Every Woman Has a Story: Many Voices, Many Lessons, ManyLlives :True Tales

A warm and inspiring collection of true-life tales gathered from everyday women captures all of the joy, heartbreak, hope, and despair of modern-day life, examining such subjects as motherhood, turning thirty, and empty nest syndrome. 125,000 first printing.

The subject matter of this originally self-published collection of unvarnished short personal stories and poems will resonate with many women. Underhill, who selected these pieces from more than 500 submissions, looked for moving expressions of a woman's joys, fears and pain. The stories cover such milestones as a chance reunion with a high school classmate, marriage, pregnancy, motherhood and coming to terms with aging. Many stories have an upbeat tone, such as Linda Dietrick's description of how she finally found a good relationship in "Falling in LoveAAgain." Others write about overcoming adversity, as in Paula E. Buford's account of her battle against gender prejudice at an all-male conference in "Fighting Discrimination with Dignity." A few contributions also present a darker view. Lisa M. Cheater's "The Visit" provides a harrowing account of a dysfunctional family, and Kimberly Luxenberg's "Dark Side of Genius" addresses the destructive power of drugs and alcohol. Although the writing iss often mediocre, the aim of most pieces is true. Agent: Jillian Manus. Major ad/promo; first serial to Woman's Day.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

An often tiresome, rarely inspiring collection of first-person narratives by women, touching on everything from the joys of motherhood to the contentment of independent living. There is little new or creatively said in Underhills anthology (she is president of her own marketing and consulting firm, specializing in womens programs and product promotions), which resulted from a general request for stories written by women about lifes stages and phases. Most of the contributions, culled from a total response of 500, are marred by a triteness and a mawkishness that dull even those stories worth telling. The lackluster prose is too often peppered with clichs like ``More times than not, what seems like a bad change will open a whole new door of wonderful experiences and opportunities. We must keep in mind that past experiences will have positive effects if we let them.'' The few refreshing voices belong to women who have questioned the status quo, who challenge and provoke. In ``Fighting Discrimination With Dignity,'' Pastor Paula E. Buford writes about her experience speaking at an all-male Southern Baptist pastors conference in 1984. When asked by an elderly pastor, ``As a woman, how will you keep from being seen as a sex object in the pulpit?'' she decorously replies, ``Im not sure that I can. Tell me, how do you deal with this issue? Id like to learn from you.'' Also more remarkable than yet another account of a woman facing middle age is Marlynn Perons essay on discovering that her son is gay. After the initial shock and sorrow, Peron decides not only to offer her son the unconditional love she feels he deserves, but additionally urges other mothers of gay children to openly stand up for them. Homosexuality is genetic, Peron argues, and parents must ease a childs pain and shame. The more typical voice here is better expressed in soap-opera scripts. (First serial to Womans Day) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Underhill's request that women send her stories they had written about their lives drew 500 responses. Gathered here are more than 70 pieces, organized by subject, on friendship, aging, men and love, motherhood, interaction between generations, life lessons, health, the "emptying nest," dreams, memories, independence, and "simple pleasures." Some stories will no doubt produce tears (e.g., a mother's story of caring for her son in the final months of AIDS); some laughter, or "You go, girl!" (for women who got out of destructive relationships or job situations). This is a feel-good book: somewhere between "At least my problems aren't as bad as hers" and "If she can do it, so can I." In the abstract, not an essential acquisition, but Warner plans major promotion and first serial rights have been sold to Woman's Day, so interest is likely. Mary Carroll