Gray Matters: Finding Meaning in the Stories of Later Life By Dr. Ellyn Lem

Listen to “Ellyn Lem interviewed by Paul Sladkus for GoodNews Broadcast” on Spreaker.

“Gray Matters invites readers to reexamine what they think they know about growing old. Offering succinct close readings of richly diverse cultural texts, Lem’s book presents literature as a resource for dealing with the practical and existential concerns of aging. With its interdisciplinary grounding in age studies theory and sociological data, Gray Matters is itself a valuable resource for readers ready to reorient their view of later life.”

—— Erin Lamb, co-editor of Research Methods in Health Humanities

Aging is one of the most compelling issues today, with record numbers of seniors over sixty-five worldwide! Gray Matters: Finding Meaning in the Stories of Later Life examines a diverse array of cultural works including films, literature, and even art that represent this time of life, often made by people who are seniors themselves from all walks of life from the rich and famous to the everyday person in our towns and neighborhoods.

Ellyn has been on multiple programs such as “The Morning Blend” (TMJ4TV – Milwaukee), and she can speak on topics focused on aging such as:

· How people’s personal stories of aging connect with writers’ portrayals
· Senior parents and their adult children
· Housing options
· Memory Loss
· Intimacy
· Men and Women (Differences and Similarities)
· Money, Work and Retirement
· Dealing with the challenges of social isolation during COVID19.

This thought provoking analysis is certain to challenge your audience’s perceptions on aging, as Professor Lem engages in dialogue with others on the recent research exploring how “stories” illuminate the dynamics of growing old by blending fact with imagination. GRAY MATTERS: Finding Meaning In The Stories of Later Life (Rutgers University Press; Paperback; August 15, 2020; $29.95; 978-1-1978-80631-3) will shine light on the fascinating real life experiences of seniors gathered from over two hundred in-depth surveys with a range of questions on growing old, not often included in other age studies works.

Gray Matters combines cultural texts, gerontology research, and observations from older adults that will give all readers a fuller picture of the struggles and pleasures of aging and avoids over-simplified representations of the process as all negative or positive.

“Creative, wide-ranging and well-written, Gray Matters offers a many-sided, complex understanding of late-life. It demonstrates that this period of our lives interweaves our past and present, takes grit, and offers opportunities for positive experiences. For some, learning becomes more enjoyable, as the phrase ‘senior college’ indicates. Gray Matters also skillfully shows that aging occurs in a social context, a fact often overlooked when the process is understood as solely an individual matter.”
—— Margaret Cruikshank, from the foreword

“Gray Matters invites readers to reexamine what they think they know about growing old. Offering succinct close readings of richly diverse cultural texts, Lem’s book presents literature as a resource for dealing with the practical and existential concerns of aging. With its interdisciplinary grounding in age studies theory and sociological data, Gray Matters is itself a valuable resource for readers ready to reorient their view of later life.”
—— Erin Lamb, co-editor of Research Methods in Health Humanities

“Lem draws examples from literature, film, television, and a survey of older people to support a wide-ranging and accessible examination of contemporary culture. Especially helpful to those who are new to the field, this book is a welcome addition to age-studies scholarship.”
—— Valerie Lipscomb, author of Performing Age in Modern Drama –This text refers to the hardcover edition.

“Ellyn Lem’s research wasn’t just from gerontology— she surveyed over 200 real people over the ages of 65…. making the experience of reading this book heartfelt and personal. Census facts were fascinating as well. Added pleasures for book lovers, screen lovers of movies, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, Amazon Prime, and other network watchers, will be smiling! There are so many fun tidbits and commentaries from literature, film, and television: many favorite authors, books, and screen entertainment is explored and examined throughout!
I found it exciting to read about books & authors I’ve read -and exciting to learn about books, authors, shows, I’ve missed – but now must add to my desire to read & watch lists.”
—— Elsye Walters, Advance Reader from Goodreads

Ellyn A. Lem is a professor of English and Gender Studies at UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha. She teaches a variety of composition and literature courses, including a course, Women in Popular Culture. Her publications include articles on The Hunger Games, Like Water for Chocolate, Arthur Miller and Anzia Yezierska and the book Gray Matters: Finding Meaning in the Stories of Later Life. Lem received her PhD from New York University.

Series: Global Perspectives on Aging
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Rutgers University Press; None edition (August 15, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1978806310
ISBN-13: 978-1978806313

Gray Matters: Finding Meaning in the Stories of Later Life, will be out Aug. 15th and is available for pre-order now:
from Rutgers University Press, Local bookstores like Books and Company, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other fine book retailers everywhere.

Read her book Gray Matters on Kindle!

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