The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering: A Story for Anyone Who Thinks She Can't Save the World [Hardcover]

Sharon Mehdi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2005

A story for anyone who thinks she can't save the world"On a buffety, blustery early summer day, when the news was bad and the sky turned yellow, a strange thing happened in the town where I live"So begins this moving and enchanting story of two grandmothers who, by standing in the park all day long-"not speaking, not looking at squirrels, not munching on coconut candy"-soon have everyone in town talking. A young girl informs the stumped observers shyly, "they're saving the world". These simple acts and words have an enormous impact on the town and soon on towns all over the world.At a time when the news is bad and many people feel powerless, this inspiring story tells of two women who do something so simple that at first no one takes them very seriously, but soon, when they are joined by other women, and then many other women, their simple act of caring has the power to transform the world. Together, these women discover great things are possible-even, and especially, peace.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A simple story with a powerful message --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (April 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670034606
• ISBN-13: 978-0670034604
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Silence can speak loudly, April 13, 2005

By 

Eileen Rieback (Coral Springs, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering: A Story for Anyone Who Thinks She Can't Save the World (Hardcover)

Two grandmothers are standing silently in the park on a windy day, doing nothing in particular, and the town's residents wonder what they are up to. A young girl says that they are saving the world. Soon they are joined by other women, and then more women, and suddenly this gentle gathering appears to have the ability to transform the world for the better.

In an afterword, author Sharon Mehdi described how she came to write this story. She had been trying to write a serious nonfiction book about buried scrolls that would save the world, but came down with a bad case of writer's block. At that same time, several things influenced her to take a different tack: she became a grandmother, the world was full of bad news about war, violence, and economic woes, and she recalled a Native American elder telling her that "men have taken the world as far as they can. It's up to the women to lead us the rest of the way." At that point she decided to write her granddaughter a children's story for grownups. It began as a booklet, but as it was read to more and more women, its popularity spread until it was time to be published for a wider audience.

This small book carries a message of hope. Laced with warmth and humor, it asserts that silence can speak loudly and that small acts can take on a power of their own. This would make a great gift for Mother's Day, or for any woman who thinks she can't make a difference in the world.

Eileen Rieback

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We're saving the world!, April 22, 2005

By 

Marta Gomez (Ashland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering: A Story for Anyone Who Thinks She Can't Save the World (Hardcover)

It began with two grandmothers standing in the park to save the world as it does in Sharon Mehdi's charming and witty giant of a little story. "A children's book for grown-ups" as it was suggested by a new friend in the town where the author lives. Not only did the grandmothers in the story arouse and excite everyone in their town, the book had a magical and powerful impact on the community of Ashland, Oregon as is told in "The Story of the Story", also included in the hardback edition. After many book readings and radio interviews, word is out about this blessed story that will inspire hope for the future in all who read it. It has for me and the people I have given it to. It has been distributed at UN conferences and will be translated into many languages because it is universally compelling and non-political. Pick up extra copies for gifts, too.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wow. Just wow., July 16, 2005

By 

Laura Gail (Greenfield, Ma United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering: A Story for Anyone Who Thinks She Can't Save the World (Hardcover)

I picked this book up today in a bookstore, and before I knew it, I was sitting on the floor completely engrossed in it (this is saying something, as I was wearing a very small mini-skirt, which was not something in which one should sit on bookstore floors!). Despite not having a lot of money right now I had to buy this book. I had to have it to read and re-read.

I will buy a coyy for my mother.
I will buy copies for my friends.
I am thinking of buying copies to give to strangers.

This story moved something deep inside me--it reminded me of my Power, and the Power of one to change the world. And in so doing, has changed the world.

Buy this book.