A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman

A Year by the Sea

Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman

by Joan Anderson
(based on 126 customer reviews)

A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman (Paperback)
Edition: 1st Broadway Books Trade Pbk. Ed
Author: Joan Anderson
Publisher: Broadway


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Most useful review as voted by customers:
98 out of 108 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 11/28/00


Life Changing for a 29 year old too!

I checked this book out from the library after seeing Joan Anderson on Oprah. I read it in a day and a half saving the ending for that second day because I was so moved. I went out the next day and bought a copy for myself so I could highlight. I then bought 15 more for a total of 16 to give as a gift to every woman I knew from 17 to 76 years old. I then read it again. I then tracked Joan Anderson herself down and flew to Cape Cod to meet her for my 30th birthday by myself. No girlfriends, siblings, or husband. You do not have to be wealthy to do this, I'm certainly not. I went myself for my own week by the sea and again met this magical woman. I've never had such an experience in my life and probably never will. Buy the book - buy many and give them to everyone you know. I was 29 when I read it and found myself becoming the author in a few years time. What a blessed woman, what a blessed place, what a blessed book. Amazing.

40 out of 43 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 8/23/00


A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman

I bought this book on a Saturday afternoon and finished by by Sunday morning.

This is a great little book for any woman who wonders about who they are, and where are they going from here. Are we just going in circles, are we still playful, do we love ourselves, do we love life?

This book shares the authors thoughts of what happened to her over the time period of one year, alone, all alone in a small family cottage by the sea.

If you want to be inspired to think of yourself first so you have something to give to others this is the book for you.

32 out of 33 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 7/7/99


Pilgrimage to personhood invites readers along.

It is a rare gift to find a soul mate between the pages of a wonderful book. Joan Anderson's style is liquid gold. I was awash in salt air and alternately displaced to Cape Cod and the isle of Roan Inish (my all-time favorite movie). The seals were a fantastic metaphor. Joan's personal pilgrimage is the dream of every woman of her generation who hopes her loved ones will discover her on her own terms. Every woman of a certain age will identify with this story for her own reason. I am also a writer who moved to Cape Cod to complete a womens novel. The outcome and motives are the same; mine is a different story. Anderson will find herself swamped with those of us who want to be her friend, neighbor or confidante. Most of us facing a coming-of-middle-age lack the courage to risk everything. She tackles her pilgrimage with strength and a marvelous sense of humor and emerges a winner in every sense. It was a pleasure to spend time with Joan Anderson. A Year by the Shore is one of those books I raced through, only to find I was sad when I finished it. I was on page 100 before I realized that my feet were cold. I grabbed a cup of tea and some socks and continued reading, saving the last 20 pages so I could savor them in the morning. This book is the perfect gift for many friends of all ages

27 out of 32 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 1/22/02


Buoyant and beautiful

This is an autobiographical account of the author taking a sabbatical from her marriage - something rarely heard of, even in this beentheredonethat day and age. Along the way she encounters storms, work, friendship, dearly departings and experiences with nature. As I read her book, I couldn't help but see how these things were real-time metaphors for the things encountered in a marriage. There are times of joy, loss, sadness, spiritual encouragers, hopelessness, friends who come alongside, and happiness regained.

In a day where marriages are tossed overboard like fish gone bad, Anderson deserves kudos for being honest with her feelings, while trying to paddle back to her husband. Though this is a marvelous read, the silent hero in this book is her husband. It takes a trusting man to give his wife 365 days in which to find herself, not knowing what her decision will be until the year is up.

Anderson talent for creating word pictures, whether about the sea, dolphins or slopping fish, the reader is there with her rubbing off the sea salt. In one poignant scene, Anderson and her ninety-something friend are at work on handheld looms. Her friend says about mixing the colored threads, "You must look more carefully at what it means when one color meets another to see how many strengths you have to work with and lean on." Anderson goes on to say, "...I am beginning to see that every thread is significant." I found myself examining my friendships, and recognizing each one's significance in my life and how we equip each other to continue on our own journeys.

Weave yourself into Anderson's words; you won't want to miss the pleasure of her company.

22 out of 27 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 2/2/01


A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman

This is the most enlightening book I have ever read! It is all women who are encompassed in this awakening of the inner self which shows each individual's own capabilities to be everything they can in life -- to be open to all that surrounds them and learn how to learn from the experiences one encounters in everyday occurences.

I would like to thank the writer, Joan Lee Anderson, for giving this book to all women to see outselves in, and to have opened up the possibilities of change in one's life as being a "good" thing -- an opportunity for acceptance of ourselves by ourselves exactly as we are! This book shows you there is am ongoing state of "finishing" available to all people, both men as well as women, regardless of age, state of mind, or physical size and shape. This book was truly one of life's little "unexpected" treasures!

I recommend this book to anyone who feels "unfinished" ... because once you read the book you will realize it is o.k. to be "unfinished"!!! Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down.

Sincerely,

Diane P. Hefter

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