I love pomegranates and this book was full of pomegranate seeds. There are tons of favorite sentences and life lessons. I tried to find a favorite but it’s just too hard. Each one speaks to me in a slightly different way. Moving from one essay to the next was like eating a pomegranate one seed at a time reflecting on the virtue of each: each was delicious but different from the last. Try one more. Read one more. Yes. I recommend this book to anyone woman who dreads turning 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80. There's good news; there is even wonder as time passes.
It is an anthology of women authors who are navigating firsts, lasts, and always in life. Firsts in the authors’ second half of life includes embarking on adventures, learning skills, embracing new professions, missions, and relationships, pulling up roots, caring for older family members, and making peace with their own aging. Lasts encompasses letting go of child-bearing, grown children, bikini bodies, perfection, jobs, regrets, and loved ones. Then there were the always: enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, spending time outside, finding joy wherever you can, talking with neighbors, taking care of yourself and one another, and keeping on the move—mission. Though I prefer essay collections over anthologies (4.5 would be my truer rating), this anthology is a lovely collection.
I would also like to mention Leslie Leyland Fields brilliance as an author. I was first introduced to her in The Spirit of Food, another collection similar to this. Her last book, Crossing the Waters is another book worthy of your time. This woman who is familiar to modern day fishing techniques has great insight into Christ as a fisherman! Go get the book and be blessed by wonder!