Customer Reviews

Just a Note to Say . . .: The Perfect Words for Every Occasion

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At first I thought this might be too simplistic a guide to social and personal notes, then I found myself getting choked up in the chapter on "Writing Notes for Difficult Moments." The author is straightforward, friendly, and sensible, and she blends sensitivity with emotion in just the right mix, facing illness, AIDS, cancer, and impending death with clarity and compassion. She also gives snappy suggestions for graduation, holiday, and congratulatory notes, and devotes additional attention to writing to children and teenagers. The book gives such heartfelt, meaningful examples of short notes that if you keep a copy on your writing desk you need never be at a loss for words again.

This book is an invaluable tool to anyone who cherishes the art of letter-writing. It offers sincere and effective ways of addressing a wide variety of situations from thank you notes to letters of sympathy. It has literaly saved me hours of letter writing time!

Ideas for writing notes - and even letters, can be found in this wonderfully heart-warming book by Florence Isaacs. We are given suggestions on what to write for the Holidays, for cancer and AIDS patients and their families, for condelences, births, etc. Every possible social situation is covered, including all types of religious Holidays. The artwork was designed by Hallmark, the "card people". A very cosy book, just for those cold winter afternoons when you don't know what to say or write in your correspondence.

I wanted less ideas and more actual words to write in cards. If I have to think it up myself, why do I need a book? I'm already thinking it up myself now. I wanted something more like lists of choices of things to say in cards for each occasion. This book gives a few for each occasion. Not enough, in my opinion.

Although the sample notes were very good, they could have incorporated many more samples instead of the How To's and Scenario Set-ups necessitating the Notes.

Written by a past president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, there is a new (updated and expanded) volume of this little book informing us on the importance of sending personal notes and giving ideas of how to go about it. "There are certain general guidelines which apply to every occasion." The right words are readily accessible if you know how to find them.

"Good notes are gestures to celebrate, commemorate, and nuture relationships between people. They're about connecting and communicating and saying "I care." Quotations can be used to make a significant statement for the send, but it's important to choose those which suits the occasion or person and reflects you as well. "It's not what you say; it's how you say it." Limit advice. Give it only of it means something and represents wisdom gleaned from your own experience.

"When you write...there is an enormous sense of satisfaction. You feel 'when I write, I speak a whole different language...it's as if a poetic part of me seems to spill out." You don't have to write a lot to say a lot. This communications etiquette expert includes forms to use for sympathy notes, celebrations (consider the occasion) and notes just to say "You touched my life."

We're all human and make mistakes. "A quick, sincere apology can soothe hurt feelings, heal a rift, and strengthen your relationship." Apology is a good device to free the person who offers it, but it must be accepted by the person you may have offended. "It's best to apologize in person, on the phone, or in a note in the mail. But...e-mail is okay." It removes the awkwardness of apologizing, acts as a "buffer" and allows the writer to say exactly what is neeeded without interruption."

Florence Isaacs gives proper protocol for e-mail and the occasions when it is accepted. She has also written BUSINESS NOTES: PERSONAL NOTES THAT BUILD PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES, and HERE'S TO YOU (TOAST OR TRIBUTE), 2002. The 2005 edition of this handbook has just been made available. If you need a bit of help saying the right thing at the right time, check this one out.

This book gives some good ideas on what to say on certain occasions. I wanted something that would give me some ideas on what to add to a greeting card to make it a little more meaningful and this book is helpful for that.

I have this book myself, and I just purchased a copy for a friend. Much of the information is common sense, but it is great for inspiration. It was a great help when I was filling out our wedding thank-you cards.

Purchasing a used book, I realized I could receive a book in just about any condition. However, I was surprised to pay $9.01 for a book with a $1.99 price tag.

The book is not bad but not as in depth like I was hoping for it is good for a younger person who should start writing there own thank you notes and letters.