SPINSTER by Kate Bolick & GIVEAWAY

“Whom to marry, and when will it happen–these two questions define every woman’s existence, regardless of where she was raised or what religion she does or doesn’t practice … even if the answers are nobody and never.” – Spinster

So opens Kate Bolick’s memoir, SPINSTER (Crown) which has tongues wagging in numerous circles that enjoy discussing such topics; chat shows, call-in radio fests, “The View,” you get my idea.

I for one, never felt compelled to get married. My parents were pioneers in the early 70s divorce movement, so that did a good job souring me on the whole “happily ever after thing.” My ambitions included finishing high-school and being the first in my family to graduate from college.

I dabbled in dating, but never felt like I needed to be part of a pair to matter. I had girlfriends who dated non-stop, man after man; they exhausted me with their drama.

Now that the demographics in 2015 show nearly fifty-percent of women are putting off marriage, Bolick makes an argument for the return of spinsters in her memoir, SPINSTER, only an updated modern kind. She digs back into the past introducing us to five woman who were single pioneers in their day. Maeve Brennan (1917-1993), essayist at the New Yorker; Neith Boyce (1872-1951), columnist at Vogue; Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950), poet and legendary lover; Edith Wharton (1862-1937), novelist and grand dame; and Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935), social visionary and prolific writer.

No longer should the word spinster be maligned or conjure up the image of the badly dressed, lonely old maid living alone, with stacks of newspapers and her cat. It’s time to embrace the 2015 spinster – a woman who choses being single or in a relationship while living a full life. It’s all about choice!

I recently listened to an interview between Kate Bolick and Tom Ashbrook  on NPR to promote SPINSTER and she said she is currently “seeing a wonderful man,” and that “she is a spinster in love.”

In the spirit of self-disclosure, I’d be celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary with my husband – only he’s my ex, because we divorced eight years ago. Go figure!

Thank you Shelf-Awareness http://www.shelf-awareness.com and Crown Publishers http://www.crownpublishers.com for providing a copy of SPINSTER for an honest review.

You can check out http://www.katebolick.com for all things KATE!

I have one copy of SPINSTER to giveaway. Just leave a comment about your experience being single or married. This is going to be fun. We’ll pick a winner Monday, May 11th. Good Luck!

You can also check out more of my reviews and news about my novel, “Viewer Discretion Advised” at http://www.cindyroesel.com