I Am Becoming the Woman I've Wanted

by Sandra Martz

I Am Becoming the Woman I?ve Wanted, the latest in the series of best-selling anthologies (When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple and If I Had My Life to Live Over I would Pick More Daisies), delves into the sometimes hidden and always powerful feelings that women have about their bodies. In the emotionally evocative style that characterizes Martz's previous collections, this book explores coming of age, sexuality, child-birth, physical power, menopause, aging, and much more. This is more than just another book about body image. Using her talent for bringing together extraordinary stories, poems, and photographs about women's lives, editor Sandra Martz explores the broader question of how the physical aspects of being female affect women's experiences. This best-selling anthology will have women reading and thinking and sharing for a long time.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Womens Studies, Anthologies, Feminism

218 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Sandra Kay Martz founded Papier-Mache Press in 1984. Papier-Mache Press was known for publishing accessible books which, “presented important social issues through enduring works of beauty, grace, and strength,” and “created a bridge of understanding between the mainstream audience and those who might not otherwise be heard. As an editor and publisher, she has compiled several successful Papier-Mache Press anthologies including If I Had My Life to Live Over I Would Pick More Daisies, and I Am Becoming the Woman I’ve Wanted, a book that explores the powerful feelings women have about their bodies.

Reviews

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I did not like it as much as the other ones in the series though. There are a lot of heavy topics here, in regards to women’s bodies - rape, miscarriages, infertility. Might have been a bit too much focus on private areas for my liking. Still worth a read. As with the others in this series, I mostly only read the poems and can’t speak for the stories.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the "smaltzy" title, I liked this collection of short stories and poems. It was a birthday gift to me 22 years ago, and I had intended to give it to a younger friend. [Katie] Then I decided to reread it before I gave it away. Why give it away, you may wonder? I cleaned out book shelves in July, a task the must be done every 1-2 years.

The entries focused on all stages of a woman's life. I liked thinking back to who I was before I became who I am.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

[Mary Banken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of poetry, prose, and photos that celebrates the stages of life for women... A good book to have on your shelf when it's a snowy afternoon and you are musing about what has been and what has yet to be.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift from my baby sister. She is a poet and a renaissance woman. I enjoyed this anthology.

[d4]

I can't relate to all the menopause writings (yet) or giving birth (eww), but the first half of the book contains some writings that appealed to me. Not bad, yo.