In the Fullness of Time: 32 Women on Life After 50

by Emily W. Upham

In the Fullness of Time is a collection of essays, poems, interviews, and photographs that speak to the experience of aging— the joys, the rewards, and the losses.








Abigail Thomas

Vivian Gornick

Carolyn See

Linda Gravenson

Claire Bloom

Susan Schneider

Elizabeth Frank

Jenny Allen

Laura Furman

Gail Godwin

Katherine B. Weissman

Jane Alexander

Ntozake Shange

Laura Siegel



Frances Itani

Martha Fay

Laurie Stone

Tina Howe

Sharon Olds

Erica Jong

Dr. Christiane Northrup

Helena María Viramontes

Beth Powning

Joan Nicholson

Jane O’Reilly

Marta Caals Istomin

Andrea Marcusa

Paula Fox

Gretchen Haight

Emily W. Upham

Margaret Howe Freydberg

Edna O’Brien

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction

276 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2010

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that is an interesting read for those of us who are going both boldly and uncertainly into our 50's and beyond. I really appreciated the insights shared by these women.

[Terri Durling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued as it's a book about where I am now in my own life - life after 50 (or should I say, 60) and it is always interesting to know how others feel about different passages in their lives. For the most part, I did enjoy the book; certainly some authors more than others. It seems we all learn a lot as we age and look back, again, some of us more than others. It was inspirational at times but also a little depressing and sad as we realize that time is running out. Women are wonderful and we all need to lighten up and laugh at ourselves more. It is a book I would consider buying and referring to as the aging process continues as I feel it would be a good companion as I age.

[Jsarno49 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays by 32 women on life after 50. For those of us of a certain age, it is a reassuring, spiritual, and intriguing look at women's lives. Themes address letting go, relationships, and coping with change. This would be a great book for a discussion with other women. There's much to think and talk about.

[Julene · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Fullness of Time: 32 Women on Life After 50, edited by Emily W. Upham and Linda Gravenson, is an excellent look into women's lifes in their years of maturity. Women from age 55-101 who have undergone a maelstroms of change. Reading another book it referred to Ntozake Shange's essay, how she had a major stroke and had to relearn to talk and to read. Loving her play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Enuf I was compelled to find this book to read her essay. Turns out she suffered not only a stroke but water intoxication or low sodium. Despite these setbacks she continued and changed from teaching to making metal sculptures at the foundry and performing. She felt the need to work and fought back against these major physical afflictions till she passed in 2018 just after her 70th birthday.

Other women in the book whose work I know included: Vivian Gornick, Carolyn See (passed in 2016), Laurie Stone, Sharon Olds, Erica Jong, and Dr. Christine Northrup. I was glad to be introduced to many others in the total of 32 essays and interviews.

Some quotes:
Elizabeth Frank in her essay "Woman with a Pink" interviews women, K whose marriage broke up said, "Perhaps hardest of all, those revelations came at a time when she would never again possess that bookended eternity, the thirty or so years between twenty and fifty, when life can flower the way you think it's supposed to and you have energy and looks and a body that obeys your commands."
And another friend in her nineties with cancer and in pain said, "It may be that with age certain illusions die before we do."

Gail Godwin, who was turned down for a home care insurance policy because she kept too good care of herself, reflects on her life and how she didn't have enough money to go to college as a young woman. She reads from a letter:
"This is your life, but you may not get to do what you want in it.
I can't see a way out of this.
Things will not necessarily get better."

"That's the kind of language that speaks to you in the losing-ground place, whether it happens to be oppressive living conditions you lack means to escape from, the crushing realization that someone you love does not love you back, a sudden falling off of health, the lost of prestige in your profession, the death of someone who did love you back—or being turned down for a health insurance policy that would enable you to "die at home"—a code phrase for remaining in control until the end? Or maybe even for cheating death altogether?"
She quotes from Helen M. Luke, "King Lear," in her book OLD AGE, 1987
"At every age, in every person, there comes a partial imprisonment, a disabling psychic wound, an unavoidable combination of circumstance, a weakness that we cannot banish but must simply accept."

Frances Itani, a Canadian novelist, gives us a quote from her artist friend: "[the work each of us are doing} has so much to do with being able to contain the feeling—love—in a fine structure." And Itani writes, "And I think, yes, that's exactly what we do. As artists, we draw not only on our defeats but on all experience. We draw on the past and use it as a kind of energy that will provide extra vision to balance loss. We add constantly to our bundles and take from them what we must. And then, with fierceness, we pour love into the finest structures we are able to create."

Tina Howe headed the creative writing program at Hunter College in NY and died in 2023. In her essay, "Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble," she wrote of women: Since life begins and passes through us, the membranes between what we should do and what we want to do get thinner and thinner as we age. As a result, there's no rage like old-lady rage, just as there's not tenderness like old-lady tenderness. Beware the aging saint, witch, or whore. One way or another, she'll bring you to your knees!"

I find it excellent to read the writing of wise older women.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the end, I feel glad that I read these essays, although many of them were not easy to read. Beautifully written, and provocative for those of us squarely sitting in middle-age. Many juicy quotes were underlined for future inspiration!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. Gave numerous books to numerous women friends. Will reread again and again.

[Erilda Uka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a gem!!!

[Rachel]

Bits of wisdom in this definitely. But not enough to satiate my enormous After 50 Needs. As ever, you want a job doing properly then....

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not what I expected, as often happens with books picked up at a discount rack or free shelf. A few of the essays were enjoyable, and perhaps someday the eclectic approaches to the theme will override the sensation that this is a collection of random thoughts from privileged women of a "certain age." I did enjoy the piece by Jane O'Reilly. No doubt I have come across her work many decades ago when I was a charter subscriber to Ms. magazine. She approached the assignment ("On Life After 50") with imagination with the reader in mind.

[Melissa Lee-Tammeus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older book but still amazing. It made me want to investigate many of the strong artistic women featured. It also made me realize that I have many years ahead of me to create and live. A beautiful reminder of living every day.

[Patty Mapes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Varied life experiences and diverse views on life/death/aging/grief. I liked it. Thought-provoking.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I am not usually a short story reader, but each of these stories (for the most part) I could relate to. It is interesting to realize and understand that as we grow older we are not misplaced in society. We each have a story to tell either from older memories, from more recent familiarities, or even continuing experiences.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life after 50.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate some of the essays 4 stars if that were possible.