Book details

  • Genre:biography & autobiography
  • Sub-genre:Women
  • Language:English
  • Pages:240
  • eBook ISBN:9781098372149
  • Paperback ISBN:9781098372132

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Unmute Yourself, Girlfriend

A Class Act - a Zoom through the Pandemic at Seventy

By A Memoir Anthology

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Overview

In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic was in the early stages when a group of women who graduated from an all-girls public high school – The Philadelphia High School for Girls - came together via Zoom. As they rekindled old and cultivated new relationships, their conversations became more profound. Discussions regarding politics in and around the presidential election, the racial tensions in the country and fears that stemmed from the pandemic were shared. They were reminded that they had experienced tumultuous times before – the years leading up to and including another fateful time in history - 1968 – the year of their high school graduation
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Description

As the now seventy-year-olds laughed and cried with one another, they felt they were only scratching the surface of their individual experiences while on Zoom. It was then that forty-three of the women thought to write what this time in their lives meant to each of them. A world-wide pandemic, politics, racism and bigotry off the rails, these 'sisters' originally from Philadelphia who were now spread as far now as California, Washington State, Alaska, Montreal, Toronto, Spain and France wrote their stories. Their original hope was to leave something behind - to leave a little piece of themselves for their children and grandchildren and for those without - for the ages. Their humorous and often gut-wrenching stories, each of them as unique as the writers themselves, will keep you, the reader, engaged with their tales. It was only after they realized what they had collectively created that they decided to publish this book and to have the profits from sales go towards scholarships at their alma mater, The Philadelphia High School for Girls.
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About The Author

A Woodstock Icon, a Judge, a Columbine survivor, an Archaeologist, a Midwife/Pot Farmer/CEO, a Sex Therapist, Accountants, a Linguist, a Dancer, a Molecular Biophysicist, Artists, a Film Production masochist, a Ballistic/Engineer Scientist, numerous Teachers, Writers and Doctorates, many Wives and Mothers - all well imagined and fully realized women, these are our Authors:

Pauline Miriam Braverman * Paula Campbell * Judy Chu Pembroke * Susan Dukow * Kathryn Flynn Tessier * Lois Gatker * Dina Ghen * Psylvia Gurk Tessler * Susan Halpern Rosenfeld * Sandra Heginbothom Lewis * Karen Israel * Terry Jones Candis * Emily Kahn Freedman * Wendy Keene (aka Anaiis Salles) * Marsha Kramer Prosini * Jackie Krenetz Dering * Katherine LaMonaca Hanson * Gloria London * Arlene Margolis Slepchik * Patricia Anne McDonnell * Karen Meketon Soskin * Janice Miller Abrams * Jane Murray Gilmore * Fran Nachman * Linda Notto Stulz * Margit Novack * Sharon Ozlek Dunoff * Jane Pearl Barr * Eileen Perkins Lashin * Carlotta Picazio Cundari * Nona Safra * Lily Samuel Rothman * Lois Sharp Rothenberger * Rachel Stark Farrell * Ruth Stark * Medellin Stephens * Robin Thomas Poponne * Diana White Sims * Candace Whitman * Ellen Williams Lebelle * Judy Wong Greco * Fran Yeager Bembenek * Janet Yassen *

Please visit our blog as we continue the conversations we began amongst ourselves, now with you, our readers:

https://unmuteyourselfgirlfriend.blogspot.com/


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Book Reviews

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Diana
Unmute Yourself Girlfriend An amazing book. Is a sequel that in the works? Read more
Diane
Absolutely Captivating What a joy to read a first hand account of my Alma Mater through the vantage point of 46 alumnae! To read it as an account from the time point of the mid to late sixties and then fast forward to 2020, was what pulled me in from the start. Although each story was different, there were numerous, truthful similarities to what was experienced by many alumnae generations later. There were some authors who expressed attending GHS as a vehicle to remove themselves from the sameness of their cultural and familial expectations which so resonated with me. There were also stories of forming life long diverse friendships, of building illustrious careers, and of adventures which are similar among my own class sisters. To tie this all to the rekindling of bonds and friendships during the pandemic was the cherry on the top. This was one book I couldn’t put down. I am happy that the intangible spirit lives on and gets us through the worst of times! Read more
Dina
Exceptional This coming of age book at 70, A Zoom Through the Pandemic, is a compilation of memories from the recent and distant past. All the writings have something that will touch peoples' lives with smiles, guffaws, and tears. But for me, the class act was the hiker's story. Wow! To have been walking so far for so long, way before COVID is such a gift. Blessed with a passion to hike was the way to keep her body and soul together through the pandemic, especially at 70. Congratulations on coming full circle! Buy this book; it is a gem. Dina Read more
Lois
Real women telling their stories No two stories are the same but every one enlightens or brings tears or results in laughter or produces nostalgia. I loved reading these stories of lives well lived Read more
Ruth E
Unmuted and Unfettered Whereas proofreading a subset of these stories was a joyous but technical task, reading them all AS STORIES is really eye-opening. The range of emotions and life experiences is breathtaking; the diversity of expression -- sometimes even in a single piece -- is inspiring. Sometimes the story rekindles memories of friendship or angst from 50+ years back, sometimes it reveals a girlfriend's dimensions that I never had a clue about, and sometimes it introduces me to a person I simply wish I had known when we were adolescents together. Read more
Carlotta
Unmute Yourself Girlfriend "What a long strange trip it's been".....traveling back to my days at Girls High in Philadelphia has been an amazing journey. I am so proud to be among the fabulous women of the class of 1968. All of life's twists, joys and pitfalls are presented by this amazing group and I couldn't be more delighted with the outcome. Take a bow ladies! Carlotta Read more
Emily
1968 to 2020 - Girls' High graduation to Pandemic Such a wonderful document of diverse lives lived and remembered and shared on Zoom! Read more
Katherine
Unmute Yourself, Girlfriend Reading this book is like taking a trip down Memory Lane. The teen years can be exciting while youth is on your side, but difficulties can arise as you discover where you fit in this crazy world. I hope that the memories of these ladies who attended Philadelphia High School for Girls and are now close to or in their seventies will resonate with the reader. Read more
Sandra
Unmute yourself What an enlightening group of essays.....great writing and interestingly well written. I am so proud of the accomplishments of the Class of 212...an uncommon group of strong and talented individuals who came together to make this project work. Congratulations on a job well done. Read more
Marcy
Heartfelt and Real The emotionally real stories that dwell within this book gives voice to a turbulent and dynamic time in the lives of the amazing and brilliant girls I knew who were coming of age in the late 60's. I can still see them in my mind's eye...eager, exploring, adventurous, giddy at the possibilities that lay ahead, while searching their souls for the meaning of their lives. This book takes me back to the sweet cacophony of my high school years. Thanks for the memories. - Marcy Rauer Wagman Read more