Born in the shadow of World War II, Mary Lou Dickinson came of age in an era that expected women to conform—but she never did. This powerful memoir traces her path as a feminist writer of the Silent Generation, working with the women’s movement and working to support the survivors of sexual assault. Though she had long published stories in literary magazines, it wasn’t until the age of 70 that her first book was published, proving that it’s never too late to claim one’s voice.
“Late Bloomer is the autobiography/memoir of a writer. The writer is a late bloomer as her first published book comes late in life, but the woman has been striving and blooming all her life. There is a profound message as seen through her story – a universal and eloquent message – that teaches us to choose to bloom.”
—Paula de Ronde, librarian, Toronto Public Library
Mary Lou Dickinson is a feminist author who emerged from the “Silent Generation” (a child during World War II) to a long struggle to find her voice. Told what women could not do, she was determined to find a path through the noise to achieve different goals than those available. Among many jobs over the years to support herself, her children and her writing, she worked as a counsellor on a crisis line for women in situations where they experienced violence (emotional, physical, sexual, etc.) against them. She writes thoughtful, insightful fiction that often highlights social justice issues.
In Late Bloomer, Dickinson’s passion for writing is the current that drives the memoir through a life full of astonishing and disparate twists and turns. She takes the reader from the mining town of Val d’Or in Quebec to Toronto. Combined with her travel experiences, her memoir is a rich landscape of colour and sound where the reader meets both intimate family members and public faces. Her story is grounded in fascinating Canadian history as she discovers her global genealogy. She easily transitions from past to present and, after years of perseverance, ends her journey with the satisfaction of having accomplished her life’s goal. A great read.
—Valentina Gal, author and storyteller
Mary Lou Dickinson’s world is marked by courage of conviction, perseverance and success against all odds. I am captivated by her craft, her vivid focus on intricately layered details, narrated with almost an ease of a post- expressionist form of storytelling. A compelling memoir, with a masterful blend of personal reflection and cultural commentary, written with sharpness, clarity and humility. A must read.
—Dr. Anubha Mehta, author, Peacock in the Snow
A memorable portrait of a strong, persistent Canadian woman writer, shaped by landscape and by history. Mary Lou Dickinson’s life bloomed early, with marriage and motherhood, travel and friends, but the writing flowered late: her first book, the ReLit finalist One Day It Happens, was published just before her seventieth birthday. Late Bloomer is the story of literary arrival after a lifetime of writing, a reminder that everyone has the right to strive and an affirmation of the worth of that striving.
—Elizabeth Greene, author, No Ordinary Days
