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Marion C. (Peabody, MA)
Women Rowing North
"Time can take the sting out of life and make it sweeter", says Mary Pipher in her book WOMEN ROWING NORTH; Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age. I experienced much joy reading and understanding the bends, curves and the current a woman goes through as she ages. Pipher offers suggestions on how to cope with life's little nuances and major hurdles. She also tells us our perception of events changes over time, and life has not been bad after all. As we age, we can remember having been there and done that, and we survived. Pipher clears the debris in the river and suggests women take time and better
…more care of themselves while enjoying the beauty of life. I agree.
Pipher's writing is succinct. I highly recommend reading WOMEN ROWING NORTH because you may find solutions and clearer understanding of currents in the river of life. (less)As I close in on retirement at 70 --- and am fearful of being isolated and alone --- I found comfort and new hope from reading this book, and a commitment to reinvent myself from a long-time academic to something new, a bit more risky, and fulfilling. Some ideas portrayed or spoken of in the book seemed a bit outdated, but I think they can be "rethought" or recreated in these times and for each of us. I'm recommending friends in my age group and book clubs give this book a read!
Dorian B. (Bainbridge, NY)
You are not alone
As a person entering my 50's I found this book to be comforting. The stories and insights that Pipher shares, while not always necessarily new, do provide reminders that we are all in this life together. I feel that it is crucial for women to support each other, and this book is a good example of what could serve as a 'port in the storm' for anyone struggling with the stresses of life and aging.
Randi H. (Bronx, NY)
A book to return to over the years
Although I am (slightly) under the stated target age for Women Rowing North, I found the book to be an insightful guide to aging for women. I greatly enjoyed Mary Pipher's exhortations to mindfulness and making the most of the life we actually have. As I read the book, I was able to immediately apply parts of it to my current life. And I can see myself coming back to this book many times as I grow older, using it as a touchstone for my outlook on aging, to help me get through difficult experiences, and reminding myself of what is truly important.
Carol
Uneven
Started out well, but about the middle the Pipher seemed to be struggling to find enough to write about.
Julie
Average Read
This was just average for me. There were some hard truths about getting older and some joys to be found as well. I didn't feel like it gave me a whole lot of new insights which I was hoping for from this author. Perhaps my expectations were too high.
Donna G. (Cheshire, CT)
Nothing Really New Here...
I was looking forward to reading Mary Pipher's new book, Women Rowing North, although I am not yet in the "target" age group. She writes with an optimism that I found appealing, however, the author did not seem to have anything new to say. The case studies Pipher depicted seem to be the bulk of the book, and I had difficulty identifying with the women she depicted. Perhaps other readers may find them interesting and helpful. I was hoping for actual strategies to navigate the river of aging, not a sing-song text.
Carole V. (Atlantic Beach, FL)
Disappointing
I was excited about receiving and reviewing this book – so obviously intended for me – an avid reader, eighty-five years old, hoping to find NEW perspectives in living the best life possible, looking for new ways to use my time wisely and happily. I didn't find what I hoped for. My disappointment began on page 25 - the incident of the author's pricking her finger with a cactus thorn and offering the resulting blood to her ancestors. This resulted in an epiphany that her "…soul would expand." She kissed the cactus.
Then, there are the aphorisms: We should not "…make negative remarks about aging or appearance." "
…more It is important to have in place medical powers of attorney…" "Books are great companions." Don't most women my age, those for whom the book is intended, already know those basics? Last, the repeated case studies: personal stories specifically illustrating every single topic, seemed too appropriate, so perfectly illustrative of the author's point that they must have been invented. (less)
