Tall: Love and Journalism in a Six-foot World

by Nancy Stancill

Nancy Stancill shot up to six feet as a shy young teenager and was alternately bullied and ignored because of her height. This wasn’t uncommon for girls growing up in the 1960s, when men considered tall women undesirable. She details how one woman had bone cut from her thighs to lose a couple of inches of height and others took hormones as preteens to stunt their growth. Stancill’s life began changing at the University of North Carolina and she came into her own as an investigative reporter in Houston and Charlotte, NC. After a failed engagement and another serious boyfriend, she meets the man of her dreams, who is two inches shorter. She marries him anyway.

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2020

About the author

Grew up in Radford Virginia. Graduated from University of North Carolina School of Journalism.
MFA from University of Tampa.

Worked as journalist for 38 years in Virginia, California, Texas and North Carolina.

My favorite newspaper job was investigative reporting for the Houston Chronicle and Charlotte Observer. Some of those experiences gave me ideas for my first book, Saving Texas. I wrote it living in London from 2009-2012. I wasn't working, so I had the time to write. I discoveered I loved crafting suspense novels and have written three, plus a memoir.

Deadly Secrets, which comes out in December 2024, is my first book set in North Carolina. Since much of it involves the mountain area, I'm donating half its proceeds to a hurricane Helene disaster fund.

Reviews

[Jerrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. You would expect a writer with decades of journalism experience as an investigative reporter, editor, and feature writer, including at The Charlotte Observer, plus penning two novels, would not offer something like this to the readers. There are typos, repetitive material, verb tense issue, incomplete sentence, use of this volume to tout in detail her two novels, not consistent in proper use of me instead of I as object of a preposition, etc. All of us have experienced teasing, bullying, angst, being unsure of ourselves, heartache, all the various pains of childhood and becoming teens, young, then older adults. But Nancy gets stuck on being taller than most (eventually six feet). She attains a successful career, has a husband who loves her dearly for decades, tries to accommodate everything she wants, their fine son, nice homes, travel, friends, etc. But she still whines about being tall. You have to move on and give it up eventually. Yes, I dated men of all heights, some athletes, most at least six feet tall, including 6'2" husband of 30 years, son 6'1", medium height daughter, two tall grandsons and two tall granddaughters (the youngest girl is so far 5'8 at 13). I always wished I were taller--more than my maximum of 5'2 3/4"--but didn't dwell on what I couldn't be. Now at a mere 106 lb., 5' due to osteoporosis, instead of "oh poor me," I just wait until someone who is tall enough comes down the grocery aisle and ask them if they would please get an item off the top shelf for me. I am grateful if they do, don't worry about it if they don't. No big deal. The important thing is to accept who you are, appreciate life, and be happy. And I'm also happy this book was free instead of taking money I cannot afford to lose.

[elena j. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tall: Love and Journalism in a Six-foot World by Nancy Stancill is a sharp, tender, and unexpectedly funny memoir about growing into yourself in a culture that keeps insisting you should be smaller. Beginning with the physical and emotional awkwardness of being a six-foot-tall girl in the 1960s, Stancill traces how something as simple as height can shape identity, confidence, relationships, and opportunity.

What makes this book work is how seamlessly it weaves the personal with the professional. Stancill’s evolution from a shy, self-conscious teenager into a respected investigative journalist mirrors her emotional growth. The newsroom becomes a second coming-of-age space, one where her voice, instincts, and persistence finally find room to stand upright.

The cultural context adds weight. The pressure placed on tall girls to literally alter their bodies, through surgery or hormones, is both shocking and illuminating, grounding the memoir in a time when women’s worth was openly tied to physical conformity. Stancill writes about this without bitterness, but with clarity, allowing the absurdity and harm of those norms to speak for themselves.

At its heart, Tall is a story about refusing to shrink. About claiming space, professionally and personally, and redefining desirability, success, and happiness on your own terms. For readers who enjoy memoirs about identity, womanhood, career, and quiet rebellion, this is a deeply satisfying and affirming read.

[Neel Stallings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about Nancy Stancill’s challenges with being tall. I could absolutely relate. At almost 5’10” by age 13 and growing up around the same period, I experienced many of these same issues and feelings. I envied the short, cute girls who attracted all of the guys and seemed to have so much fun. Also, I was athletic, which wasn’t popular either. I am so grateful that our culture now values tall, athletic women, and I hate that I am starting to shrink in my 70’s!

Having worked with Nancy at The Charlotte Observer for a few years, I was well aware of her excellent investigative journalism skills. It was particularly interesting to read about her background before I knew her.

Thank you for your intriguing, well-written books, Nancy. I hope there are more to come.

[Nancy Metz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Stancill’s Tall: Love and Journalism in a Six-Foot World is an enjoyable read on many levels. Fans of the memoir genre will appreciate this engaging first-person narrative of growing up tall in the 1960s when parents sometimes sought “treatment” for their daughters’ alarming growth spurts. Subsequent chapters map the process by which Stancill came to terms with her “six-foot world,” ultimately launching herself into a successful career as an investigative journalist. A highlight of the memoir for me was the story of how she got the stories behind her most dramatic cases, including an exciting, well-paced account of a consequential corruption case in higher education.

[Daniel P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tall by Nancy Stancill is a great book, well written, captivating and entertaining. The book is an account of Stancill’s personal life, experiences and the challenges faced as a tall woman—in school, at work and socially. But Stancill doesn’t simply tell us about the issues and challenges, she helps us understand how she persevered and often used her stature to her advantage. Further, she gives us the gift of introspection—she writes, 'I've known in my heart that there's little connection in my height to most of life's opportunities and disappointments, but at my lowest points of self-esteem, I tended to find fault with my tallness.' There is an important lesson here, one illustrated throughout the book. Stancill faced challenges with height, but also with fear, gender issues and family expectations. And she gives us examples of how she overcame adversity with each throughout her interesting life and successful career in journalism.

[Sally Ziemba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Nancy Stancill’s account of her life, from family of origin through coming-of-age to professional and personal adulthood. Her path through life is interesting and varied, but always colored for her by her awareness of being tall. The stories of her career in journalism were of particular interest. Her comments about striving for recognition as a female in the second half of the twentieth century were on point. Reflections about growing into her craft as a reporter, an editor and a novelist show a keen awareness of self.

[Bruce Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tall Girl Problems

I liked this book but gave it 4-stars because the narrative is so oriented away from tallness and more focused on Ms. Stancill’s journalists career. Although her story is compelling, that’s not why I acquired the book. I was looking more along the lines if the final chapter - stories and experiences about tall women and professionally written. Regardless, I would still read this book because it is interesting and follows career development for a young, special woman. I’ll probably give a copy to one of my granddaughters.

[Judy Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In journalist Nancy Stancill’s masterful hands, this memoir about the struggles and satisfactions, bonuses and betrayals of being a very tall woman is not only wonderfully absorbing; it is also instructive. Whether you’re a six-footer or you top off at five feet, the book is a reminder that how you measure yourself is more of a determiner of your success and well-being than any measure on a yardstick. Stancill gets it just right. Tall is a glorious book, fully alive.

[Sharen J Sleater · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all works out in the end!

I chose this rating because I felt a connection with the main character. Back in the 50's and 60's I was considered tall at only 5'8" . Whenever my Mother and I were out somewhere, people thought we were sisters. I was tall and she was short (5'2" ). I was always self-conscious and not graceful at all. I am so glad I got over it and became comfortable in myself.

[Donna Koros Stramella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Stancill’s memoir details her struggles and ultimate triumph as a tall woman. The book takes us on Stancill’s journey, from her younger years, to college, to her journalism career. As her life progresses, she begins to see her height as a useful attribute. TALL is an excellent read with valuable life lessons!

[Judy Nies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good read for anyone who has ever felt they didn't fit in, with their friends, their family, their colleagues. And who hasn't? The author not only overcomes her feelings of inadequacy, she succeeded in a world dominated by men who didn't expect women to ask impertinent, but important, questions.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A memoir about growing up as a 6' woman in the 1960s when being tall was considered a deficit in women. As a 6'2" woman myself, I always find these types of stories interesting to read. It also talks a lot abut her career in journalism.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading how Nancy Stancill found love and became an investigative reporter in a memoir that revolves around being tall in a world that often prefers short women.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy has written a compelling personal story in a very easy to read writing style. Don't we all have an attribute we at some point fretted over but then found cause to celebrate. For Nancy, that is the story of Tall! Brava!!