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Celebrating Grandmothers: Grandmothers talk about their lives Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 26 ratings

Becoming a grandmother is both exciting and challenging. In Celebrating Grandmothers, 27 women describe – in their own words – how they responded to the many pleasures and demands of this role. They also explore how it changed both their view of themselves and the texture of their lives.

How did you feel holding your first grandchild? Does your time with the grandchildren fly by? Is there a new depth – or new complexity – in your family relationships? These stories will speak to you.

Frequently recommended as an original present for a new grandmother.

“Confirms in a direct and delightful way just how special the grandmother-grandchild relationship is…Very interesting and heart-warming.” Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, author of The Good
Granny Guide

“A fascinating analysis of what it feels like to be a grandmother today – from the joy and fulfilment to the disappointments and anxieties.” Virginia Ironside, agony aunt and novelist

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071P97DXQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Glenmore Press (May 24, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 24, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 26 ratings

About the author

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Ann Richardson
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I have been a writer for many years.

My most recent book, The Granny Who Stands on Her Head, comprises a series of reflections on growing older and is partly a memoir.

But I am fascinated by other people’s experiences, thoughts and emotions and have written three recent books where people express their views in their own words. These are:

i) Life in a Hospice, Foreword by Tony Benn, about what it is like to work in end-of-life care;

ii) Wise Before Their Time, Foreword by Sir Ian McKellen, about people living with HIV/AIDS in the early 1990s;

iii) Celebrating Grandmothers, about the joys and challenges of being a grandmother.

Website: http://www.annrichardson.co.uk.

Free fortnightly Substack newsletter: arichardson.substack.com.

I live in London, England with my husband of sixty years.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
26 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and wonderful. They appreciate the touching testimonies from grandmothers and how important family bonds are. The book is organized in a clear way that can be read in any order. Readers also mention it shows how complex, diverse, magical, and nuanced grandmothering is.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

4 customers mention "Enjoyment"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They say it's an enjoyable read with a collection of interviews.

"...It was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed reading different perspectives from grandmothers in a different place than the United States...." Read more

"...They do not talk about their grandchildren. This isn't a brag book...." Read more

"This is a wonderful book, yes, for grandmothers but not exclusively for them...." Read more

"...They can be read in any order. An enjoyable read for all, whether a grandma, a mom or a daughter!" Read more

4 customers mention "Sentimentality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book touching and poignant, with beautiful testimonies from grandmothers. It shows how important family bonds and bonds between generations can be.

"This was an especially poignant read for me, as my grandmother passed away earlier this year...." Read more

"...It shows how important family bonds and the bonds between generations can be and thankfully often are...." Read more

"...The testimonies from grandmothers were varied and I could identify with a few...." Read more

"Beautiful, touching testimonies from grandmothers. The recordings are unedited and spontaneous. They can be read in any order...." Read more

3 customers mention "Book order"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book order organized and clear. They say it can be read in any order. The book focuses on grandmothering as a complex, diverse, magical, and nuanced life.

"...The presentation in the book is professional and well put together. Very organized and a clear focus." Read more

"...The recordings are unedited and spontaneous. They can be read in any order. An enjoyable read for all, whether a grandma, a mom or a daughter!" Read more

"Grandmothering is a complex, diverse, magical, and nuanced life stage...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017
    This was an especially poignant read for me, as my grandmother passed away earlier this year. Through most of my adult life, I only contacted her occasionally, and of course I now regret that. However, I was blessed to have lived with her as a child and shared that part of my life with her. I am also glad I shared some of my artistic successes with her – she was an artist herself, and I wanted to ensure she knew that I continued that tradition and talent.

    With that in mind, I went into reading this book girded for heartache, tears, and joy. I was not disappointed. The breadth of quotations is astounding and on point. Every person should read this book, whether they knew their grandparents at all or not, are grandparents themselves or not. It will have you in carthartic tears.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2018
    Celebrating Grandmothers, by Ann Richardson is a nonfiction book with a collection of interviews from many grandmothers. The stories reflect how grandmothers see themselves, their role, their children and their children’s partners, and their grandchildren. It was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed reading different perspectives from grandmothers in a different place than the United States. I noticed that there were so many similarities to how grandmothers may feel here. Despite different cultures (some were from India and other places but reside in London), there was definitely a theme. Some were worried about their kids, their grandkids and the use of technology. I can certainly relate that those stories very well being a young grandmother myself. Technology seems to be taking over. Some had difficulty in emotionally connecting with their kids and grandkids. Some were very involved in the raising the grandkids. So many stories to sit down and read with a nice cup of coffee or tea, especially if you’re a grandmother.
    The presentation in the book is professional and well put together. Very organized and a clear focus.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2017
    Richardson organizes quotes from 27 different grandmothers into common topics -- while still preserving each woman's unique experience and perspective on this life role. They do not talk about their grandchildren. This isn't a brag book. They talk about the roles, responsibilities, opportunities, challenges, and gifts that come with being a grandmother. The portrait is complex, diverse, nuanced, and full of wonder, insight and a little bit of magic. It was as though I was sitting in a counsel of wise women talking about this vital role within the extended family, within the circle of life.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2016
    This is a wonderful book, yes, for grandmothers but not exclusively for them. It shows how important family bonds and the bonds between generations can be and thankfully often are. One of the problems of modernity is the that it places so many conflicting demands on individuals while offering so many distractions that we often forget where our true values lie. Ann Richardson’s book allows us to slow down a bit and take stock of how important nurturing relationships are for ourselves, our families, and the world at large.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2017
    I never thought that a book about Grandmothers could be interesting, nor did I believe that such a topic could form a book, but the author achieved that with distinction.
    The testimonies from grandmothers were varied and I could identify with a few.
    In my own experience, I recall being taken unawares by a phone call from my son while I was abroad at a conference.
    He called me ‘grandma’ when he addressed me at that time and I knew right away that he and my daughter-in-law were expecting a baby.
    Joy flooded my heart and I immediately started shopping for baby stuff.
    Although they are older now I still enjoy buying them stuff.
    I will travel to any part of the world to spend time with them.
    Being a grandmother is truly a blessing and an opportunity to create new memories with a new generation.
    I enjoyed ‘Celebrating Grandmothers; and commend Ann Richardson for her skill in putting together these interviews from grandmothers.
    Would have loved to read details about her own experiences too.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2016
    Ann, you have a real gift capturing the reader’s attention immediately. I respect your thorough research process and the style of the text. Exact quotations from Grandmothers gives trust and creates a bond between reader and participant. I will give my daughters in law your book for a holiday present. Best wishes, Polly Grose
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2015
    Beautiful, touching testimonies from grandmothers. The recordings are unedited and spontaneous. They can be read in any order. An enjoyable read for all, whether a grandma, a mom or a daughter!
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2016
    Perfect Mother's gift for all moms! Ms. Richardson writes beautifully about the importance of taking time to value grandmothers and moms. Each story shares a moment in time to be treasured. Rarely do grandmothers get that special nod for all of their love, dedication and wisdom. Well worth the read!

Top reviews from other countries

  • a reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read book.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2015
    I read this amazing book eagerly to find which part of 'being a grandmother ' was me, let alone 'the celebration'. I was not disappointed and bought another copy to give both away to friends who I felt were 'real grandmothers' I am a go between grandmother of one son and one grandchild who are not in touch with each other except by my love of both.
    This book by Ann Richardson who I have now met and purchased another book replacing the one I gave away, is an amazing writer not getting in the way of her subjects and presenting a wide experience of being a Grandmother in other cultures and differing dilemas' of grand parenting that can speak to all who read it, something for everyone may I say even grandfathers!.I commend this easy read that be be picked up and put down and continued as time and emotion allows.
  • SINGH
    5.0 out of 5 stars DELIGHTFUL
    Reviewed in France on December 4, 2014
    From its lovely cover to its last page, this book is a delight. A richly textured insight into the wide spectrum of feelings and experiences evoked by being a grandmother. It merits a wide audience.
  • Julia Avery
    5.0 out of 5 stars There is something in this book for everybody and it is a 'jolly good read'.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2014
    This compilation of reflections on being a grandmother is very insightful. Ann Richardson explores the fears and hopes, joys and sadness, beliefs and feelings of grandmothers from a broad range of backgrounds. It should be read not only by those newly honoured as grandparents or by those for whom it is a daily routine, but equally importantly by those of us who simply want to gain an understanding of their world. There is something in this book for everybody and it is a 'jolly good read'.
  • Vicky Dearing
    5.0 out of 5 stars an insight into the many different experiences of being a ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2014
    an insight into the many different experiences of being a grandmother - a really enjoyable book to dip into and hear their voices from different backgrounds - interesting reflections on the different relationships that need to be juggled - the author does not get in the way of allowing honest reflection to come through
    the book gives an insight into the huge amount of hard work done by grandmothers for their families
    a 'real' book version is going to my mum for Christmas!
  • paul hoggart
    5.0 out of 5 stars sometimes funny and often moving
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2017
    Ann Richardson's approach is direct and deceptively simple. These verbatim extracts from interviews with women about the experience of being a grandmother are revealing, insightful, sometimes funny and often moving. Great stuff.

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