Book Review - Dancing at the Shame Prom

Dancing at the Shame Prom: Sharing the Stories That Kept Us Small

By: Amy Ferris & Hollye Dexter (Editors)
Publisher: Seal Press
Publishing Date: September 2012
ISBN: 978-1-5800-5416-4
Reviewed By: Amy Lignor
Review Date: October 4, 2012

Hell on Earth is a concept that has changed a bit; in fact, this is one woman who believes Hell is Earth. Come on…you already have the Seven Deadly Sins here in spades – you don’t need a pitchfork to make it the ‘bad’ place. What is amazing, however, about our world is the creativity that comes forth every once in a while. By adding that creativity to ‘absolute truth’ – which is a concept that has been thrown by the wayside - a fantastic duo of writers has improved the literary community by leaps and bounds with Dancing at the Shame Prom.

Amy Ferris, bestselling (AND DYNAMITE!) author of Marrying George Clooney and Confessions From a Midlife Crisis, has gotten together with Hollye Dexter, author of the memoir Only Good Things, to edit this fantastic ‘gift’ to the groups of readers out there who have been dying for a book that has no vampires (LOL) and is actually something they can all relate to.

This book of captivating, enchanting, sometimes frightening and tear-jerking essays is all about the issues women have with the monumental subject of shame. From the embarrassments of youth to the humiliation felt because of life’s un-stellar and confusing moments that we ALL share – whether it be in the categories of work, family, or any other life issue for that matter – the Shame Prom has it all. This is not only a healing type of book, people, believe me. Yes, in many cases it is therapeutic to say the least, but it also offers a wealth of kindness and humor that helps us shed the feelings of indignity or disgrace or humility and see ourselves for what we really are – confident, valuable women!

Issues that come from the political world or the bigoted world – from our sexual orientation all the way to the topics of hate, society’s rulings, our looks, religious views – everything weighs a person down unless they are able to see clearly to the fact that life is life – mistakes are mistakes – and what you believe, how you dress, who you love, and how nice your shoes are for a dinner party does NOT define who you are! And this powerful book makes sure that by the time you are done reading it, it not only becomes part of your most treasured collection, but it also doesn’t go on the bookshelf next to the ‘Harry Potter’ collection – it sits right by the bedside table so that each and every morning you are reminded that no matter what you do that day or what others say – shame is not something that you should EVER feel!

Quill Says: Life is funny – there are jokes everywhere – and only YOU can build that courage, that strength and that unbelievable power inside yourself by simply believing in yourself…and reading books like this! Bravo!