Style, Sex, and Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider the Things that Really Matter [Paperback]

Hallie Lord (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2012

Who is to say who the authentic Catholic woman is?

And how do the perils and pitfalls of modern society impact that vision?

Here is a fresh look at life from the perspective of ten Catholic women who live in the spotlight of the Internet -- ten bloggers who keep it real every day with their personal posts relating their triumphs, trials, and temptations for all to see.

In the same way, nothing is off limits in Style, Sex, & Substance. Each of these women brings a refreshingly open and humorous perspective to growing in faith and improving their relationship with Christ.

Enjoy real stories, real struggles, and best of all, real faith and trust that God will bring out the best in all circumstances -- whether in the family room, the bedroom, or at work.

Contributors include:
--Hallie Lord
--Jennifer Fulwiler
--Danielle Bean
--Rachel Balducci
--Simcha Fisher
--Anna Mitchell
--Barbara Nicolosi
--Rebecca Teti
--Elizabeth Duffy
--Karen Edmisten

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612785727
• ISBN-13: 978-1612785721
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When not corralling her five small children or flirting with her husband, Hallie Lord is a freelance writer, frequent radio guest, and style consultant. You can find her online at her popular blog, MoxieWife.com, where she writes about marriage.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Eminently readable, but not the least bit fluffy March 7, 2012

By Mom of 4

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This Lent, I'd been looking for a fresh take on the spiritual life to try to get refocused and re-energized. Thanks to my Kindle, I was able to snag this wonderful little volume on the first day it was out. It has turned out to be just what I was looking for. It's a delightful collection of essays that I'm finding inspiring and humorous, but also challenging to my "status quo". Because each essay stands alone, it works well with the fact that my only reading time is usually a few minutes right before bed. While the essays are readable, they're definitely not vapid, feel-good pablum. I've found each essay thought-provoking in a different way, and I appreciate the questions for reflection at the end of each one.

All in all, a wonderful collection from a group of fine writers.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for men as well as women March 31, 2012

By Kelly P.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I recently read Style, Sex and Substance, a book featuring short essays about...style, sex and substance from ten Catholic women. The contributors will be familiar to anyone familiar with the Catholic blogosphere and include the likes of Hallie Lord, Jennifer Fulwiler, Simcha Fisher, Daniel Bean and Barabara Nicolosi. There essays confront important issues like how to approach sex (yes, with your spouse), what it means to be a Catholic woman in the world today and how to engage the culture we live in. For those who picture Catholics as having a bunker mentality, they will be surprised Without giving anything away, these essays do not encourage the exclusive use of the missionary position, treating the house like a cloistered convent or engaging the culture by throwing rosaries at passers by. No, these women are frank, honest, modern and deeply committed to the teachings of the Church. They are each in their own way models for the Catholic women of today. Not that they set themselves up as perfect. In fact, they are perfectly clear about how hard it is to find a balance in life and that doing so with five kids throwing their shows at each other in the minivan is even harder.
And yeah, I'm a guy and still enjoyed the book. For the most part, all of the advice in it would apply just as for men if you swap out the word "husband" and replace it with "wife."
And that brings me to my last point. The guys who write books for Catholic men could take a hint or two from these ladies. Don't be afraid to be funny for one. Yeah, it's cool to use the imagery of knighthood and battle, call us to imitation of St. Joseph and all that. Heck I'm a particular sucker for the knighthood imagery but it only goes so far. Make a good joke! About family life and the kids. Yes, you can just wind up complaining and that isn't a good thing but it doesn't mean we need to hide the fact that living out the Church's teaching is a pain in the neck sometimes. And for crying out loud, not every guy on the planet thinks sports is the most important thing in life after God and family. I may rank it in the top ten but it's near the bottom of that list.
In any case, no matter if you are a man or woman you should get this book. Even if you aren't Catholic, but are curious about what real Catholic women think about how real life and faith intertwine, you should get this book.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars As Fresh as the Title Suggests March 12, 2012

By MightyMighty

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I cannot believe how good this book is. The writers are funny, warm, concise, and bring a wealth of wisdom to their topics. The study questions at the end of each essay could be used to take one's "temperature" in life. The writers are NOT fake and unbelievably perfect. They don't point to tiny faults so that we'll think they have no larger ones. The writers come from diverse backgrounds and approach common problems with such compassion for themselves and their readers. You can feel how seriously they take the task of offering advice to other people; there is no arrogance, just a prayerful, peaceful offering of what they have learned.

Something that I love about this book is how realistic the writers' descriptions of themselves and their faults are. Some bloggers give one the sense that their lives are an endless stream of crafts and novenas, or constant chaos that somehow stays funny. These women have been so open about what really goes on in their lives: the good, the bad, the so-so.

This is a book that can help you if you're looking for some encouragement on your path, want to be more comfortable in your own skin, and want to better understand all that God calls women to do. It doesn't hurt that there are plenty of funny, interesting passages too.

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