Customer Reviews

Fifty Is Not a Four-Letter Word

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What happens to a successful woman who suddenly finds everything falling away--and just after her fiftieth birthday? Is it all over for her now?

When Hope Lyndburst-Steele celebrates her fiftieth birthday, she is hoping to minimize the numbers, even as she pretends that it's just another birthday. She has a handsome husband, a wonderful son, and a great career. So why does she have this feeling?

Almost as if she has turned her fears and anxieties into reality, just by thinking about them, she still cannot believe it when her boss tells her that the magazine she has headed for more than twenty years is going in another direction. And her services are no longer needed. Nice severance package, though. Small consolation for Hope, who reflects on her life and her past choices even as the other shoe drops, and her husband Jack leaves her.

Most women go through some kind of reflective experience as they approach major birthdays. But Hope has to really make some changes. Following her journey as she slowly, very slowly, transforms her life is the most satisfying aspect of this story. Of course, before she begins that journey, she has to wallow for awhile...but then she begins again.

Exciting new things could be right on the horizon, but then, more devastating news comes to her as she struggles. But what Hope learns is that making over one's life is more important than face lifts, exercise, diets, or whatever. Changing her insides will ultimately bring her the happiness she seeks.

Fifty Is Not a Four-Letter Word is funny, heartwarming, and very down-to-earth, revealing the characters' flaws and strengths--they felt just like real people that I might meet on my own journey. Which is why this story definitely earned five stars from me.

I was thrilled to be able to get a copy of Fifty is not a four letter word, written by Linda Kelsey. As I, myself, am not yet 50 years old! however, I find myself looking for chick lit that now features 40 and 50 year old characters.

First of all, this is not really chick lit - which kind of disappointed me right off the bat. This is my mistake since I obviously did not read the book description. Having said that, however, and once I got over the whole 'darn, this is not a chick lit' thing - I did sit down and read through the book.

This book is extremely well-written. Author Kelsey has a keen way of developing and growing her characters and is very good at positioning in a way that tells us that these people are all flawed, yet we find ourselves liking them despite these flaws. The strength in this book is definitely the strongly written characters and their development.

The storyline, however, is both typical and full of angst - which kind of made this book more difficult for me to enjoy. Hope, our main character seems to be dealing with too many things at once and although this may be reflecting reality somewhat, I was hoping to read a little more uplifting storyline, one where the main character enjoyed 'smelling the roses' a little bit and was not so angst ridden.

I did enjoy this book so I rated it 3 stars.

I purchased this book for my mother's 50th birthday last year and she loved it. Like similar reviews, it took her a little while to get into the story, but once there, she dived straight in. In fact, she read the the second half of the book in one day. I recommend this book as a great present for anyone turning 50.

Sometimes you pick up a book just for the pleasure of reading. I loved the cover was turning 50 and purchased it. It was an easy read and entertaining.

Fifty is Not a Four-Letter Word by Linda Kelsey shows us how one middle aged, depressed, self-absorbed woman can finally begin to grow up a bit. The novel was both funny, and a bit sad. It began as almost an ode to feminist think, where high-powered career women aspire to "have-it-all" without acknowledging the effect their choices can have on those around them. It was interesting to see how Hope's character came to understand better the nuances of all those around her, and to lose her dogged determination to be defined by her career and professional accomplishments rather than any personal beliefs, actions and attitudes.

I enjoyed the book quite a bit, but not the way I thought I would. I had thought I would empathize with Hope, I turned 50 a couple of years ago, but it never bothered me. Fifty wasn't a four-letter word for me and based on the title, (which I love) I expected a story where the character might be a bit like me. And that was pretty much the only thing I shared with the book; that I agreed with the title! Hope and I had absolutely nothing in common. But I sort of liked her anyway. I'm sort of the exact opposite of her, but I've always suspected there was something wrong with my girl DNA since I don't like the shopping, parties, lunches, etc. life that the women in the book seem to be so absorbed in. But I sort of liked her anyway. My kids don't seem to disregard me, I've never had a high-powered career, I couldn't find a caterer or a decorator if my life depended on it. But I sort of liked her anyway. And I kind of think that might just be a sign of a successful story, when you really can't fathom what it would be like to be the protagonist, but you still sort of like them.

Once again I'm in the minority when it comes to my review vs. my fellow book bloggers. This one was hailed as fantastic, terrific and well worth reading. It wasn't my cup of tea, so to speak, and I didn't even finish it.

While I'm on the over 40 side of life, I'm not quite to my 50s yet. However, from the description this sounded appealing. Hope Steele, a top magazine editor has a terrific job, wonderful husband and son. Life can change quickly and as her 50th birthday approaches, Hope loses her job, her husband decides it's over, her son starts running around with a trashy woman and her mother announces her impending death. Hope leaves it all behind and runs to Paris, hoping she can give her life the jump-start it needs.

I didn't like Hope. I found little to redeem her and nothing to make me care about her. I didn't like the sex scenes and talk (although they were mild, compared to others) and the profanity was vulgar and unnecessary.

I really enjoyed this story about a woman who has it all and loses it right around her 50th birthday. Parts of it were right on about the health and metal issues that happen to any woman at this age. I really recommend this older "chick lit" genre for those of us who are no longer thinking of getting the guy, but more trying to keep your sanity.

Hope Lyndhurst-Steele has come to a tipping point in her life, the dreaded 5-0. Though there's a few more wrinkles, her life is in full bloom with a fabulous career as star editor of a glossy woman's magazine, Jasmine. Husband, Jack is a successful physiotherapist. Then there's her son Olly, typical teenager, if typical means falling for Vanessa who's almost twice his age. Hope seems to have it all but then the bottom falls out. Her mother announces that she's sick, very sick. Boss Simon gives her the boot and then it if that's not enough Jack leaves.

The book opens around Hope's birthday, which happens to be New Year's Day. The story is written in the first person, involving the reader immediately. By the end of the book you've traveled with Hope for a full year, realizing that Fifty Is Not A Four Letter Word when you open yourself to change.

FIFTY IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER WORD
Linda Kelsey
5 Spot
Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 978-0-446-19590-4
$13.99 - Paperback
354 pages
Reviewer: Annie Slessman

Hope Lyndhurst turns fifty on New Year's Day and she isn't happy about it. She finds herself at fifty, separated from her husband, Jack, and Olly, her only child, is graduating high school and taking a year to travel before starting college. To top it all off, Hope's mother is dying of cancer. As if Hope doesn't have enough on her plate to deal with, she loses her job as the editor of Jasmine, an upscale magazine for women.

Alone, for the first time in many years, Hope finds herself listless and wandering aimlessly through life. Except for a brief trip to Paris where she meets a young professor and spends a night of bliss in his arms, she has no goals except to exist from day to day.

Hope and her dying mother try to "fix" the problems between them but find the task almost impossible. Hope has felt her mother never loved her and even resented the fact that she exists. Her father on the other hand, provides the love any daughter could want.

Completing the cast of characters in the book is Maddy, a young doctor and Hope's best friend, her sister, Sarah and a young gay cousin, Mike and his partner, Stanko. There is also an older woman, Vanessa, who is having an affair with Olly, Hope's young son and a young couple, Nick and Sally who are working to build a foundation to help critically ill children.

The story vacillates between "what was" and "what is." The background provided by the "what was" makes the "what is " more understandable to the reader.

This is a simple story about a very complicated woman and provides some good reading. It will maintain a reader's interest and will become a book you pass onto your friends.

In 2003 Hope Lyndhurst-Steele believes strongly her upcoming fiftieth birthday is no milestone as nothing will change in her near perfect life. However, just after her birthday, her world collapses. Her mom announces she is dying with just a few months to live. Hope's husband Jack says he cannot cope with her cynicism and upside down values accentuated when she is more upset that he told their son Olly before her that he is leaving her and moves out. She is also upset to see Olly hanging around with the neighborhood tramp, the older single mom Vanessa; Hope tells her to leave her son alone only to upset her son. Hope feels no hope as she flees for Paris to reassess her relationships.

This is an interesting character study of a fifty year old woman whose world implodes and has to look closely at her set ways and decide whether changing is worth the cost. Hope is a fascinating protagonist but the use of her viewpoint abates the impact of how the others feel as we only know them through a Hope filter. Still this is a difficult read as the heroine learns fifty is a four-letter word and changing one's spots is extremely difficult; that is if a person truly wants to change.

Harriet Klausner