Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
I had to shake my head several times in awe when I read the stories in The Spirit of a Woman. So many women featured here have overcome vast obstacles in their lives in order to survive and even thrive.
I kept looking to the back of the book to the bios to see what the women are doing now. They’re all taking what they learned from their life experiences into the world as peace activists or in community or international efforts, as writers, lecturers, teachers, storytellers, shaman, artists, mentors, spiritual directors, doctors, and runners. The word “runners” is to honour Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1966.
There is one exception to the ongoing efforts in the world and that is Nicolette Tal who lived with a motor neuron disease. Before her death in 2004, she was able to write by twitching her lower lip to activate a laser hooked up to her laptop computer. I should say her efforts in the world are ongoing as we have her story and the people who knew her remember her determination to focus on what was important to her.
All of the women’s stories are full of courage, compassion (including self-compassion), discovery and authenticity.
