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Summary: It was a wonderful journey of self discovery.
Review: I saw the author on the "Today" show and on a whim bought the book. It just so happens it was a cold Chicago day. I wrapped myself in a blanket, closed all the drapes and lit some lovely fragrant candles. It was a wonderful gift I was able to savor, page by page. You see the reawakening of her spirit and, essentially, her. I think it's something everyone can relate to. You make compromises along the way and soon you begin to question who you are and how you got there. It's a delight to read. I want to give it to all my friends.
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Summary: A Woman who got away and began living out her unlived life
Review: Hi Readers,When I ran away to my Cape Cod cottage I I didn't escape for the purposes of writing a book. I was running away to a safe place where instinct told me I might restore myself. I was in search of that one thing or a combination of things that would jump start my spirit which had become pitifully nonexistent. When, near the end of the year some friends came to visit and saw how both my demeanor and personality had changed I decided to write about my year by the sea in hopes of invigorating other women to take time away to restore themselves. There's a line in the book that says" the habit of deference can grow like a cancer on the soul of a woman until what she becomes is out of her hands." Taking charge of your life will not only serve to benefit yourself but those around you. I came to learn that primitive societies send their women away periodically in allow them to tap into their instincts and intuitions...strenghs that the primitives honor...strengths that will only serve to make the tribe or the family better. How much greater would our society be if we encouraged the same! So if you are one of those women, like me, who thinks she is indispenable...who gives so much to others that she finds herself on empty...take heart from the primitives and take yourself away. I have come to believe that there is no higher calling for women than to transcend ourselves again and again.In a society that likes to plateau people and keep them there I say no, the delight is in the continuum. One of my along the beach." Think about it. As wave after wave hits the beach they transform the shoreline in a different way each time. So it should be should all take a Sabbatical halfway through the journey of being wife and mother because we seem to lose ourselves along the way. " If I did my job in this book you will be encouraged, after reading it, to see the value of living your unlived life...of searching for that unfinished self. If women are the nurturers, the caretakers, the teachers and the spiritual guides then time away becomes crucial for not only ourselves but everyone in our lives. You don't have to have a reason to get away...mine happened because my husband took a job out of state. You may be in a stale relationshp or be in a situation where you are being taken advantage of, or you may simply be at a subtle crossroads and are wondering which road to take. The book's message will empower you to find perspective, stop worrying about the other persons and people and refocus on the self. Although some would have this book be about my relationship to my husband, it is actually about my relationship to myself. Here are some of the things I gained (and you will too) by taking yourself if only for a short period of time... Comfort with Solitude, Clarity of Thought, Desire to Risk, Relationship to Nature, Pleasure of Simplicity, Joy of Self Sufficiency, Renewal of Spirit.I encourage you to begin today living your unlived life. It's all about retreat, repair, renewal and regeneration. Here's to the new new!Always unfinished, Joan Anderson for a day, a weekend or longer to a natural environment, a quiet place
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Summary: Wisdom, maturity and peace are lifelong processes.
Review: A Year By the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman by Joan Anderson (Doubleday) A 50ish woman separates from her husband -- kids are grown, marriage is stale, he takes a job in another city, and she felt that accompanying him was pointless. She installed herself in their cottage in Cape Cod to reflect and figure out what to do -- supporting herself by working in a fish market -- and it drags on for a year - it's a true story and she just happens to be a writer.
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Summary: Thought provoking, for any woman who does for others
Review: I found this book very thought provoking. I think any woman who has had the pleasure of having others depend on her will be able to relate to the lead character. She finds herself at a stage in her life where she questions her real worth. She decides to take "a year by the sea" to find out if there is more to life than being a mother and a wife. I was enthralled by each relationship she develops while on this soul searching journey. It was definately a plus for me that the story took place on Cape Cod one of the most magical places in my world.
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Summary: A rich addition to the memoir genre
Review: Ms. Anderson embraces solitude and physical labor during a year away from her husband in order to take stock and decide the direction her life should take next. She suggests that women (and men) of all ages are "unfinished" throughout life. She and we are on a daily journey of discovery and change that ends only with death, not with a specific age, station in life, or accomplishment. The rich, poetic, and spiritual details of Ms. Anderson's particular story go beyond her life and speak to anyone who stops, or wants to stop, for a time along the way to reflect and assess, for whatever reason. You might especially enjoy this book if you are drawn to the wonders of the shoreline.
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Summary: I THINK SHE MOVED TO THE SEA TO CALM HER SPIRIT!!
Review: I loved the book......I guess because I understood all of her words.....her thoughts. I was actually there with her. A very compelling book. I liked it and would love to meet her one day. So many things I would like to discuss with her.
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Summary: Pilgrimage to personhood invites readers along.
Review: It is a rare gift to find a soul mate between the pages of a wonderful book. Joan Anderson's style is liquid gold. I was awash in salt air and alternately displaced to Cape Cod and the isle of Roan Inish (my all-time favorite movie). The seals were a fantastic metaphor. Joan's personal pilgrimage is the dream of every woman of her generation who hopes her loved ones will discover her on her own terms. Every woman of a certain age will identify with this story for her own reason. I am also a writer who moved to Cape Cod to complete a womens novel. The outcome and motives are the same; mine is a different story. Anderson will find herself swamped with those of us who want to be her friend, neighbor or confidante. Most of us facing a coming-of-middle-age lack the courage to risk everything. She tackles her pilgrimage with strength and a marvelous sense of humor and emerges a winner in every sense. It was a pleasure to spend time with Joan Anderson. A Year by the Shore is one of those books I raced through, only to find I was sad when I finished it. I was on page 100 before I realized that my feet were cold. I grabbed a cup of tea and some socks and continued reading, saving the last 20 pages so I could savor them in the morning. This book is the perfect gift for many friends of all ages
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Summary: A year in the life of a mildly dissatisfied midlife woman.
Review: I loved Joan Anderson's book, what she had to say and the honest, no-frills way she said it. Right from the very beginning where seals appear, I could almost hear the sound track from the movie "Secrets of Roan Inish". If you saw that movie you'll know what I mean. I didn't doubt for a minute that she did indeed work long, hard hours as the only woman in the fish market, manage to get her clamdigger's license, just to make ends meet, and refused to allow any limits to stop her from incredible physical work. She wanted to pay for repairs herself and not rely on her husband, who she decided not to follow when he was transferred out of state. Whatever needed doing she was solely responsible for getting done. Cooking for her nephew's film crew and cast. Setting the rules, after he tried to beat her to it. She managed to stay way under his budget, and earn only minumum wage for herself. Knowing that there was much wisdom and friendship to savor from a frail, elderly woman she stumbled upon in the fog. I'm from her era and could relate perfectly when she described herself as "a good girl". How far you went with your boy friend determined whether you were "good" or "loose", in our day. After a year of thinking about what is important in life, knowing she could chose any path, she made the decision that to me made it all worthwhile. She had the courage to act on her wishes, keeping track in her journal and then luckily for us, shared it in "A Year by the Sea"
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Summary: A must for women in their 50's in long term marriages
Review: I can't remember when I've been so captivated by a book and an author. Was she somehow peering into my own marriage/life? I've just turned 50, have been married to the same man for 30 years and can be counted as one of her readers who is extremely envious of what she has done. Courageous? Yes! Introspective? Definitely! I would truly like to know this woman and sit down with her over coffee or attend one of her "Weekends by the Sea". She's given me much insight and inspiration into taking charge of my own personal journey through the rest of my life.
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Summary: Required reading for every 40+ woman.
Review: Its a book that compels one to review their innermost thoughts and feelings. Its a story you read in one sitting and then realize you want to go back and re-read it. The book only brings you to a certain point in her self discovery and leaves the reader yearning for a sequel. It may appear to be a women's book; however, after having forced my husband to read it he also found it enlightening.
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