Customer Reviews

The Fabulous Girl's Guide to Decorum

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I was more than disappointed with the purchase of this "decorum" book. There was nothing that even resembled etiquette in the pages. Instead, I was appalled as I read line after line encouraging intercourse with one's boss, interns, employees and basically anyone else that one might meet on the street. Even as a current college student, I've never met anyone with standards this low. There are portions entitled "The 10 commandments of infidelity", I'm sure that a well-mannered woman understands the emotional pain that extra-marital affairs cause to children and to the spouses involved and would not willingly inflict that pain on another, yet the book states, "Cheaters never prosper- unless they follow the infidelity commandments". The ten commandments state that one should practice lying in the mirror so she can become convincing. There is also a portion (the title is too inappropriate to be given) that tells women that it is "absolutely essential" to have a couple guy friends that you call over just for having sex. There is a certain dichotomy as to use of expletives. The book states that a woman should be careful of her speech- yet the book is filled with deplorable rubbish that would make a sailor blush. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone as it would not be a stretch of the imagination to see this book as offensive to some, if not most. I can recommend several other modern etiquette books which are witty as well as intelligent and do not endorse the prostituting of ones body as a means of advancing (or liberating)her life. There was nothing of true intellect anywhere within this book. I have now discovered the difference between being a Lady and being a "Fabulous Girl". I would say that Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel and Jackie Onassis were in fact Ladies, and while they were fabulous- they were not women that a book such as this would produce.

As another review had already stated, don't let the cover fool you. This is exactly how I was sucked in. I took this book home and upon reading the first few pages, I realized it just wasn't for me. I just don't buy into their definitions of decorum, female empowerment, or plain reality. To summarize this book: "Appearance is important whether you agree or not, so shave your legs regularly and always be sure to wear flimsy underwear (or none at all) so you can impess men in the event of a one night stand!" To quote my sister, this was basically a loooooong issue of Cosmo.

What is a Fabulous Girl? She's Holly Golightly without the baggage and the hick ex-husband -- smart, funny, sexy and sympathetic. She's also the subject of "The Fabulous Girl's Guide to Decorum," an amusing but unbalanced mix of tongue-in-cheek goofing and etiquette lessons.

Kim Izzo and Ceri Marsh take a look at the life of the Fabulous Girl (hereafter called "FG"): Her career (how to dress for job interviews, how to deal with low-dignity "Jill Jobs"), society (the noveau riche, when to applaud), friendship, sex and dating (why you should not date a rocker), couplehood, weddings and divorce (on eloping: "Remember, there's nothing more chic than running away and coming back married"), and how to entertain.

If chick-lit came in nonfiction form, this would be it. Lots of stuff about love lives, pals (male and female) and jobs, with cutesy codewords ("Jill Job" is a I-do-it-just-for-the-money job). And it's definitely not Miss Manners. There's less focus on which fork to use than there is on proper workplace manners, or how to support your buddies.

Hidden under the froth are some genuinely good tips. Izzo and Marsh give plenty of pointers about how to conduct yourself with sophistication and style, even in an embarrassing situation. They also draw out the lines when it comes to chivalry (how should a guy help a woman into a cab?) and little details for the 21st century like when it's rude to talk on a cell phone.

That isn't to say that "Guide" has its Manolo-shod feet on the ground. The chapter on sleeping with one's boss made me squirm, as did anything having to do with flings and the obnoxious "Bingo." What's more, the description of FGs as being "smart" didn't quite fit in, since the sort of chic urban life they talk about seems to require "savvy" rather than "smarts."

"The Fabulous Girl's Guide To Decorum" is a bit confused as to whether it's an etiquette guide or a tongue-in-cheek nonfiction chick-lit. But this amusing book may offer some pointers to women seeking to be "Fabulous Girls" on all walks of life.

This book was a total waste of money. You can find more interesting and useful information in an issue of Marie Claire or Allure. Very disappointing.

The authors start out well with a description of 9-to-5 drudgery and how to handle it. Just as they introduce other characters you begin to think things will get interesting. This is more than your typical how-to-be-polite guide, as there is a narrative that almost seems to go somewhere. However this unusal trick is ruined by self-concious, pretentious "kicky" language. Almost every male character is referred to as "Bingo", which grows tired after the first chapter.
I collect ettiquitte books and didn't mind spending the money to have this one in my collection, if only for the unique approach. If you're looking for a reliable reference I'd look elsewhere.

If being a Fabulous Girl means sleeping around, putting style above substance, lying on your resume "the right way", being shallow and snarky in general, etc., count me out. These authors are so off the mark it's embarrassing. Or maybe it was all a big joke. I think the joke's on them, though. I can't see anyone admiring people who are responsible for this book, except for perhaps the slimiest cretins. I normally donate books I don't like, or resell them; this is the first book I've ever read -- and I've read a lot -- that I am literally going to burn so that no one else has the misforunate of reading it. Absolute trash that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy.

This book doesn't offer much advice at all. In fact, I was so annoyed when the author kept on referring to Mr. Groovy Guy that I honestly wondered why it was ever published. Clearly, the authors could have written a more classy novel that women actually WANT to read.

DON'T buy this book. It's the worst book I've attempted to read in a long time. It's so bad, it's the ONLY book I haven't finished reading in the past five years. I couldn't even get past the second chapter. The so-called 'tips' in this novel are blatantly obvious and sometimes misinformed. I concur with the reader who stated in her review she could get more information out of an issue of Marie Claire. I wasted my money on this book, you shouldn't have to. The bad reviews speak for themselves, do yourself a favor and just keep walking if you see it at the bookstore.....

I thought this book was atrocious. The catchy cover lured me, like many others,into thinking it really would be a book about elegance, class, and style. Instead, it was merely a book teaching one to say "please" and "thank you" before and after a one-night stand. The "advice" that these women (I refuse to say ladies) gives is to have casual sex with married men: "If, for example, she does not wish for commitment, but only for sex, then the married man is perfect," and that divorce is good "There is something infinitely sexy about a divorcee." Granted, things happen, but divorce when between people who actually take marriage seriously, is certainly not sexy and usually devestating. They also tell you of ways to behave in bed, which is none of their business and should not be spoken of by decourous ladies. If you want to read a real guide on decorum or etiquette, I would suggest Emily Post or Miss Manners. For a more modern etiquette book, the Etiquette Grrls. Although one reviewer remarked that the "Fabulous Girl's" had refinement without the Etiquette Grrl's snobbishness, perhaps one could say the EG's have all the refinement, elegance, grace, and wit without the promiscuity, immorality, and crassness so consistent with the FG's. One should always try to err on the conservative side rather than risk looking like a prostitute or call-girl, even at the risk of seeming to be "stuck-up". And yes, you are loose if you have sex with the boss. If one won't avoid this practice for moral reasons then one should at least for practicality. Don't waste your money on this book, or support the authors.

I have nothing against the morality found in this book. It's just difficult to see the purpose of it. [A]ll the information that you can get here is found in the fashion mags, and the latter are by far more entertaining and informative. This was also the most poorly written book i've *ever* read. I found the tone to be condescending, smarmy and humorless. ...