Thank you for these recommendations. As I near my 47th birthday, I’m finding that I prefer a more mature voice & tone in the books that I read. Many of the new shiny glossy books don’t speak to me anymore, which is fine now that I recognize my preferences. The best thing about books is that there’s always something for everyone.
I'm loving your focus on Cather, one of my favorite writers. It's been making me want to go back to her books. Now I want to reread this one, too. Thanks!
Reading "The Middle Passage" by James Hollis now and it sounds similar to "Midlife," but focuses on Jungian psychology and analysis. As someone who is also staring down 40, it is resonating strongly. As are these recommendations! Thanks, as always.
Willa Cather is an often overlooked but exceptional writer, I’m so glad you are featuring her books. While some novels are better than others, I think her real strength lies in the beautiful descriptions of her settings. I will never forget the opening paragraphs of O Pioneers where she describes the panoramic view of the Nebraska prairie town; the vivid description of sundown in My Antonia; the colorful landscape of the southwest in Death Comes to the Archbishop. Such a contrast to Frank Herbert’s settings (or, rather lack of them) in Dune.
Chip is a visionary, a great writer and an even more wonderful person who has done an incredible amount of research into midlife and is about to open his second MEA campus devoted to exploring this important time in our lives. I've loved spending time at his Baja campus.
On your recommendation, I started Setiya's Midlife today. As someone well into 50s, I liked this part of the intro: "For most of us, midlife is not too late to start something new. Though if often feels that way. Don’t be fooled by the foreshortening of time that accompanies middle age. You have more time than you think." It's optimistic, I guess, but it feels right. Thanks for pointing this one out!
Thank you for these recommendations. As I near my 47th birthday, I’m finding that I prefer a more mature voice & tone in the books that I read. Many of the new shiny glossy books don’t speak to me anymore, which is fine now that I recognize my preferences. The best thing about books is that there’s always something for everyone.
I'm loving your focus on Cather, one of my favorite writers. It's been making me want to go back to her books. Now I want to reread this one, too. Thanks!
PS I'm 62 and feel like this is midlife! :)
Reading "The Middle Passage" by James Hollis now and it sounds similar to "Midlife," but focuses on Jungian psychology and analysis. As someone who is also staring down 40, it is resonating strongly. As are these recommendations! Thanks, as always.
Setiya's Midlife book is excellent! Good recommendation!
Willa Cather is an often overlooked but exceptional writer, I’m so glad you are featuring her books. While some novels are better than others, I think her real strength lies in the beautiful descriptions of her settings. I will never forget the opening paragraphs of O Pioneers where she describes the panoramic view of the Nebraska prairie town; the vivid description of sundown in My Antonia; the colorful landscape of the southwest in Death Comes to the Archbishop. Such a contrast to Frank Herbert’s settings (or, rather lack of them) in Dune.
Alexander’s Bridge looks interesting. Adding it to the TBR list.
May I add to your list re midlife a new book by Chip Conley: Learning to Love Midlife
https://bookshop.org/p/books/learning-to-love-midlife-12-reasons-why-life-gets-better-with-age-chip-conley/20055946?ean=9780316567022
Chip is a visionary, a great writer and an even more wonderful person who has done an incredible amount of research into midlife and is about to open his second MEA campus devoted to exploring this important time in our lives. I've loved spending time at his Baja campus.
https://www.meawisdom.com
On your recommendation, I started Setiya's Midlife today. As someone well into 50s, I liked this part of the intro: "For most of us, midlife is not too late to start something new. Though if often feels that way. Don’t be fooled by the foreshortening of time that accompanies middle age. You have more time than you think." It's optimistic, I guess, but it feels right. Thanks for pointing this one out!