Reviews for Wider Giving: Women Writing after a Long Silence

The average rating for Wider Giving: Women Writing after a Long Silence based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-07-01 00:00:00 Doyal Steward As I walked by my "Women's Shelves" I casually picked up this book where it had been for decades and immediately began reading. During those decades I've encountered many women's voices declaring that they have longed to write, but because of the demands of home, family, and cultural expectations they have remained silent. Zeidenstein has broken the silence in this text, "an anthology of poetry, prose and autobiographical narrative by contemporary women writers who made their major commitment to creative writing AFTER the age of forty-five. Twelve writers, ranging in age from their fifties to eighties, are representative of thousands of women who are starting writing careers after child-raising, after widowhood or divorce, after retirement from jobs and careers--later than our culture assumes one can take up creative writing and produce good work." I knew none of these women, but I occasionally knew a fellow writer whom they referenced. For each of the twelve, Zeidenstein presented a number of poems, or a story, or an essay; then she included an autobiographical narrative which focused on the writer's background, family, and experiences. A section that I enjoyed included the influences on each--reading, studying, working, teachers, fellow writers. How important mentors were as they broke all sorts of barriers pursuing their passion for a poem, a sentence, a word. I especially liked the answers each gave about their writing process. After reading the personal narratives, I felt as if I'd just had an interview with each writer and could easily recommend their work and their friendship to fellow readers. Any woman who is hungering to pursue a literary career will be encouraged to start now--no matter age or background. This is a reader's delight! The women and their work will inspire and encourage readers and writers.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-10-08 00:00:00 Frank Greces This one will be a staple in my personal library. Very brief thoughts: