Cons: too much advertising, articles are not interesting and not worth buying the magazine for.
The Bottom Line: It simply isn't worth the $3.50 per issue. The only reason I am subscribed is because it was free. There is too much advertising and not very interesting articles.
pisces61's Full Review: Elle Magazine Subscription
A while back I ran across a web site that was offering free magazine subscriptions. From the limited number of choices, I decided to go with Elle magazine. I had never read this one before and assumed it was like Cosmopolitan or Glamour, which I really like. Boy, did I make the wrong choice.
The latest magazine, March 2001, came the other day. It is thick, approximately 515 pages, so I figured there had to be some interesting articles in it. I thought it would keep me busy for a few days. I was wrong, it took all of about 15-30 minutes to get through the entire book.
Here is my experience:
Turned first page, advertising. Kept turning... more advertising. After flipping through 17 pages, I finally reached the first page of the Table of Contents. Fashion, Beauty & Fitness, Features, some things look interesting. Like I do with most books, I just flip from the front to the back, stopping at the articles and interesting parts. Well, after flipping so many pages my arm was getting sore, I finally reached a full article on page 175. Too bad it didn't interest me, but it was a start. Most (and I emphasize MOST) of the pages are advertisements for places I've never heard of, with numerous photo's of naked women, breasts completely exposed. (Hmm... maybe this is really a man's magazine.) Now I am not saying anything derogatory about exposing the female body, it really is beautiful and the ads are in good taste, but really, do we ever see this much of a man exposed? It is a woman's magazine, so I doubt the main reason they are picking up the book is to see this kind of thing.
Most of the articles are fashion related. I am not big into fashion, especially the magazine type. I rarely see any clothing in these magazines that normal people would wear. I am a stay-at-home-mom, what use do I really have for fishnet stockings and bright metallic skirts? Plus, the ads really aren't targeted to me, like I said before, I have never heard of most of these places.
The only good part
In all honesty, the only thing that I found truly interesting and fun to read was "Ask E. Jean." This is basically a witty sex and relationship Question and Answer section. I have to say, out of all the Q&A's I've read from other magazines, this one made me laugh the most. E. Jean tells it flat out how it is. Before the questions is even a little note saying: "Dolls! The following sex problems are almost too knotty, too tasteless, too impossible to even contemplate. In fact, I make it a rule never to tangle with the topic except when I'm confined to the house by a sharp attack of not having sex myself. But some of us should get some action, so read on..." Seriously, this is the only section that I would really be interested in reading, it's just too funny to pass up. But I would never spend the $3.50 to actually buy it at the bookstand. Even though this book is thick, I can honestly say you would get more interesting and useful articles out of Cosmo or Glamour, so stick with them.
So overall, I have to say I do not recommend this magazine (unless, of course, you are one of the few living a high-style fashion model/movie star type of life in a big city, lol)... but I'm giving it 2 stars instead of just one thanks to Ms. E. Jean. =)
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