Old Ladies: Stories    by Nancy Huddleston Packer Order:  USA  Can Daniel & Daniel, 2012 (2012) Softcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth The stories in Nancy Huddleston Packer's Old Ladies hit home with me. I am one of those old ladies. I could identify with the women in these entrancing short stories. If I haven't been in the situations conjured in each author's brain, I know someone who has. There are eleven stories about widows, divorcées, the happily married, a professor, a cleaning lady, the rich and poor - all reaching the end of their lives and making the best of it. Many of them are starting over without their spouses, not wanting the change that has happened in their lives. Some could use a little help, others can give help. A few want to be surrounded by humanity and others to be left alone. Basically, though, all are in the same boat. One is looking for the romance that disappeared from her life. Another is too timid to stand on her own two feet. What I find fascinating about all these women is that anyone is writing about them at all. Younger people look at us old ladies and don't begin to see the history behind those faded eyes. We lived in a different era with different mores and rules. We can't catch up with the new technology. But we still have our memories and good friends who know where we're coming from. And where we're going. Wisdom jumps off these pages, as does humor and understanding and compassion. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews