cover image A Wider Giving: Women Writing After a Long Silence

A Wider Giving: Women Writing After a Long Silence

. Chicory Blue Press, $14.95 (322pp) ISBN 978-0-9619111-0-2

This is an anthology of stories and poems by 12 women who began writing in mid-life or later, subsequent to child-raising, divorcing or leaving other careers. Included are three promising pieces of fiction: ""Eligible Impulses'44,'' a poignant excerpt from a coming-of-age novel by Francine Julian Clark; ``The Hunting Season,'' a tightly wrought tale by Adele Bowers about human cruelty; and ``What Can You Do About Love?,'' a conversation about romance by Naomi Feigelson Chase. Zeidenstein's goalto feature the work of older womenis noble, but as this collection shows, noble ventures can be problematic. Admitting her aversion to dark humor, the editor has opted for unified vision over variety. The book's voice, while wise, is often sedate to the point of boredom. The autobiographies of these writers are usually more interesting than their formal efforts, but they are long-winded, especially on the subject of writing. (March)