
You Look Good for Your Age
An Anthology
Rona Altrows(Editor)
University of Alberta Press
Published on 3. May 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-1-77212-532-0 (ISBN)
Description
"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.
Contributors: 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
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.
Contributors: 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
Reviews / Votes
# 9 on Alberta Bestsellers list, May 30, 2021 # 1 on Calgary Herald Bestsellers list, June 5, 2021 # 8 on Alberta Bestsellers list, June 6, 2021 # 2 on Calgary Herald Bestsellers list, June 12, 2021 # 9 on Calgary Herald Bestsellers list, June 20, 2021 #10 on the Alberta Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, June 27, 2021 #7 on the Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, June 27, 2021 #5 on Calgary Herald Fiction Bestsellers list, July 3, 2021 #10 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, July 11, 2021 #9 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, August 15, 2021 "Altrows stated that her wish for young readers is that through this anthology, they will get a sense of what it is like to be in the mind and body of an older woman.... By sharing pieces from women who have had first hand experience with aging, readers are able to better understand the effects of the ageist ideals our society upholds." Megan Gervais, The Gateway, November 23, 2021 [Article at https://thegatewayonline.ca/2021/11/you-look-good-for-your-age-challenging-ageism-through-writing-the-gateway] "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... There is much to be savoured here. Buy the book." Jannie Edwards, Alberta Views Magazine, November 1, 2021 [Full review at https://albertaviews.ca/look-good-age-anthology/] "This is a brilliant collection of women's writing about aging, some of which shows reluctant acceptance, some of which shows reinvention of oneself." -- Annie Wesko * Freefall Magazine, Vol. 32, No. 1 * "This is a brilliant collection of women's writing about aging, some of which shows reluctant acceptance, some of which shows reinvention of oneself." Annie Wesko, Freefall Magazine, Spring 2020 Although unified in subject, the style, tone, and mood of each piece varies widely, combining to create a poignant patchwork of protest and peace-making, of lamentable losses and celebratory gains.... In addition to these writers' grief, rage, and resignation, there is also joy, peace, and anticipation regarding the years to come." Melanie Power, Canadian Literature, June 2022 [Full review at https://canlit.ca/article/agents-against-their-erasure] #6 on Calgary Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, January 25, 2024 #6 on Calgary Herald Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, February 3, 2024 #5 on Calgary Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, August 21, 2025More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edmonton
Canada
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
476 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77212-532-0 (9781772125320)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Rona Altrows is an editor, fiction writer, essayist, and playwright. With Naomi K. Lewis, she co-edited Shy (UAlberta Press), and with Julie Sedivy she co-edited Waiting (UAlberta Press), both theme-based anthologies. Her website is www.ronaaltrows.com.
Content
xi Preface
xv Acknowledgements
Insight
3 The Fixable (Nonfiction), SHARON BUTALA
13 Fearing (Nonfiction), ARIEL GORDON
25 Who Counts the Years? (Nonfiction), MAUREEN BUSH
29 Intent to Forgive (Nonfiction), JOY KOGAWA
33 A barn swallow relative to objects and places (Poetry), WENDY MCGRATH
35 the petals in me (Poetry), LAURIE MACFAYDEN
Elders
39 Listen (Fiction), ANNE SORBIE
47 Back to the Garden (Nonfiction), ELIZABETH HAYNES
55 Upriver (Nonfiction), ROBERTA REES
73 Help Fund Pam's Vital Medical Procedure (Fiction), OLYN OZBICK
93 Sundowning (Fiction), DEBBIE BATEMAN
107 Perfect Purple Rose (Poetry), ELIZABETH GREENE
Body
113 you will be amazed (Poetry), LAURIE MACFAYDEN
115 Mastery of the Instrument (Nonfiction), JOANN MCCAIG
127 Body Composition (Nonfiction), WENDY MCGRATH
133 The Roxy Project (Fiction), CECELIA FREY
145 Rarification (Nonfiction), VIVIAN HANSEN
Love
155 The Art of the Scarf (Fiction), DEBBIE BATEMAN
171 She Will Drive (Fiction), LISA MURPHY LAMB
189 One More Minute (Poetry), JOAN CRATE
191 The Shave (Fiction), RONA ALTROWS
Timelines
201 Telescoping (Nonfiction), JULIE SEDIVY
211 Rajiana (Poetry), MONI BRAR
215 Aging in Three-Year Increments (Nonfiction), LAURA WERSHLER
227 Lilly's Funeral (Fiction), MADELAINE SHAW-WONG
237 How I Got Old (Nonfiction), DORA DUECK
245 Adult Tween (Nonfiction), PAULA E. KIRMAN
253 Shuffle (Nonfiction), JANE CAWTHORNE
257 She shops at the Sally Ann and Value Village (Poetry), JOAN CRATE
Enough!
261 Part of the Furniture (Nonfiction), ARITHA VAN HERK
271 Kissing Kismet Goodbye (Poetry), MONI BRAR
273 Lookin' Back (Nonfiction), LORRI NEILSEN GLENN
277 Well Preserved (Nonfiction), E. D. MORIN
281 One More Word (Poetry), JOYCE HARRIES
285 Notes
287 Contributors
xv Acknowledgements
Insight
3 The Fixable (Nonfiction), SHARON BUTALA
13 Fearing (Nonfiction), ARIEL GORDON
25 Who Counts the Years? (Nonfiction), MAUREEN BUSH
29 Intent to Forgive (Nonfiction), JOY KOGAWA
33 A barn swallow relative to objects and places (Poetry), WENDY MCGRATH
35 the petals in me (Poetry), LAURIE MACFAYDEN
Elders
39 Listen (Fiction), ANNE SORBIE
47 Back to the Garden (Nonfiction), ELIZABETH HAYNES
55 Upriver (Nonfiction), ROBERTA REES
73 Help Fund Pam's Vital Medical Procedure (Fiction), OLYN OZBICK
93 Sundowning (Fiction), DEBBIE BATEMAN
107 Perfect Purple Rose (Poetry), ELIZABETH GREENE
Body
113 you will be amazed (Poetry), LAURIE MACFAYDEN
115 Mastery of the Instrument (Nonfiction), JOANN MCCAIG
127 Body Composition (Nonfiction), WENDY MCGRATH
133 The Roxy Project (Fiction), CECELIA FREY
145 Rarification (Nonfiction), VIVIAN HANSEN
Love
155 The Art of the Scarf (Fiction), DEBBIE BATEMAN
171 She Will Drive (Fiction), LISA MURPHY LAMB
189 One More Minute (Poetry), JOAN CRATE
191 The Shave (Fiction), RONA ALTROWS
Timelines
201 Telescoping (Nonfiction), JULIE SEDIVY
211 Rajiana (Poetry), MONI BRAR
215 Aging in Three-Year Increments (Nonfiction), LAURA WERSHLER
227 Lilly's Funeral (Fiction), MADELAINE SHAW-WONG
237 How I Got Old (Nonfiction), DORA DUECK
245 Adult Tween (Nonfiction), PAULA E. KIRMAN
253 Shuffle (Nonfiction), JANE CAWTHORNE
257 She shops at the Sally Ann and Value Village (Poetry), JOAN CRATE
Enough!
261 Part of the Furniture (Nonfiction), ARITHA VAN HERK
271 Kissing Kismet Goodbye (Poetry), MONI BRAR
273 Lookin' Back (Nonfiction), LORRI NEILSEN GLENN
277 Well Preserved (Nonfiction), E. D. MORIN
281 One More Word (Poetry), JOYCE HARRIES
285 Notes
287 Contributors