Ordinary Aphrodite
by Anne Schroeder
Published by Russell Dean and Company
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Reviewed by Connie Anderson
Everyone Anne Schroeder meets “are endless ingredients in her writer’s stew.”
In this autobiography/memoir, Anne not only observed people, places and things, she writes beautifully about them to make this book one I’ll treasure and reread.
Anne’s touches about her own and others’ humanness will give every woman a pause to think about her life. She was married at 19 almost 40 years ago. She is a mother, businesswoman and now the wife of a retired police officer–same husband, he’s just retired–a change for any woman who had the house to herself.
Anne writes about her husband in ways many of us can relate to, like when she is “upset” with him, the man of her dreams. The special times she has with her adult daughters was touching and encouraging.
Anne is not a perfect size woman but calorically challenged so she understands the “grande XL label on clothing. She said, “My fat cells have enough to eat without feeding on my self-esteem.” (Just one of the many examples of her brilliant use of words to make a point.)
Anne struggles with a mother-in-law who believes Anne was not, and still isn’t worthy of having her son as her husband, no matter how hard Anne tries.
She writes how as a couple they struggle, work hard to keep their marriage sound and how much humor and honesty–at least most of the time–is important. In telling of her reoccuring dream about her husband dying she says it prepares her–but more important, makes her realize everyday is a new and second chance to love him. So sweet.
Anne is like many of us: post-menopause; empty nesters, retired or having a retired spouse; animal lover/hater; and parent, wife and lover, and not necessarily in that order.
This is not simply a map of her life but a trip filled with rich descriptions and meaningful connections. When she was young she had no role models for leaving the safety of home and the safety of the usual expectations for women then. She said if she succeeded, she’d be a role model, and if she failed, she’d be an example.
Armchair Interviews says: Her truisms and wonderful writing style should be read by every woman “of a certain age.”
Author’s Web site: http://www.ReadAnneSchroeder.com