Why I'm Still Married: Women Write Their Hearts Out on Love, Loss, Sex, and Who Does the Dishes

Twenty-four bestselling and award-winning women writers explore one of life's most challenging and rewarding relationships

In the spirit of the bestselling The Bitch in the House, Why I'm Still Married captures the passion, loss, joy, friendship, and humor that marks lifelong commitment through a brilliant kaleidoscope of voices, such as Julia Alvarez, Susan Cheever, Elizabeth Graver, Erica Jong, Aimee Liu, Bharati Mukherjee, ZZ Packer, and Marge Piercy.

Revealing the myriad ways in which women navigate the bumpy terrain of emotional intimacy, weather arguments and separations, adjust to parenting, avoid-or succumb to-the temptation of infidelity, and decide who does the dishes, this riveting collection is at once unique and universal, and will speak to any woman who's ever been in a long-term relationship.

"Whether they're on their first marriage or their fourth, each of the 24 contributors to this thought-provoking collection has terrific stories and wisdom to share, and they all do it masterfully. 'Nobody is a perfect match and we have to accept that,' writes Marge Piercy, who has learned to accommodate her husband's quirks, just as he has hers. Editor Propp's husband expressed his annoyance — anger, actually — over differences so viciously that after five years she began fantasizing about leaving. Instead, she went to the Internet, read about verbal abuse and learned to stand up for herself. NPR reporter Maria Hinojosa says, 'I stay married because this is the one person who understands how to help make me into a better person.' You might not agree with everyone's theories — Hannah Pine defends her choice to be a mother in an open marriage — but each one deals with the real problems, and pleasures, of marriage. As editor Trounstine puts it: '[m]arriage doesn't have the excitement of the illicit or the thrill of the daredevil. It's more like the quiet hum of the everyday and the occasional surprise of the sunset.' Agent, Neeti Madan." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Karen Propp received her Ph.D. in creative writing from the University of Utah, where she studied under Charles Simic and Mark Strand.

Jean Trounstine is a professor, an actress, and a women's activist. She has appeared on the Today show and NPR's All Things Considered, and in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and The Boston Globe Magazine.