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1. Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing by May Sarton From Amy Dickinson in My top 10 favorite books by women authors "May Sarton has always reminded me of my mother, who is a wonderful writer. And May Sarton’s work is very, very beautifully written and a lot of it is about solitude." From Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist in the comments of What great novels by women authors are you reading? "My 'hobby' is going to used bookstores and buying anything by May Sarton! The older she got, the more I liked her journals--especially the one she wrote at age 81." |
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2. First Comes Love by Marion Winik From Martha Frankel in The 5 best books to read on a cross-country flight "No one could make you laugh and cry harder than Winik, who tells the story of her love affair, marriage, motherhood, and agony with Tony, a gay figure skater." |
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3. The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil From Julie Brosterman in My 4 favorite books about wine "Karen MacNeil reminds me of a young Audrey Hepburn in her looks and her style. A lot of her clients are high-testosterone, wealthy men, but she communicates in a way which women can relate to because she's very sensual in how she speaks and very poetic in her tones. She's very informative without being geeky." |
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4. Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett From Natalie Caine in comments to10 books that make me want to quit writing (I'll never write anything this good!) "I love to write and she inspires me to keep going. Just sit myself down and begin. Don't listen to those inner voices that say this stuff I am writing doesn't matter or I have nothing to write today or whatever that crabby critic says in your ear." |
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5. Lauren Willig's novels by Lauren Willig From Ellen Collison in Top 4 book series for summer reading "Lauren Willig's novels are equal parts comedy of manners and Scarlet Pimpernel. The colors in each title are actually code names for various female spies working for England during the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. The opening book in the series is closest to a genre romance, but it's very witty, and things pick up from there on in." |
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6. She Got Up Off the Couch Haven Kimmel From Dr. Susan R. Meyer in 7 books for women in transition "This book gives Haven Kimmel's take on her mother's transition from stay-at-home couch potato to college graduate, Masters recipient and English teacher. Told from the perspective of Zippy (Haven as a girl), it is a poignant, funny, endearing glimpse of the impact on one person's change on the rest of her circle." |
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7. Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott From Dr. Susan R. Meyer in 7 books for women in transition "Anne Lamott is always wonderful, witty, and touching. This collection reminds me again how to be graceful and grateful no matter what life brings." Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith 
and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
From Sue McVee in Top 14 books to share with friends "I love how her subtitles are a clever caveat for not being too presumptuous! Both of these, and the rest of her non-fiction for my money, are wise, irreverent, spot-on, hilarious, provocative comments on trying to live life well despite her own (and the readers’) challenging human condition." |
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8. Varieties of Disturbance by Lydia Davis From Sarah Gorham in Top 5 books to read now "Because of my long interest in blended genres, this writer has always fascinated me. She has gathered stories, ranging in length from one sentence to over a dozen pages. Many are about her experience as a new mother. It’s a book to pick up and dip into, virtually anywhere. Great for reading at night, when you can’t keep your eyes open for more than a half hour. Wise and odd." |
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9. Emma by Jane Austen From Sallie Bingham in Top 5 books to enjoy after 50 "I do think that Austen is an author who rewards re-reading at different stages of life. Many readers are introduced to her in high school or even college, and it doesn’t always work. I think she works best for a much older reader, even though most of what she wrote, she wrote when she was very young." Pride and Prejudice 
by Jane Austen From Dana Stabenow in 10 books that make me want to quit writing (I'll never write anything this good!) "...I defy anyone -- whether they're reading it for the first time or the fiftieth -- not to have at minimum twenty laugh-out-loud moments. We are most seriously pleased." |
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10. Retreat from Love by Colette From Sallie Bingham in Top 5 books to enjoy after 50 "Colette is the author I turn to in romantic hard times because one of the themes Colette handles best is recovering from heartbreak. ...Retreat from Love, is like a healing balm when you’re going through times of romantic misfortune. It’s full of life and humor and hope and the kind of determination and independence that we all have to come back to at some point or another. " |
responses (6)
I highly recommend this book.
How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better by Charla Krupp is a great and easy read. Much more on a format of a magazine than a book. New revised copy in paperback now available at most bookstores or on www.lipoinabox.com |
