6-18-23

Summer is here, and time for long books to read over relaxing days.  (Or to escape hectic ones!)  For this OWL , diving into historical novels tracing years in a family’s life is one of the best ways to do this.  So in the Fiction Review section I suggest two related series set from post-Revolutionary America through the 1880’s.  I hope you enjoy some or all of them.

6-2-23:  Medieval women in fact and fiction. 

The recently published non-fiction book, Femina, by Janina Ramirez, is a treasure chest combining old, revered documentation with new archeological techniques.  Covering the 7^th through 14^th century in England, Sweden, France, Hungary and Poland, women come to the forefront of history in new ways.  It’s reviewed in the Non-Fiction section.

As a companion read (or excellent on its own), Matrix: A Novel, by Lauren Groff, is a conjuring of the life, visions, and achievements of Marie de France, a real 12^th century writer and translator, whose works have survived though little is known of her life.  It’s included in the Fiction section.

Coming soon: An Historical Family Saga.

Happy reading,

Deborah

5-26-23 – An aimless grown grandson, a grandmother with stories and secrets, Southern California, and the Pandemic – mix them together, and enjoy Cathleen Schine’s new novel, Kunstlers in Paradise. 

5-19-23 – Hello,

With this post I’m adding non-fiction to the OWLS Blog.  I read many memoirs and biographies, as well as social and cultural history, and to start I’m sharing three group biographies of women – in the early 1900’s (British physicians), the 1920’s-1930’s (British writers and academics), and the 1960’s (American writers, poets, and artists).

I welcome suggestions for more non-fiction!  Please either send a comment or e-mail me at [email protected]   

5-8-23:  OWLS has had a short hiatus, as the subscription function wasn’t working, and I’ve had cataract surgery.  But I’m back, with several new fiction suggestions, including “Septuagenarian Sleuths” for mystery lovers.  (Please let me know if you have any to add!)  

Thank you for your continued interest – and it will help if a few of you let me know that the subscription is working ([email protected] )

3-23-23: Welcome to Older Women and Literature, or OWLS.  Owls are the symbol of Athena, Greek Goddess of Wisdom, and my hope is that age has brought and can still bring wisdom to us all, in this case, through the power of books.

In the 1960s, with an honors degree in English, I felt I needed to do something to make the world a better place, and so went on for advanced degrees in both social work and psychology. 

Over the years, as I developed community programs for parents with young children, and became a mom and a volunteer, I also started or led three book groups (two with my husband).  For the past 40 years I have written newsletters and book reviews for varied organizations and publications.

One of my favorite activities as a parent, a professional, and a friend has been finding books to match the interests and needs of family and others close to me.  That’s what this blog aims to do.

I welcome feedback and suggestions.  Please contact me at:  [email protected]

Thank you,

Deborah Cherniss, Highland Park, N J