Before I Leave: Wisdom from the Stories of Six Women Over Eighty

by Jenney Egertson

In July of 2000, Jenney Egertson met 80-year-old Maude Kelly. The following day, Jenney had an idea that felt more like a give Maude and a diverse group of women over the age of 80 a voice by writing a book to capture their stories and advice. It was the first step in a journey that would span decades. As Jenney interviewed and wrote about her subjects during the fifteen turbulent years that followed, she learned about aging, parenting, facing adversity, navigating systemic racism and sexism, and accepting community. As she grew to know and love these women, they became her mentors and friends. In the end, these powerful relationships gave Jenney the courage she needed to reclaim a precious her voice as both a woman and a writer. Before I Leave follows Jenney's journey from the moment her long-buried dream to become a writer re-emerged, through the fear she felt as she moved through middle age, to the sense of calm and acceptance she came to in her sixties. This is a book to be shared across generations as women everywhere continue to reclaim their lives and voices.

248 pages, Paperback

Published February 8, 2019

Reviews

[Debbie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenney reached out to me via my blog mentioning her book, Before I Leave, might be one I'd enjoy reading and she sent me a copy.
I did enjoy her writing! I liked learning about the six women she featured in some detail but also along the way, the bits of her own story that she wove throughout. It was enlightening and informative of a different world these women lived in and how their actions, thoughts and love impacted on her life too.
A lovely book of interesting stories!

[Richard Lowenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Before I Leave, Wisdom from the Stories of Six Women Over Eighty," Jenney Egertson has constructed a rich, intricate tapestry that entwines the themes of fulfillment, disappointment, friendship, hope, family, and more—the full panoply of what it means to be human—as shared by the six distinctive women of its title. More accurately, the seven women, as Jenney seamlessly and with great perception knits the thread of her own life’s explorations into the narrative’s fabric. The result is a work that is at once open, honest, humorous and brimming with perception, an effortless-seeming book that belies the hard work that clearly went into creating and completing it (some fifteen years to complete, according to the author). Beautifully written and overflowing with insight, "Before I Leave" is a book that, once begun, is impossible to put down, a remarkable, immensely enjoyable and profoundly rewarding experience from start to finish. I simply cannot recommend it highly enough!

[RJML · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book for my book club and I am happy to report that no one was disappointed! We are all “women of a certain age” who struggle with some of the same issues as the author. We were in agreement that Jenney’s story, being intertwined with the stories of the six women over 80, was beneficial and enlightening. Several book club members verbalized remorse over not having asked their mothers and grandmothers some of the same questions Jenney asked her chosen women. For those of you who are contemplating reading this book, do it! And don’t hesitate a moment longer if your mother and/or grandmother is still alive. As was the case with Ruth Yamamoto, when Jenney asked her why she had never spoken of her time spent in the Japanese internment camp during WWII, she replied that no one had ever asked.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful Stories of Beautiful Women!
To all those who have a special mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, you will enjoy reading this book. It reminds us to cherish all the great wise women who have interesting stories to share and to whom we owe great thanks! This book is also beautiful woven together with unique stories told from the author's interviews and perspective. Egertson even brought in her own mother and grandmother's story and that really touched my heart. This is a great read and makes you appreciate each woman's journey from "The Greatest Generation."

[Trish Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories of these very different women really resonated with me. Reading about their lives through the lens and perspective of Egertson really helped me examine my own relationship with my elders, my aging process, and values. Sometimes, it's too "in your face" for me to navigate my own land mines...it's much easier and therefore productive to do it in the safety of someone else's stories. Egertson has a gift for capturing the essence of a person through their life histories. She's a great storyteller.

[Jody Hilgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book that reminds me of how important it is to connect with people across generations. In learning how six courageous and determined women over age 80 navigated through a patriarchal world, Jenney’s book nudges me to reflect on what has changed since then – and what challenges lie ahead for the next generation.

[Mary Desjarlais · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a careful, tender and good listener. Egertson allows these women to tell their stories with all of their triumphs and regrets giving us the chance to measure our own life milestones and learn how we are all doing the best we can. I’m thankful these profiles now live in the world and I believe I understand my mother and grandmother a bit better.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this on an obscure website and thought it sounded interesting. Egertson talks mostly about herself instead of the 80 year-olds she chose to interview. Much of what would have enhanced the stories was neither asked about or included. I was not impressed.

[Mary Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a wonderful book.It is very well written and brings you into the lives of the featured women as well as the journey of the author as she learned about them, and herself.

[Paula Justus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing was disjointed and too much of the authors life and not enough of the women she interviewed. I was disappointed.

[jmilesc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish.
Appreciated the premise, did not like writing style and it got convoluted for me with the author’s wrapping in her own journey.

[Chris Harnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful and compelling book. Very well written.
I loved how the author writes about the lives of these diverse women and her relationships with each of them. Much to learn from the wisdom of older women.

[Emerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept for a book but the final product was disjointed and did not keep my interest, plus the writing is mediocre.