Marilyn Monroe: Your Personal Fashion Consultant

by Rod Lott

41jdgLK9UjL._SL500_AA240_Marilyn Monroe: Your Personal Fashion Consultant Michael Feder and Karan Feder

Despite being dead, cinema’s all-time sex symbol apparently is farming out her style know-how. Just check out MARILYN MONROE: YOUR PERSONAL FASHION CONSULTANT by Michael Feder and Karan Feder. It’s part of Abrams Image’s “Punch Out and Play!” series.

That’s a catchy way of saying “paper dolls.” On sturdy cardstock pages, you get image after image of a head-to-toe Marilyn, each in a different outfit: a swimsuit, a potato sack, a nightie, that SEVEN-YEAR ITCH dress, that shape-hugging gold dress (shiver) and more.

There are stands in the back so one can display these full-color, pint-sized Marilyn standees (although I’m not entirely sure who’d want to). Each is adorned with a winking caption to tie it to the theme (“Always dress as if you’re ready to ride a stallion”), and that’s all there is to it. Nicely designed, the book can’t be reviewed any more than that — either you’re into this sort of thing, or you’re not. —Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.

Happy Birthday, Bookgasm!

Today my husband’s pop fiction website turns 3 today, marked by the debut of a new logo reflecting its brand. I recall when Rod first told me he was starting a book review site I said something along the lines of – why would you want to do that? Do you have time? And, lastly, does it pay anything? And the name? I was appalled. You can’t name it that. You know – really supportive stuff. But as a bookworm myself, I understood the desire for free brand spankin’ new books, and he’s always been a really good reviewer, one of his greatest strength as a journalist. When I started staying home two years ago, I realized it’s like Christmas every day at our house – UPS, FedEx and the USPS make daily visits with packages. I gotta admit I got kinda jealous. Especially since he doesn’t review the books I prefer to read.  He said, “start one yourself.” Ha! I had to have an idea I loved as much as Rod loves his, so it took me awhile to think of one. Yet, nearly three years later I took the plunge, not only because I like Christmas packages all throughout the year with my name on them, but because I love to promote great books and wanted to build the community of writers and readers. I’m glad I did, and I have – oh god I’m gonna say it – bookgasm to thank for it. I’m very proud of Rod and his team of reviewers – for the web site’s quality, growth and commitment to excellence. And I’m woman enough to admit I was wrong about the name. It’s perfect for the site. – Malena Lott