Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Life by Judith Viorst, Laurie Rosenwald (Illustrator)
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(Hardcover)
- Pub. Date: October 2000
- 80pp
- Sales Rank: 23,562
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: October 2000
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
- Format: Hardcover, 80pp
- Sales Rank: 23,562
- ISBN-13: 9780684867632
- ISBN: 068486763X
Synopsis
Every woman who has reached this decade -- any woman anywhere in the vicinity of sixty -- will find herself in the pages of this book. Offering plenty of laughs, a few tears, and cover-to-cover truths, here are verses that tickle and console, poems for everyone who would "rather say never say die than enough is enough."
More Reviews and RecommendationsBiography
In addition to her bestselling books of poetry, Judith Viorst is the author of Necessary Losses and Imperfect Control, as well as the comic novel Murdering Mr. Monti. She is the author of more than a dozen children's books, including the classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. A graduate of the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, she is the recipient of several awards for her journalism and psychological writings. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, political writer Milton Viorst. They have three sons and — so far — two grandchildren. When she isn't writing, she is hanging out with her family and friends, cooking, seeing as many movies as humanly possible, and volunteering one morning a week at a hospice.
Customer Reviews
Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Lifeby Anonymous
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January 19, 2001: I thoroughly enjoyed every minute reading this book, I could not put it down, the authors insights are penetrating.
Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Lifeby Anonymous
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October 13, 2000: Ms. Viorst has become more outspoken in these poems than in her earlier 'decade' works. I think you'll like the change. 'It still will be impossible to persuade my husband when lost to stop the goddamn car, and ask for directions.' Concerning her husband's retirement, 'And guess who's the hobby he chose?' In talking about her children and grandchildren, she exults that her grandchild prefers her for cuddling to her son. You'll never quite think about life the same way after you read '1963 -- Niagara, 1999 -- Viagra.' On the other hand, she's hanging in there as a woman. 'I've painted blue nail polish on my toes . . . .' 'I will still buy bikini underwear.' 'I don't intend to stop showing a little cleavage.' Yet, '. . . it's hard to be frisky over sixty.' 'L's for libido -- what's happened to sex?' There are also the inevitable losses. 'How am I going to walk in this world without talking to my friend about eyeliner and the meaning of the universe?' She has some very strong feelings about the bad things that should happen to the man who leaves his wife of 42 years for a younger woman. One of the best sequences comes in a series of poems on the subject of 'A Brief History of Marriage' that begins with 'a life lived -- at least for a while -- in paradise.' In 'To Be Continued' we learn that '. . . sometimes we still get a glimpse of paradise.' My favorite poem on aging was 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.' The poem is a long list of all the things that can and usually do disturb slumber. If none of these occur, she says, 'I might -- I just actually might -- do a little sleeping.' There's still a wonderful optimism about how good things could be. In 'If Only,' she contemplates reconstructing the world. 'If only shopping at Saks counted as exercise.' The poems are grouped in five sections: Suddenly Sixty, A Brief History of Marriage, More on Marriage, The Children and Grandchildren, and Other Shocks. The witty poems are wonderfully illustrated with red and black drawings by Laurie Rosenwell. Whatever your age, ask yourself which attributes of youth you would like to retain and which qualities of greater age you would like to add. In this way, you can create a wonderful combination that will serve you better than simply fulfilling the expectations of society about 'acting your age.' Enjoy your age!
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