And I admit, my friend DOES look 100% better with a good fitting bra.

Review: I wish she would come out with a volume II edition
I refer to her book twice a year when I'm about to do my seasonal shopping. She gives great advice on how to look great, how to shop, applying makeup, you name it. Anything that has to do with looking good. Although 90% of what she said is still relevant, I wish she would come out with a new book with more up to date pictures of clothing and maybe some new "tricks" on looking stylish. I highly recommend this book.

Review: Very Professional and Well Rounded
Suzan Nanfeldt does an excellent job of not only laying out principles for the plus size woman to follow when it comes to fashion and style, she also writes in a refreshingly positive manner. Let's face it, plus size women get the short end in just about every category of living. Sue's book was a delight to read. I bought copies for five of my friends after I read it, and they all said they found it to be "breakthrough" and the best book of its kind on the market.

Review: This book changed my life
This book has changed my life. I never understood why I was so often in tears trying on outfit after outfit in the dressing room. Now I know what to look for in the style of a garment so that it will be flattering to ME instead of the hanger! It has given me a whole new confidence in myself because I look so much better even though I haven't lost a pound. This book is great for anyone who wants to look good no matter what size they are.
It even has sections on organizing your closet and also a chapter for those who sew their own clothes.

Buy this book - you will love it!

True Beauty: Positive Attitudes and Practical Tips from the World's Leading Plus-Size Model (Paperback)

Reviews:
This combination memoir and self-help manual authored by a successful plus-size model with the assistance of writer Paisner, who collaborated with Montel Williams on Mountain, Get Out of My Way, is addressed to women whose larger shapes do not fit the cultural idea of a trim body. According to Emme, over 60% of American females wear, like herself, a size 12 or larger, but their self-esteem is constantly eroded by media images of thin, super-fit women. She details the sad but engaging story of growing up with a stepfather who constantly badgered her to lose weight. His insensitivity, combined with the untimely death of her mother, plunged her into years of obsessive eating behavior that she overcame by getting involved with crew rowing and building a career. Emme offers larger women some fairly superficial advice on building self-esteem and a positive attitude, as well as more useful information from a model's perspective on improving fitness, posture, makeup and dress.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

In three unique approaches, these books convince their readers to accept and enjoy their size 14-plus bodies. True Beauty is an autobiographical account of Emme, "the world's leading plus-size model." Her well-written story captivates the reader and presents a wonderful example of how a large woman can learn to be healthy, successful, and happy. This book is enjoyable and will appeal to those who like to read a story. In Well Rounded, Lippincott, another successful plus-size model, devises eight steps to follow to become happy with life in a large body. From accepting and enjoying your size (step 1), through getting to know your body (3) and assessing your body's strengths and weaknesses (4) to a discussion of movement and exercise (8), her advice is both practical and esteem-building. Each step includes a toolbox of activities to perform. This book will appeal to those who want an outline or guide explaining how to achieve their goal. Therapist Erdman (Nothing To Lose, HarperSanFrancisco, 1995) presents ideas to help women accept and enjoy their large bodies. Each page consists of an idea, a brief paragraph describing that idea, an affirmation, and an activity. This book will appeal to those who are searching for an ongoing program of development and reinforcement. All three books include sections for recommended readings and resources. Each will appeal to a different kind of reader, though True Beauty and Well Rounded may be best formatted for libraries.
Elizabeth Caulfield Felt, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman

Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description

"At five-foot-eleven and 190 pounds, supermodel Emme is immediately recognizable. Her image has appeared on billboards and in newspapers and magazines, including print ads for Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Liz Claiborne. She has been featured in the New York Times and she was named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World." Many women feel that if they aren't a perfect size 6, they can't be beautiful. In True Beauty, Emme shares her story of triumph over negative body image and offers tips on developing a positive self-image and overcoming stereotypes through dressing, shopping, dating, relationships, job interviews, travel, and exercise. Emme's story will comfort and inspire any woman who has battled with issues of self-esteem and body image.

Amazon.com
When Rita Farro discovered that she could make clothes that not only fit her "gifted" figure but flattered it and made her feel good about herself, an inspirational personality was born. Finally looking good in her clothes changed her life, and since then she has been sharing with others her upbeat, humor-filled message: "How to Dress with Style When You Feel Like Cher but Look Like Roseanne." Her advice on finding the right look for different body types, accentuating your positive features, planning a wardrobe, working with accessories, and much more is clear and practical and told with wit, and the clothes are colorful and extremely flattering. This is not about losing weight to look good; it's about developing a personal style that fosters self-esteem and gives you back your life. --Amy Handy

From School Library Journal
A welcome practical handbook. Overweight women have been trained to be ashamed of their size, hiding inside lumpy sweats and shapeless layers. This can be especially true for teenage girls, who will find scant support at the local mall. Well, "life is not a dress size," says Farro. Instead, careful attention to fit, style, and "that all-important vertical line" can help overcome the fashion barrier that encourages poor self-image. The author includes the usual chapters on body types and the styles that work best for each. A bonus sewing section provides a few simple patterns for garments and accessories, as well as valuable information on altering patterns for larger sizes. The author also includes important sections on attitude, self-esteem, and personal grooming. The book is well illustrated, though most of the models are clearly adult women. Nevertheless, the format and tone will appeal to teens who can benefit from Farro's exuberant and humorous approach to this closet problem.?Robin Deffendall, Prince William Public Library System, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

It was such a pleasure to read a book (aimed at the "gifted") which shows a delightful awareness that fashion should be fun and reflect individual style. Unlike other books aimed at this market, this one is neither a dreary "self-help" approach nor an appeal to look "professional" (which, especially in NYC, generally means "dowdy.") This book should be on the shelf of everyone who enjoys both sewing and individuality in fashion, not only those who are plus sized. Rita's humour makes the reading marvellously original - her style gives a sense of sheer (or, perhaps, "shear") enjoyment. I especially liked her emphasis on colour and adapting patterns. For some, Rita's taste may seem a bit over the top (even I, who have rather bold tastes, would find the "carwash skirt" a little much), but her ideas can be adapted to the reader's personal style. For example, the "suit types" can use Rita's swing coat in any fabric, over a simple dress, and both have an "office look" and avoid the skirt-and-blouse cutoff point that is unflattering to most large women. Rita, most refreshingly, does not offer stock "self-help" talk, nor does she explore the current trends towards relating size to "issues" or "self-esteem." This is pure fashion, where building on one's own style and tastes makes for a wonderful look.

Rita Farro worked with what she affectionately calls "gifted" women (or women any size over 10) for over a decade; first as a fabric store owner, then as a workshop presenter. The knowledge behind Life is Not a Dress Size also comes from her personal experience at being gifted herself.

This book is about living in "a country that worships thinness", "developing personal style" and "learning to value yourself". A tall order for this little book. It also boasts a bonus sewing section with a few basic items like a wrap, scarf, belts. It's about working with what you have.

Despite being almost ten years from its original publishing date, everything still applies (except the overstated eye clashing outfits...and stirrup pants). She delivers her story and thoughts from the perspective of an old friend instead of someone with a PhD who's never been 20lbs overweight in her life. The tone is conversational, honest and straight forward. Behind each opinion she offers legitimate commentary to back it up. She delves into the realms of low self esteem, fashion, style, sewing and being happy. She gently reminds we all have value.

We are our own worst enemies. Farro insists our segregation from society is less to do with the food we eat and more to do with how we dress and carry ourselves in public. Because of Farro's personal voice/style this is an easy and quick read that leaves the reader refreshed instead of in a depressed afterglow. A large majority of the book is about first impressions, body types and how to camouflage them.

She briefly touches on the fat stereotypes like, "She's fat, she must be lazy". Farro says we need to spend more time on our hygiene, clothing, make up and hair. That means no more running out to the corner store without a bra and the inner thigh material eaten out of your pants. Farro also strongly believes we should let go to the fantasy we are going to lose some weight. It's important to live in the moment and wear clothing that fits us now.

She lightly mentions the diet industry but weight loss isn't a focal point in Life is Not a Dress Size. Despite the occasional bad cliché it's entertaining, easy to read, understandable, and educational. The few quizzes are simple and non-threatening. The glossy pages and short chapters make itdurable and easy to use as a resource.

Review: wanted to like this more
I think that if I had read this book ten years ago, I would have given it a higher rating; I really did enjoy her positive, up-beat take on size acceptance, and she was very honest about how difficult it can be.

However, to be truly honest, I simply could not enjoy the clothes! At 27 years old, I don't want to look like an explosion at a crayon factory. I love that Rita Farro wears just what she likes best, but I myself would rather look stylish and sophisticated instead of clownish. Again, this is my very own personal preference - I applaud Rita for following her vision, it's just not mine.Review: 5 stars for the message, 1 star for the clothes.
Whether you sew or not, Rita Farro's book is for all women of size. She uses wit, warmth and a large dose of common sense to get the message across that large women are just as entitled to be happy and productive as anyone else and those "fataphobics" who have a problem with us plus size gals...well, it's THEIR problem. All we can do, she says, is change ourselves for the better. We CAN be happy. And she's right. I spent years sitting at home feeling terrible about myself but after reading Rita's book, I started taking control of my life and in small steps, try to be better every day. I can't recommend this book too highly. I just wish Rita would hurry up and write another book!

I was hoping for some great stuff. There was some stuff, some tips for pattern fixing and accessory modifying. But not much about what works and what doesn't. It is heavily geared toward women who DON'T work in a heavily tailored environment (i.e. suits). It wasn't the colour emphasis (which was good) but the lack of styles in that area. I was fairly frustrated when I finished the book.

Review: Fantastic, inspiring book!!!!!!!!
I picked this book up two years ago and have since read it several times. It is an excellent resource for anyone who does not fit "society's" standards. The author gives insightful and witty advice on how to present ourselves in the best possible manner to a world that is often hostile. As an added bonus, the sewing section at the end of the book was extremely useful. Kudos to Rita. When will she write her next book?




Real Women Don't Diet!: One Man's Praise of Large Women and His Outrage at the Society That Rejects Them (Hardcover) by Ken Mayer

Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
There have been books and magazine articles asserting that our society is dangerously obsessed with a single standard of female beauty, namely that of the thin body. Mayer's book stands out because it is written by a man and is a paean to what he regards as real beauty; strong, large women (preferably well over 200 pounds). Expressing heartfelt pain over tortures that overweight women endure (many were prescribed diet pills by alarmed doctors in their early teens), the book will offer comfort to any woman who falls outside the waif-like ideal. Mayer, a "large-size" fashion photographer and freelance writer, rallies facts and figures that verify that "overweight" women are not unhealthy and promotes the sensible idea that if a woman feels healthy, she probably is. Along the way, he throws in a lot of his own extraneous philosophy and practical tips (for instance, on how to reduce the cost of a home loan), and a veritable diatribe against this country's medical establishment and the destruction of the environment. However, with its arresting title and cover (a beautiful, 200 plus-pound woman, obviously pleased with herself and enjoying life), this book will have wide appeal.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Mayer is in line with writers like Naomi Wolf ( Beauty Myth , LJ 4/1/91) who severely criticize our society's standards of feminine beauty. He focuses on body size or weight, arguing that big is not only beautiful but also healthy and takes to task the fashion and diet industries and physicians for encouraging women literally to harm themselves in order to be thin. The early chapters take the form of a personal journal about Mayer's coming of age and attraction to big women. Later chapters critique society's values in general to show that our obsession with body shape is just another flawed value. Mayer is correct that big is beautiful, but he loses some credibility when he argues that only big is beautiful. Still, any big woman who needs encouragement to accept herself will find it here, and other readers may be sensitized to the issue.
- John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This book opened up my eyes to what our society is like! Since I read it I can no longer stomach looking at some of the sick looking models that do jean commercials. Why would anyone look like that? What about some of the really beautiful larger women? Someone like Camryn Manheim? How come they never do those commercials.

I happen to be a workout fanatic and eat and exercise to feel good. Looking good should not be starving oneself and have a frame that looks like it will snap in two.

I admire women of all shapes and sizes. A pretty face and shapely body (not a pencil thin one)is what I like in looks. Usually, a warm and cheerful personality makes the face beautiful (not tons of make-up). People need to stop falling for advertising by people that are trying to sell you a false bill of goods.

Bravo Mr. Mayer!

Wish I had this as a Teen or even young Adult!, December 2, 2001
Reviewer: T. FLUHR "SystemSpec" (Louisville) - See all my reviews

Being written by a man, I chose this as my first book on Fat Acceptance/Advancement. Namely because it was so unusual to me to see a man standing up and saying he loved woman-sized women. What a concept!!!! I chose well! After reading this I have surpisingly discovered that a whole library of these most liberating and revolutionary books exist and have been doing a lot of 'catching up' reading since. This book really opened my eyes and my life. Had I read or heard any of these things when I was younger, I would have never subjected myself to all of those self-defeating, demeaning, and dangerous practices of trying to make my body something it wasn't. I am in the prime of my life and can finally see things with clear eyes. Thank you Ken Mayer (and Marilyn Wann (Fat!So?, another GREAT book).

Good short stories and antecdotes make this discussion of our society's expectation of women an easy read. The basic theme is that we, as a society, are wasting a precious resource by keeping women's energies focused on living down to the supermodel ideal of a small package with nothing in it. The author offers a man's perspective on why so many in our society find abundant women so threatening, and calls for the end of weight prejudice. A great book! Very positive for women. If you like this one, I'd suggest "No Fat Chicks," for look at the same theme from a woman's perspective.

Its nice to see a book out that shows and tells the stories of plus size women, the pictures are the best, they show the womens true beauty. It also talks about the pressure put on men in society to date and marry that size 6 woman. I think women will like it for the fact that there are men out there that like them for how they are and not the way society claims they should be.

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Halloween is an observance celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets or money. It is celebrated in much of the Western world, though most common in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Irish, Scots and other immigrants brought older versions of the tradition to North America in the 19th century. Most other Western countries have embraced Halloween as a part of American pop culture in the late 20th century.

The term Halloween, and its older spelling Hallowe'en, is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening before "All Hallows Day". In Ireland, the name was All Hallows Eve and this name is still used by some older people. Halloween was also sometimes called All Saints' Eve. The holiday was a day of religious festivities in various northern European pagan traditions, until it was appropriated by Christian missionaries and given a Christian interpretation. In Mexico November 1st and 2nd are celebrated as the Day of the Dead.

Halloween is also called Pooky Night in some parts of Ireland, presumably named after the púca, a mischievous spirit.

On Great Britain and Ireland in particular, the pagan Celts celebrated the Day of the Dead on All Hallows Day (1st November). The spirits supposedly rose from the dead and, in order to attract them, food was left on the doors. To scare off the evil spirits, the Celts wore masks. When the Romans invaded Great Britain, they embellished the tradition with their own, which is both a celebration of the harvest and of honoring the dead. Very much later, these traditions were transported to the United States, Canada and Australia.

Halloween is sometimes associated with the occult. Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is one of the liminal times of the year when the spiritual world can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent (e.g. Catalan mythology about witches).

Halloween in the UK
In some parts of the United Kingdom, Halloween was formerly known as Mischief Night. People would take the doors off their hinges on this night. The doors were also often thrown into ponds, or taken a long way away.

In England it is said that elves rode on the backs of the villagers' cats. The cats had fun but the villagers did not and would lock their cats up so that the elves could not catch them.

Children were told not to sit in the circles of yellow and white flowers where fairies have danced as they may be stolen by the fairies. It was also bad to sit under the hawthorn tree since fairies loved to dance on these and if they saw children their tempers would be prickled.

In England, the black cat was considered to be good luck, whereas a white cat was considered to be bad luck.

In England children make "pumpkin men" from large pumpkins. They cut out designs into the pumpkin. Then they place them on display in their windows to go along with the scary theme of Halloween.

Halloween in North America
Anoka, Minnesota, USA, the self-proclaimed "Halloween Capital of the World," celebrates with a large civic parade.

Salem, Massachusetts, USA, also has laid claim to the title "Halloween Capital of the World," though Salem has tried to separate itself from its history in the subject of witchcraft. Despite that, the city does see a great deal of tourism surrounding the Salem witch trials, especially around Halloween.

New York City, New York, USA, hosts the United States' largest Halloween celebration, The Village Halloween Parade. Started by a Greenwich Village mask maker in 1973, the parade now attracts over 2 million spectators/participants as well as roughly 4 million television viewers each year. It is the largest participatory parade in the country if not the world, encouraging spectators to march in the parade as well. It is also the largest annual parade held at night.

In North America people believed that it was unlucky for a black cat to cross one's path, to come into homes, or to travel on ships.

In the United States trick-or-treaters are welcomed by placing lighted pumpkins known as jack-o'-lanterns in their windows.

The North American tradition of trick-or-treat comes from the original idea that you must be kind to dead ancestors or they will play a trick on you.

The War of the Worlds, a radio adaptation by Orson Welles based upon H. G. Wells' classic novel of the same name, was performed by Mercury Theatre on the Air as a Halloween special on October 30, 1938 and the live broadcast reportedly frightened many listeners into believing that an actual Martian invasion was in progress.

Halloween in Australia
Halloween is not celebrated as much as it is in the U.S., despite this, most children still believe in "trick or treating". And most houses are decorated with a Halloween themed style, by carving pumpkins and placing a candle in the middle of the hollowed pumpkin, and are usually placed in their windows or in their living room. It is also a tradition in Australia for children to leave the candy on people's door mats.

In Adelaide, South Australia, a large festival takes place at the Norwood Oval (an oval close to the city) and people celebrate in a huge parade. Stalls include activities such as; Bobbing for Apples, Discos, carving Pumpkins, Rides, Candy and many more Dark Attractions.

Symbols
Jack-o'-lanterns may be carved with funny faces.Halloween's theme is spooky or scary things particularly involving death, magic, or mythical monsters. Commonly-associated Halloween characters include ghosts, ghouls, witches, bats, black cats, spiders, goblins, zombies, skeletons and demons, as well as certain fictional figures like Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. Homes are often decorated with these symbols around Halloween.

Black and orange are the traditional colors of Halloween. In modern Halloween images and products, purple, green, and red are also prominent.

Elements of the autumn season, such as pumpkins and scarecrows, are also reflected in symbols of Halloween.

The carved jack-o'-lantern, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols. In the British Isles, a turnip was and sometimes still is used, but immigrants to America quickly adopted the pumpkin because it was more readily available; additionally, it is much larger and easier to carve. Many families that celebrate Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their home's doorstep after dark. The practice was originally intended to frighten away evil spirits or monsters.

Neopagans of North America honor their ancestors on October 31. It was once believed that on this night any souls who had not yet passed into the paradise of the summer lands might return to wander the streets and visit their old homes once more.

Trick-or-treating and guising
The main event of modern US-style Halloween is trick-or-treating, in which children dress up in costume disguises and go door-to-door in their neighborhood, ringing each doorbell and yelling "trick or treat!" This is a watered-down version of the older tradition of guising in Ireland and Scotland. The occupants of the house (who might themselves dress in a scary costume) will then hand out small candies, miniature chocolate bars or other treats. Some American homes will use sound effects and fog machines to help set a spooky mood. Other house decoration themes (that are less scary) are used to entertain younger visitors. Children can often accumulate many treats on Halloween night, filling up entire pillow cases or shopping bags.

In Ireland, great bonfires were lit throughout the breadth of the land. Young children in their guises were gladly received by the neighbors with some "fruit, apples and nuts" for the "Halloween Party", whilst older male siblings played innocent pranks on bewildered victims.

In Scotland, children or guisers are more likely to recite "The sky is blue, the grass is green, may we have our Halloween" instead of "trick or treat!". They visit neighbours in groups and must impress the members of the houses they visit with a song, poem, trick, joke or dance in order to earn their treats. Traditionally, nuts, oranges, apples and dried fruit were offered, though sometimes children would also earn a small amount of cash, usually a sixpence. Very small children often take part, for whom the experience of performing can be more terrifying than the ghosts outside.

Tricks play less of a role in modern Halloween, though Halloween night is often marked by vandalism such as soaping windows, egging houses or stringing toilet paper through trees. Before indoor plumbing was so widespread, tipping over or displacing outhouses was a popular form of intimidation. Casting flour into the faces of feared neighbors was also done once upon a time.

Typical Halloween costumes have traditionally been monsters such as vampires, ghosts, witches, and devils. In 19th-century Scotland and Ireland the reason for wearing such fearsome (and non-fearsome) costumes was the belief that since the spirits that were abroad that night were essentially intent on doing harm, the best way to avoid this was to fool the spirits into believing that you were one of them. In recent years, it has become common for costumes to be based on themes other than traditional horror, such as dressing up as a character from a TV show or movie, or choosing a recognizable face from the public sphere, such as a politician (in 2004, for example, George W. Bush and John F. Kerry were both popular costumes in America). In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, for example, costumes of Islamic terrorists, firefighters, police officers, and United States military personnel became popular among children and adults. In 2004, an estimated 2.15 million children in the United States were expected to dress up as Spider-Man, the year's most popular costume. [1]

"'Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" has become a common sight during Halloween in North America. Started by UNICEF in 1950, the program involves the distribution of small boxes by schools to trick-or-treaters, in which they can solicit small change donations from the houses they visit. It is estimated that children have collected more than $119 million for UNICEF since its inception.

BIGresearch conducted a survey for the National Retail Federation in the US and found that 53.3% of consumers planned to buy a costume for Halloween 2005, spending $38.11 on average (up 10 dollars from last year). An estimate of $3.3 billion was made for the holiday spending.

A child usually "grows out of" trick-or-treating by his or her teenage years. Trick-or-treating by teenagers is accepted, but generally discouraged with genial ribbing by those handing out candy. Teenagers and adults instead often celebrate Halloween with costume parties, staying home to give out candy, listening to Halloween music, or scaring people.

Visiting a Haunted house or a Dark Attraction are other Halloween traditions. Notwithstanding the name, such events are not necessarily held in houses, nor are the edifices themselves necessarily regarded to possess actual ghosts. A variant of this is the haunted trail, where the public encounters supernatural-themed characters or presentations of scenes from horror films while following a trail through a heavily wooded area or field.

Games and other activities
There are several games traditionally associated with Halloween parties. The most common is dooking or bobbing for apples, in which apples float in a tub or a large basin of water; the participants must use their teeth to remove an apple from the basin. A variant involves kneeling on a chair, holding a fork between the teeth and trying to drop the fork into an apple. Another common game involves hanging up treacle or syrup-coated scones by strings; these must be eaten without using hands while they remain attached to the string, an activity which inevitably leads to a very sticky face.

Some games traditionally played at Halloween are forms of divination. In Puicíní (pronounced "pooch-eeny"), a game played in Ireland, a blindfolded person is seated in front of a table on which several saucers are placed. The saucers are shuffled and the seated person then chooses one by touch. The contents of the saucer determine the person's life for the following year. A saucer containing earth means someone known to the player will die during the next year, a saucer containing water foretells travel, a coin means new wealth, a bean means poverty, etc. In 19th-century Ireland, young women placed slugs in saucers sprinkled with flour. The wriggling of the slugs and the patterns subsequently left behind on the saucers were believed to portray the faces of the women's future spouses.

In North America, unmarried women were frequently told that if they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future husband would appear in the mirror. However, if they were destined to die before they married, a skull would appear. The custom was widespread enough to be commemorated on greeting cards from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The telling of ghost stories and viewing of horror films are common fixtures of Halloween parties. Television specials with a Halloween theme, usually aimed at children, are commonly aired on or before the holiday while new horror films are often released theatrically before the holiday to take advantage of the atmosphere.

Foods
Main article: Poisoned candy scare

Because the holiday comes in the wake of the annual apple harvest, Candy Apples (also known as toffee, taffy or caramel apples) are a common treat at Halloween. They are made by rolling whole apples in a sticky sugar syrup, and sometimes then rolling them in nuts. At one time candy apples were a common treat given to children, but this practice rapidly waned after widespread rumors that some individuals were embedding items like pins and razor blades in the apples that they would pass out to children. While there is evidence of such incidents occurring they are very rare and have never resulted in any serious injuries. Nonetheless, many parents were under the assumption that the practice was common. At the peak of this hysteria, some hospitals were offering to x-ray children's Halloween haul at no cost in order to look for such items. Almost all of the very few Halloween candy poisoning incidents on record involved parents who poisoned their own children's candy, while there are occasional reports of children sticking needles in their own candy (and that of other children) more in an effort to get attention than cause any harm.

A Halloween custom which has survived unchanged to this day in Ireland is the baking (or more often nowadays the purchase) of a barmbrack (Irish "báirín breac"). This is a light fruit cake into which a plain ring is placed before baking. It is said that whoever finds this ring will find his or her true love during the following year.

Other foods associated with the holiday:

candy corn
bonfire toffee (in the UK)
Toffee Apple (in Australia, instead of "Candy Apples")
hot apple cider
roasted pumpkin seeds
"fun-sized" or individually wrapped pieces of small candy, typically in Halloween colors of orange, and brown/black.

Cultural history
Main article: History and folklore of Halloween

Christian festival
Pope Boniface IV established an anniversary dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the martyrs when he consecrated the Pantheon on May 13, 609 (or 610). This Christian feast day was moved to November 1st from May 13th by Pope Gregory III in the eighth century in order to mark the dedication of the All Saints Chapel in Rome — establishing November 1st as All Saints Day and October 31st as All Hallows' Eve. Initially this change of date only applied to the diocese of Rome, but was extended to the rest of Christendom a century later by Pope Gregory IV in an effort to standardize liturgical worship.

The feast day of All Souls Day, celebrated to commemorate those souls condemned temporarily to Purgatory, was inaugurated by St Odilo, at the time the abbott of the influential monastery at Cluny, on November 2, 998.

Halloween's Origin: Celtic observation of Samhain
According to what can be reconstructed of the beliefs of the ancient Celts, the new year began around November 1 or on a New Moon near that date, a day referred to in modern Gaelic as Samhain ("Sow-in" or alternatively "Sa-ven", meaning: End of the Summer). Just as sundown meant the start of a new day, shorter days signified the start of the new year; therefore the harvest festival began every year on the night of preceding the autumn new year date. After the adoption of the Roman calendar with its fixed months, the date began to be celebrated independently of the Moon's phases.

As November 1 is the first day of the new year, the day also meant the beginning of Winter, which the Celts often associated with human death. The Celts also believed that on October 31 (the night before the new year), the boundary separating the dead from the living became blurred. (There is a rich and unusual myth system at work here; the spirit world, the residence of the "Sidhe," as well as of the dead, was accessible through burial mounds. These mounds opened at two times during the year, making the beginning and end of Summer highly spiritually resonant.)

The Celts' survival during the cold harsh winters, depended on the prophecies of their priests or Druids. They believed that the presence of spirits would aid in the priests' abilities to make future predictions.

The exact customs observed in each Celtic region differ, but they generally involved the lighting of bonfires and the reinforcement of boundaries, across which malicious spirits might cross and threaten the community.

Like most observances around this season, warmth and comfort were emphasized, indulgence was not. Stores of preserved food were needed to last through the winter, not for parties.

Norse Elven Blót
In the old Norse religion an event believed to occur around the same time of the year as Halloween was the álfablót (elven blót), which involved sacrifices to the elves and the blessing of food. The elves were powers connected to the ancestors, and it can be assumed that the blót related to a cult of the ancestors. The álfablót is also celebrated in the modern revival of Norse religion, Ásatrú.

Halloween customs
Observance of Halloween traditions faded in the South of England from the 17th century onwards, being replaced by the commemoration of the Gunpowder Plot on November 5. However, it remained popular in Scotland, Ireland and the North of England. It is only in the last decade that it again became popular in the south of England, but as an entirely Americanized version.

The custom survives most accurately on the island of Ireland, where the last Monday of October is a public holiday. All schools close for the following week for mid-term, commonly called the Halloween Break. As a result Ireland and Northern Ireland are the only countries where children never have school on Halloween and are therefore free to celebrate it in the ancient and time-honored fashion.

The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have evolved from the European custom called souling, similar to the wassailing customs associated with Yule. On November 2, All Souls' Day, beggars would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes" — square pieces of bread with currants. Christians would promise to say prayers on behalf of dead relatives helping the soul's passage to heaven. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits at the Samhain.

Further information: Puck
In Celtic parts of western Brittany, Samhain is still heralded by the baking of kornigou. Kornigou are cakes baked in the shape of antlers to commemorate the god of winter shedding his "cuckold" horns as he returns to his kingdom in the Otherworld.

In the Isle of Man where Halloween is known as Hop-tu-Naa children carry turnips instead of pumpkin, and sing a song called Jinnie the Witch.

"Punkie Night"
"Punkie Night" is observed on the last Thursday in October in the village of Hinton St. George in the county of Somerset in England. On this night, children carry lanterns made from hollowed-out mangel-wurzels (a kind of beet; in modern days, pumpkins are used) with faces carved into them. They bring these around the village, collecting money and singing the punkie song. Punkie is derived from pumpkin or punk, meaning tinder.

Though the custom is only attested over the last century, and the mangel-wurzel itself was introduced into English agriculture in the late 18th century, "Punkie Night" appears to be much older even than the fable that now accounts for it. The story goes that the wives of Hinton St. George went looking for their wayward husbands at the fair held nearby at Chiselborough, the last Thursday in October, but first hollowed out mangel wurzels in order to make lanterns to light their way. The drunken husbands saw the eerie lights, thought they were "goolies" (the restless spirits of children who had died before they were baptized), and fled in terror. Children carry the punkies now. The event has spread since about 1960 to the neighboring village of Chiselborough.

Sources: on-line report from the Western Gazette and a National Geographic radio segment. Chiselborough Fair is memorialized by Fair Place in the village. The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) reported that there was "a fair for horses and cattle on the last Thursday in October."

"Mischief Night"
The night before Halloween, known alternately as "Devil's Night", "Mischief Night", "Mizzie Night", "Gate Night", "Cabbage Night", "Mat Night", or "Goosie Night" is often associated with pranks or destructive activities performed by adolescents. Some of the acts range from minor vandalism to theft (e.g. of door mats — thus the name "Mat Night" in some areas), or even arson. Many youths involved in Mischief Night would be considered too old for traditional trick-or-treating. One of the most common wrong-doings is "egging", the act of throwing eggs (sometimes left out for several days to rot) at neighbors' houses, the eggs' yolk causing damage to the paint. Another common Mischief Night act is "T.P.ing", in which people's houses, lawns, and trees are covered in toilet paper streamers.

In parts of northern England, "Mischievous Night" occurs on the 4th of November, the night before Bonfire Night(associated to Bonfire night because the last phases of the plot were coming together). It is celebrated in the same way, although minor vandalism often includes fireworks, which appear in shops in the United Kingdom around this time for legitimate reasons — to set off alongside bonfires on the following night.

Religious viewpoints
The majority of Christians ascribe no doctrinal significance to Halloween, but the Celebration of Halloween by the support of Catholic and other Christian sects exist because how it mocks Pagan beliefs by presenting outrageous superstition and religious concepts, and supports the more easily accepted Christian beliefs.

The mingling of Christian and Pagan traditions in the development of Halloween, and its real or assumed preoccupation with evil and the supernatural, have left many modern Christians uncertain of how they should react towards the holiday. Some fundamentalist and evangelical along with many Eastern Orthodox Christians and Orthodox Jewish believers consider Halloween a pagan or Satanic holiday, and refuse to allow their children to participate. In some areas, complaints from fundamentalist Christians that the schools were endorsing a pagan religion have led the schools to stop distributing UNICEF boxes at Halloween. Another response among conservative evangelicals in recent years has been the use of Hell houses, which attempt make use of Halloween as an opportunity for evangelism.

Other Christians, however, continue to connect the holiday with All Saints Day. Some modern Christian churches commonly offer a fall festival or harvest-themed alternative to Halloween celebrations. Still other Christians hold the view that the holiday is not Satanic in origin or practice and that it holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about death and mortality actually being a valuable life lesson.

Likewise, to many Protestant churches, October 31 is also the date of Reformation Day, a minor religious festival. Some families, churches, and religious schools combine the holidays.

Halloween Costumes
Halloween costumes are outfits worn on October 31st, the day of Halloween. Halloween is a modern day holiday (spun off of the Gaelic/Druidic/Pagan holiday of Samhain (in Christian times, the eve of All Saints Day). Originally a day to remember the dead by celebrating the darker and more gruesome side of human existence, celebrants would dress as their deceased relatives. It has now become a very commercialized celebration. Because of this, popular costumes are often mass manufactured and sold in specialty stores.

What sets Halloween costumes apart from costumes for other celebrations or days of dressing up is that they are often designed to be gruesome or scary. Popular monsters of legend or fiction are regular themes for Halloween costumes, as are pop culture figures like presidents, film or television characters.

Halloween Parties : How to Throw Spook-Tacular Soirees and Frighteningly Festive Entertainments (Paperback)