rabck from Mysscyn; lovely book and just what I needed this year. The author discusses widowhood and gives lots of tips on what to do, and what to avoid, as we gals move into these golden years. I plan to keep this book for a while, so I can reference some of the tips again. ( )

Written in a folksy, kitchen-table style, this book provided little useful information to me as a single woman. I have made my way through life supporting myself and often living alone - at least not in a relationship - and so the insights in this book were not new for me, and therefore not helpful. I believe the book could be useful to someone new to living alone as an older woman, and so it gets two stars instead of only one. ( )

This book was the selection for my local book club this month. I had a little trouble relating to the book, because, unlike the author, I'm (a) not over 55, (b) not widowed or single, and (c) not as well off (the author was the widow of a surgeon and is able to maintain two homes in different parts of the country, and travel extensively). In fact, the book was self-published, which tells you something right there.

Nevertheless, this book engendered a good discussion among the members of the club (12 present at the last meeting) who had read the book. At 53, I was the youngest there, so I mostly kept quiet and listened. Many of our members found inspiration in Frances Weaver's advice or confirmation for their own choices to live life to its fullest. We all agreed that we liked the two photographs (on the cover of the edition pictured and others, on the frontispiece in other editions) of the author and her three sisters as little girls and in the same pose as mature women.

I do agree with the author that "boredom is ninety-nine percent self-inflicted," and results from being "too tired or too lonely to get out of the house." I wish I could get that message across to my husband, age 69 and retired for almost 18 years now. Hmmm....if the book wasn't an interlibrary loan, I'd give it to him to read!

© Amanda Pape - 2010 ( )