You look so good for your age; an anthology

by Rona Altrows (Editor)

"I returned to the same respiratory therapist for my annual checkup. I told her that her words to me, 'You look good for your age,' had inspired a book. 'Wow!' she said. 'You wrote a whole book about that?' 'Twenty-nine kick-ass writers wrote it,' I said. She gave me a thumbs up." From the Preface This is a book about women and ageism. There are twenty-nine contributing writers, ranging in age from their forties to their nineties. Through essays, short stories, and poetry, they share their distinct opinions, impressions, and speculations on aging and ageism and their own growth as people. In these thoughtful, fierce, and funny works, the writers show their belief in women and the aging process. Rona Altrows, Debbie Bateman, Moni Brar, Maureen Bush, Sharon Butala, Jane Cawthorne, Joan Crate, Dora Dueck, Cecelia Frey, Ariel Gordon, Elizabeth Greene, Vivian Hansen, Joyce Harries, Elizabeth Haynes, Paula E. Kirman, Joy Kogawa, Laurie MacFayden, JoAnn McCaig, Wendy McGrath, E.D. Morin, Lisa Murphy Lamb, Lorri Neilsen Glenn, Olyn Ozbick, Roberta Rees, Julie Sedivy, Madelaine Shaw-Wong, Anne Sorbie, Aritha van Herk, Laura Wershler

Genres: Short Stories, Poetry, Essays, Memoir

294 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Renay Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the idea of this book which is a collection of stories and poems about women and aging. Some, I really liked and then others didn’t resonate as much for me. I would rate it 3.5.

[Luise · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all collections, some parts resonated more than others. My favourite author in this anthology is Julie Sedivy. A sample of her gems:
"Attention is a gift bestowed by mortality."
"I still seek comfort in statistics, but there is always a part of me that knows - whether waking or dreaming - that death now walks in the same spaces I do, brushing against the hem of my skirt or touching the clothing of someone I love."

[Alberta Views Magazine]

The title of this anthology edited by Calgary writer Rona Altrows echoes a backhanded compliment that sparked a deep dive into Altrows’s ambivalence about aging and frustration with the gendered pathology of systemic ageism. Altrows reached out to 29 writers identifying as women in their middle to advanced age, a call that resulted in this engaging collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

The best writing wrestles with existential questions of identity in the context of aging. Sharon Butala’s unsentimental, even forensic examination of her evolving reaction to the diagnosis of inevitable vision loss engages the tradition of the personal essay, from Montaigne to Didion. Butala’s clear, nuanced prose artfully carries the drama of a profoundly self-aware writer interrogating her stoic vulnerability amid the growing awareness that aging grinds away one’s sense of exceptionalism: “Now I too—wonderful me!—could go legally blind like anyone else.”

Review by Jannie Edwards
Full review at https://albertaviews.ca/look-good-age...

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I returned to the same respiratory therapist for my annual checkup. I told her that her words to me, ‘You look good for your age,’ had inspired a book. ‘Wow!’ she said. ‘You wrote a whole book about that?’ ‘Twenty-nine kick-ass writers wrote it,’ I said.
She gave me a thumbs up.”

I was really attracted to this title for its discussion of age - a topic and conversation which is sadly so neglected..

This anthology collates pieces by 29 different writers, of various ages and covering many different aspects of ageing from health, relationships, careers..

As with any anthology there were pieces that I absolutely loved and ones that I didn’t…but on the whole the experience was illuminating and, as an older woman, I felt visible, less isolated ..listening to voices expressing similar experiences and attitudes ..

The writing that particularly fascinated me were pieces by indigenous women - a woman walking through the streets at night; the death and memorial of a lady who had been attacked as a child; and a woman who takes part in a health trial relating to the effects of ageing..

The collection was full of wisdom and insight, ‘My enemy is not ageing at all it’s the fear of it’ and humour, ‘The absolute and inalienable right to be cranky’. Although this does talk about death, physical and mental deterioration I did not find it depressing I found it enlightening…

I think that this worked really well on audiobook because it felt like conversations…but I think ideally it would have worked better with multiple narrators.

With many thanks to University of Alberta Press and Netgalley for a digital copy of this audiobook.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is an exceptional collection of poignant essays, poems, and short stories from incredible women. Although it is from the point of view of women over 40 (in most cases over 60) the messages are age and gender transcendent. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It's high time we stopped considering women past 40 as used up, unnecessary, or in the way, while men over 40 are seen as well-seasoned, vital, and wise. It's time we stopped those that identify as women from thinking old is a dirty word or a bad thing that they must prevent from happening to them at all cost.

My only critique would be that I wish there had been more than one narrator so the transition from piece to piece would have flown better.

This was refreshing and hydrating. I highly recommend it to all adults past 25.

Thank you to Rona Altrows, University of Alberta Press, and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

[Jen Trinh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had so much to offer on the topic of aging as a woman. The hunger of infinity versus the zen of embracing an end. Romantic tension as a way to keep you feeling ageless and desired. The assumption that attractiveness is the same as health. Living to someone else's standard. So much more. It was a wonderful collection of stories and poems to help any woman know that she's not alone, that there's so much that's stupid and disempowering about this process, but that it doesn't have to be our problem. My only complaint is that there was only one narrator for the entire book, which meant that the works all kind of blended together, and there were a few that just weren't suited for audio format, like the satirical social media one that counted out all the exclamation points. A few of the stories were slow and hard to get into, but for the most part, I listened eagerly for more pearls of wisdom.

[Tweela S. Houtekamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of works by women, in poetry or short stories or essays, about their personal experience with aging. Some are humorous, some poignant, some address stereotypes about, expectations of and the invisibility of older women. All are thoughtful or provocative or uncomfortable and, as a collection, offer as many different persepctives on aging as there are contributors.
I loved this book. It will go on my bookshelf to be revisited again and again.

[Rae Simpson · Rating 2 out of 5]

CPL Interlib loan. University of Alberta Press. Collection of pieces commissioned by Altrows after medical technician said that phrase to her. Considered for LWN group, but hard to get and not compelling.

[Cesar F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it ! Very honest and deep testimonials that make you aware of a reality you do not always want to see

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jo Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley in return for an honest review, for which I’m very grateful.

This is a really poignant collection of works. Essays and poems and such like of woman of a certain age. It resonated fairly deeply, as I’m finding more and more that I “look good for my age 🫤” which is very much a slap from a velvet glove lol. The stories are all formed from woman like me over 40, although like my mammy mainly over 60. It’s pretty life affirming, aggravating and sad all in one Personal message, now that my mammy is well over 60 she’s just told she looks great……. I look forward to this lol. A good read, well put together and narrated really well.