Released: November 24, 2023
Released: April 19, 2021
Sharp, moving, and uniquely Canadian, Midlife is a book about reaching middle age in 2021, by 27 friends who met at the Gateway, the student newspaper at the University of Alberta. Read an excerpt now.
Midlife and Midlife No. 2 are the collected works of former members of the Gateway, the student newspaper at the University of Alberta. Editors Sarah Chan and Jhenifer Pabillano brought together two crews of
27 creators from the Gateway of the late 1990s/early 2000s, to explore how navigating midlife in the 2020s
isn’t as straightforward as anyone imagined. Featuring stunning cover illustrations by Raymond Biesinger.
For me, the Gateway was a place to try things, to make terrible mistakes and lifelong friends, and I did not want my time at the newspaper—or at our university—to end. I felt similarly reading this sad, funny, wise, and beautiful book about people who seemed a lot like me, only smarter and better. Nostalgia! Pride! I did not want Midlife to end.
The collection of essays in Midlife No. 2 emerge from the writers’ deep personal experiences, taking the reader on a powerful journey of what it means to be and become more of who we are. Through their stories, we feel a palpable, profound sense of connection and community. Because they shared, we feel less alone. Organized thematically and artistically like movements in a symphony, Midlife No. 2 reminds of us the indomitable power of the human spirit and the gentle notes of love, loss, longing, laughter and light that permeate our lives if only we get still enough to listen.
Midlife No. 2 delves into the hilarious, poignant, and often tumultuous journey of navigating middle age, particularly during the challenging times of COVID. The stories of realizing dreams and the realization that some dreams might not be what we truly want are brilliantly woven into the chapters, leaving readers with profound introspection.
In a world where the pressure to have it all figured out by midlife is ever-present, Midlife No. 2 offers a refreshing perspective: it’s okay not to have it all together. Instead, it’s about discovering who we are, embracing our vulnerabilities, and finding the strength to keep moving forward.
Midlife No. 2 will comfort, provide inspiration, a few tears, and some great belly laughs! Enjoy!
A beautiful example of art imitating life. I laughed, I cried, I connected, I reflected. 27 vulnerable, powerful and beautifully written essays. This book demonstrates how our past helps shape our reality and how a ridiculously tight-time lined project can come to life, when people are willing and ready to share their story.
For me, the Gateway was a place to try things, to make terrible mistakes and lifelong friends, and I did not want my time at the newspaper—or at our university—to end. I felt similarly reading this sad, funny, wise, and beautiful book about people who seemed a lot like me, only smarter and better. Nostalgia! Pride! I did not want Midlife to end.
Aging as the first generation dealing with overwhelming climate change, a greater importance on social justice, and entire life plans ripped from beneath our feet; Midlife is a powerful anthology of essays from the lives of people who in many ways are also holding up a mirror to our own experiences.
In the age of the personal essay, it’s a rare thing to find a collection of writing that feel genuinely intimate, not just-revealing-enough-to-get-you-to-subscribe intimate. This book is full of the kind of aching wisdom that can only come from aging while clever.
A melting pot of experiences, personalities and perspectives… I saw a reflection of myself in each of the authors. My heart kept on desiring the emotional rollercoaster ride to keep on going.
Some truly moving and insightful and beautiful and, also, funny writing here—and really good for a homesickness I didn’t know I had. Is reading this something I would recommend, even to non-Gateway alumni? Yes! It is! Yes. It really is.
