Review: The Wonder Years edited by Leslie Leyland Fields

From the Back Cover:

“We’re all getting older. How do we make the second half of our lives the best half? Forty incredible women of faith from 40-85 tackle aging anxieties head-on – and upend them with compelling first-person stories full of humor, sass, and spiritual wisdom.

Ann Voskamp, Elisa Morgan, Elisabeth Elliot, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Jennifer Grant, Jen Pollock Michel, Joni Eareckson Tada, Kay Warren, Kendra Smiley, Lauran Winner, Luci Shaw, Lynne Hybels, Madeleine L’Engle, Patricia Raybon, Paula Huston, Shannon Ethridge, Sheila Wise Rowe, Vina Mogg.

In three thematic sections – Firsts, Lasts, and Always – these women provide much-needed role models for aging honestly, beautifully, and faithfully, with surprises all along the way. These are indeed the Wonder Years.”

My Thoughts:

The Wonder Years is a collection of essays by some amazing women – some known, others unknown – but all 40 and above. Each one of them with their own style and voice challenge my idea about growing older in this culture of wrinkle-creams and hairdye.

I wasn’t sure what to expect – complaints or the “I don’t care about anyone else – I’m just me now!” idea. This is anything but that. Strong women talk candidly about their lives and how even in the surprises they could never have predicted, God showed up and was faithful. I savored this book like a delicious bar of dark chocolate, letting each woman’s words roll around in my heart for a bit before I continued on.

Themes:

Friendships, God’s goodness, abrupt life change, pain, joy, letting go of our expectations and humor – lots of humor!

Reservations:

None!

Recommendations:

Unless you’re nearing that 4-0 mark of life, this book might not seem that important. But I can tell you from the other side of that number, it is. Even if you’re 20, read this. Think through these ideas – you might be able to step into fewer pitfalls than the rest of us.

So I want you to know: You are not invisible, though age makes us think it. Join the ranks of women who are excited about the future and embracing who we are because we are His. Read this book. You will be so glad you did.