Paperback
978-1-77212-532-0Size: 5¼" x 9"
Pages: 312
Pages: 312
epub
978-1-77212-571-9Pages: 312
Downloadable audio file
978-1-77212-684-6Size: " x "
Pages: 312
You Look Good for Your Age
An Anthology
Robert Kroetsch Series
Edited by Rona Altrows
“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
Book details
Publication date: May 2021Series: Robert Kroetsch Series
Keywords: women; woman; female; age; ageing; ageism; aging; senior; seniors; young; old; image; beauty; mother; daughter; grandmother
Subject(s): Literary essays, Creative Writing, Creative Writing / Anthology, Gender & Sexuality, Gender & Sexuality / Women’s Studies, women; woman; female; age; ageing; ageism; aging; senior; seniors; young; old; image; beauty; mother; daughter; grandmother, Canadian Literature / Women's Studies, LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Canadian, Anthologies: general, Literary essays, Modern & contemporary fiction, Modern & contemporary poetry (c 1900 onwards), Coping with ageing, Canadian Literature, Women's Studies, Literary Nonfiction, Anthology, Bestseller
Publisher(s): University of Alberta Press
Book details
Publication date: May 2021Series: Robert Kroetsch Series
Keywords: women; woman; female; age; ageing; ageism; aging; senior; seniors; young; old; image; beauty; mother; daughter; grandmother
Subject(s): Literary essays, Creative Writing, Creative Writing / Anthology, Gender & Sexuality, Gender & Sexuality / Women’s Studies, women; woman; female; age; ageing; ageism; aging; senior; seniors; young; old; image; beauty; mother; daughter; grandmother, Canadian Literature / Women's Studies, LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Canadian, Anthologies: general, Literary essays, Modern & contemporary fiction, Modern & contemporary poetry (c 1900 onwards), Coping with ageing, Canadian Literature, Women's Studies, Literary Nonfiction, Anthology, Bestseller
Publisher(s): University of Alberta Press
Rona Altrows.
# 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."
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]
“Vulnerability and honesty are found in these pages, and raw power too. Readers will cheer these brave writers on as they refuse to allow stereotypes to smother their voice and experience.”
“Just as aging women can be invisible in our society, they're often invisible to our cultural curators. This collection brilliantly addresses that blind spot, with wisdom, humour, and fine writing.”
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
Rona Altrows.
# 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."
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]
“Vulnerability and honesty are found in these pages, and raw power too. Readers will cheer these brave writers on as they refuse to allow stereotypes to smother their voice and experience.”
“Just as aging women can be invisible in our society, they're often invisible to our cultural curators. This collection brilliantly addresses that blind spot, with wisdom, humour, and fine writing.”
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
