Single Woman of a Certain Age: 29 Women Writers on the Unmarried Midlife: Romantic Escapades, Heavy Petting, Empty Nests, Shifting Shapes, and Serene

Book Overview

This timely book assembles a chorus of sophisticated, edgy, and humorous voices on the topic of being unmarried in one's prime. Far from being out to pasture, these writers zestily take on the challenges and enjoy the rewards of growing older as a single woman: sex (or not), occasional loneliness, single motherhood, second careers, menopause, critter comforts, and more. Joyce Maynard ("fifteen years divorced and pushing fifty with a short stick") tries online dating, Kathi Kamen Goldmark embraces her newly empty nest, Susan Griffin savors the joys of solo travel, Wendy Merrill dumps a younger lover to save her self-esteem, Diane Mapes prefers the joys of aunthood over motherhood, Ms. Gonick dates a sexy (if uneducated) cowboy, and Rachel Toor finally finds the perfect companion--and he has four legs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1577316649
• ISBN13: 9781577316640
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: New World Library
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Stories!

I found the honesty in this book to be very inspiring. I found both humor and sadness echoing my own experiences with navigating the single life as a woman in her late forties. It is a wonderful book in the sense that the truths to the stories are geniune and unique-- yet offer a sense of community with the single mid-life women like me. A great read!

Thought-provoking and painstakingly written

This book resonates with emotional intensity like those moments in real life when every emotion seems almost painfully bright. When you look inside and try to find answers to questions that make you uncomfortable. The book is deeply reassuring - full of honesty and humor. Its an easy read, one that will hold your attention and get your empathy.

The twenty-nine essays comprising Single Woman Of A Certain Age range from desperation to optimism

Compiled and edited by San Francisco journalist Jane Ganahl, Single Woman Of A Certain Age: 29 Women Writers On The Unmarried Midlife-Romantic Escapades, heavy Petty, Empty Nests, Shifting Shapes And Serene Independence address the challenges and rewards of growing older as a single woman. The contributors address such germane issues as sex, loneliness, motherhood, financial struggles, blossoming careers, menopause, and more. The twenty-nine essays comprising Single Woman Of A Certain Age range from desperation to optimism, from bad moods to good grace, from the glamorous to the mundane, all the while keeping a focus upon the benefits and travails of living solo in a coupled world. This is highly recommended, thoughtful and thought-provoking reading.

Women Entering Their Stride--and damn funny to boot

In Europe, women "of a certain age" are revered for their life experience, their sexiness, curves and elegant wrinkles. We forget this in our youth-obsessed culture, but this book reminds us why women in midlife are show-stoppingly truthful, witty, wry, beautiful, and powerful. I loved Susan Griffin's poetic travelogue; Cameron Tuttle's gravity-epiphany; Irene Sherlock's heart-wrenching (and familiar) reentry into the dating world; and the unforgettable Ms. Gonick and her cowboy! Almost all of the essays are excellent, though, representing different voices, experiences, and places we land in our lives. This book is a great gift to women.

A diverse collection on dating, identity and life for singles over 40

Although I am no longer single, I have often wondered what would happen and (like so many of the women in this book), I lost my spouse unexpectedly, jarring my usual lifestyle. Once the worst of the grief passed, hoow would life be different than when I was a youthful, idealistic 20 year old just starting out on my path in life, choosing my career and looking for a possible partner? How had I changed since then? How would that affect my life now? How would I forge a new identity, date, possibly open myself up to remarriage? I was also curious about how living as a single woman over 40 would compare to being single in one's 20s, when viewpoints (and, possibly, physical appearance) can be quite different from women who have aged, gone through several relationships and, as a result, possibly matured and grown wiser. This book didn't disappoint. While some selections were bittersweet, otherw were humorous, matter of fact or deeply honest. When I finished this book, I felt better for the experience. I also loved the fact that it can be picked up and read in sections, not having to go through it in any particular order. Several selections stood out but I particularly liked Joyce Maynard's account of an online dating experience with a guy who seened promising online but, in person, presented a much different personality than she expected, making a simple discussion over cup of Chai seem...painful and baffling. She portrays the baffling world that can confront women who bravely risk dating but with different perspectives than when they were younger. As I read her account, I felt like I was right there, living every uncomfortable and agonizing moment (but it was written with a light touch and parts were humorous). This is just one of many standout pieces in this collecton.