If you live long enough you will age. Some poems may help you as continue, some offer perspectives on the past and others suggest you're not alone in feelings. Not necessarily an aid for me, but I can see merit.

This poetry was really not for me. It might be for others, but I found it very young in its attitude and writing, and though I read the whole thing I felt I did not gain anything from it. Others might, though!

This collection is fit for women of every age. It talks about how the aging process can make or break a women. Some take it well while others not. This collection also shows how the society's behaviour starts changing around the aging women. The authors showed how this affects the media and entertainment industry.

There is a mix of prose, poetry and quotes and many of those are included by some classical and famous authors. I really enjoyed a few poems but overall this collection didn't left an impact on me.

Good day! Before anything else, I would like to extend my deepest, sincerest gratitude for sending me a digital review copy of this book (via NetGalley). Thank you very much for the opportunity!

Unfortunately, I am sad to say that I have lost interest in this particular title, and consequently, I have decided against finishing it. Forcing myself to finish a book I am disinterested in (solely for the sake of finishing it) can only negatively impact the entirety of my reading experience, which, in turn, could result in me writing an unfairly negative review. That is a circumstance I hope to avoid. With that said, I believe that the best course of action is for me to simply not read it and to refrain from publicly posting any feedback regarding this book.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from. Again, thank you for the lovely opportunity!

I must be depress 'cause I feel so old, b ut this book make me feel a little less sad

This collection is perfect for women of all ages. I loved the introductions to each sections and there were a handful of poems I will treasure for years to come!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an impartial review.

How many ways can I say fabulous? How Did This Happen? strikes to very heart of what it is like to be female and growing older. The anthology of poems is divided into sections depicting various states of aging:

Insult (When You Don't Recognize Yourself in the Mirror);
Injury (When You Realize Aging Is a Thing);
Defiance (When You Think You Can Make It All Go Away);
Dread (When You Realize You Can't Even);
Grit (When You Find A Way To Live With Yourself); and
Grace (When You Find A Way To Live In The World).

Compilers Mary Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Velez introduce each section with a mixture of hilarity and woe. My only complaint here is that sometimes they provide too much detail on some of the poems; consequently, I saw their interpretations instead of discovering my own. The compilers provide a wonderful selection of poems, some familiar and some unexpected new discoveries. Poets were both male and female and ranged from the ancient Greeks to Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson to 21st century comediennes. Topics include mammograms, aching bodies, gynecological visits, and muffin top waistlines. There isn't a poem that is misplaced or out-of-sorts; each poem reflects an image of what it feels like, tastes like, and hurts like to get older.

I have a confession here. As an avid reader (32 so far in 2017), I rarely buy books. I spent my professional life in a library and loved it. Downloadable e-books through my public library means I don't even have to get out of my jammies to find some new titles. How Did This Happen? is a title I will buy for friends and for myself. This wonderful collection of poems proves we are not alone in this nightmare/fantastic journey.

Now, I have to go buy a tool to make it easier for my crony, old-lady hands to open jars!

This poetry collection was humorous, insightful, thought-provoking, and refreshing. It encourages us to not approach aging with dread and fear, but to approach it with grace and dignity. The drawbacks of aging are met with humor and the benefits of increasing wisdom and life experiences are focused on. As a woman in my late 30s I read this book hoping that I would be able to relate to it. I was so happy I did! I especially agreed with the idea that we should embrace the aging process, because the alternative of not growing older is definitely not a better option.

Aside from the publicity push of superficial beauty, health, and wellness books written by ex-models and celebrities able to spend thousands on various surgical procedures and enhancements—it is possible to age with dignity and grace. “How Did This Happen? Poems For The Not So Young Anymore” is written by Mary D. Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Velez: both women are teachers, also former reporters of People Magazine, and have enjoyed an abiding friendship that includes a mutual love for literature and poetry.

This daring book speaks candidly to women of nearly every age—whether managing an established career, steering towards retirement, or already retired, the stigma, shame and silence surrounding aging need not be so troubling and problematic. Almost every aspect of “Sister Age” is confronted, the sections include: Injury- Defiance - Dread - Grit - and Grace. From Amy Schumer’s “brilliant feminism” that boldly addresses women of all ages, to Lena Dunham’s “unapologetic frankness” that inspires truth and intimacy, to Dorothy Parker’s “devastating wit”. No book on female aging would be complete without mention of Nora Ephron’s (1941-2012) “I Feel Bad About My Neck” (2008) and “I Remember Nothing” (2010). Prose, poetry, quotes and more are included from numerous noteworthy and classical author’s including Shakespeare.

The inevitable aging process can ravage or redeem us: many women are shocked to lose their looks, problems, regrets, tragedies, can harden or poison our hearts with bitterness.
Zadie Smith observed: “Something changes when women are forced out of the beauty industry and marital fantasy industry—I think they become their real selves. Women… in their fifties… are humans, not refracted images of some insane feminine myth.”
As women slow down, it may not be so bad to contemplate “the blazing beauty” of the world around us, (“Solstice Poem, iv”—Margaret Atwood). We are blessed with more time to reflect on life lessons learned, heal our hurts, and we are wiser for it. ~ Much appreciation and thanks to Hachette Book Group via NetGalley for the direct digital copy for the purpose of review.

Nice collection of poems dealing with women and aging. I was not familiar with most poems, and it was a nice assortment of older and more modern poems. The introductions between the sections were sometimes redundant.