Age Ain't Nothing But a Number: Black Women Explore Midlife

After reading this book I purchased several copies and gave them to my friends as birthday presents. I found this book to be a refreshing and informative read about the aging process, mastery, and wisdom. It made facing another birthday a true blessing in the cycle called life. Unlike other societal messages, this book embraces the aging process; it made me glad not to be 20 years old and rejoice that I'm in my 40s.

Life can be a trip, and this book is a ticket on a scenic railtrain. The honesty of the women in this book is so helpful. Gray hair, sagging breasts and ageism are a few of the challenges faced in "Age..." with bravery. Actually, the greatest message shared is that things will change, but we were and still are beautiful women. Read this book while you're young and it might prevent you from "tripping" when the inevitable happens. Read this book when you reach middle age and find a strong, relevant community. Read this book when you're a true elder, and...I'm looking forward to that! This is my companion book to "Sister Gumbo."

Brice's anthology - Age Ain't Nothing but a Number - is all about ways to feel good about oneself. Written from the Black Women's perspective -- an oft-whispered voice in the self-esteem arena -- this book creates a great sense of pride -- for all women -- about feeling good and feeling all the better in the process of aging. I found it very inspiring and insightful - but more so, truly a delight to read. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Editor Carleen Brice has put together a wonderful collection of stories and essays along with some poems for and about Black women in their "midlife". Midlife, in Brice's words at a recent book signing, can be defined not so much by age, as by the life experiences a woman has gained. For Brice, mid-life began for her in her late twenties when her mother became ill and died. At about the same time, she began to evaluate her relationships and aspirations. In this anthology, women who are well known such as Alice Walker, Pearl Cleage, J. California Cooper and Nikki Giovanni and others not so well known, write about a period in their lives that define midlife in all of its joys and tribulations. Gloria Wade Gayles regales us with a tale of a middle-aged woman throwing out her inhibitions at a dance in "Who Says an Older Woman Shouldn't Dance". It is a commentary on how society in general feels about women who just don't care what others think. Lucille Clifton's well-known poem "New Bones" is a delight and fitting here. Elaine Lee tells of preparing her mother-and herself for death in "Full Circling". In "Homegirl Reunion", Joan Hopewell-Hartgens questions why her friends would throw a reunion for their childhood friends who are turning fifty that particular year. She almost backs out of the reunion but decides to go and basks in the seasoned womanhood they have attained. There are excerpts from "The Women of Brewster Place "by Gloria Naylor and "A Day Late and a Dollar Short" by Terry McMillan. And remembering that getting older oftentimes means getting better as far as sexuality is concerned , Opal Palmer Adisa adds sassiness with her poem "Gray Pussy Hair". Amazing!This collection proves that as women grow older, they can grow with grace and wisdom despite the issues encountered. This is a delightful compilation that will make a great gift for any woman, young or old. Dera WilliamsAPOOO BookClub

I really enjoyed this collection of writings by now middle aged African-American women, Nikki Giovanni, Susan Taylor, J. California Cooper, Plearl Cleage, Maya Angelou, April Sinclair and many more not so famous sisters, but excellent writers with wonderful stories to tell. Not about their bouts with hot flashes, but just about life and the changes in it. It's like sitting with friends and listening to their stories, I really enjoyed it!