Read with caution! Beware depressing stories! (Take A Break)

Member Name: carlz2001uk

Product:	Take A Break
Date:	14/11/09 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good stories

Disadvantages: Depressing!

My gran lives in a nursing home, and with little to do to pass her time each day, she methodically gets my grandad to buy every single weekly magazine for her each week. Bless her heart, she then saves each and every single one of these magazines for me and gives me a massive pile each time I go to visit! Awww!

I can honestly say that if I didn't get Take A Break magazine's given, I would probably have never bought one myself. I just assumed (and no offense to anyone who buys them!) that they were for old women! I was actually quite surprised that I enjoyed reading them, and look forward to receiving my stock pile every month or so. The magazine itself is actually quite depressing to read and I have burst into tears many a time after reading stories about ill babies/children, while my husband just shakes his head at me and asks why I bother reading it, and to be honest, I'm not sure! Just to give you an example, I'm going to list the stories that are in the issue I have to hand (issue 20)...'The phantom rapist of Grimsby' a story about two women making fake reports to police about being raped, 'Mum's treasure in a teacup' a story of a brave mum of five children who looses her battle against cancer, 'I can still have fun Mummy' a story about a three year old battling cancer, 'If you love me, then you'll leave me' the story of a woman's jealous lover who kills her because he can't have her to himself. So, as you can tell, this magazine really is not cheerful to read at all, but it is quite addictive, and you want to carry on reading. Of course, these are the main stories, so there are other parts to the magazine which are a little bit chirpier, but it is a little bit depressing!

The other sections to the magazine include the first double page where readers can send in their pictures of absolutely anything (usually loads of cute babies, and people getting married!), and each picture used will bag the sender £100 - not bad! There is also a section called the brainwaves roadshow, which I always like having a look at which gives readers handy tips, there are also a lot of competitions in the magazine with prizes ranging from holidays, cash and computers. The section which I always skip through is the heart beat section which basically answers medical questions, and gives tips about looking out for certain symptoms. I'm only 26, and would describe myself as quite healthy, but for someone who is elderly and doesn't have access to the internet or other sources of information, I think this is a great way for them to find out snippits of information about things to look out for and ways to keep themselves healthy.

There is also the usual fashion pages, which seem to mandatory in every magazine in the land, and there is a cookery section which every now and then covers cooking on a budget, which is perfect for families. There is also a beauty problem page as well as a standard problem page, as well as weekly horoscopes.

Overall, a great magazine, but don't read if you or a family member are having a rough patch or you'll just feel suicidal!

Summary: 4 stars