I Thought I Grew Up [Paperback]

Michelle Churchill (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

I Thought I Grew Up is a story of coming of age again. As author Michelle Churchill approached her fiftieth birthday, she found herself careening into menopause. Suddenly, she could think of nothing but men-about their legs, the hair on their bodies, how their hands would feel holding hers. She had an ever-present desire to have male contact in any way she could. So, how does a single woman living in New York City accomplish that male closeness? Michelle turned to her computer, the only thing she had a true relationship with over the last 10 years. Signing up for every on-line dating service she could find and attempting to date the entire Eastern Seaboard, Michelle tells her story through a series of dates. Penned with a sense of humor, I Thought I Grew Up will keep you laughing through the tears. While discovering that sex was the best cure for hot flashes, she also uncovers secrets she had hidden from herself. Her dating life has taught her to live life with integrity and to better understand what love really is. "Told in a deliciously irreverent, breezy and self-deprecating voice, Michelle Churchill's reflections on life, menopause and the search for Mr. Right is brazenly frank, laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly moving." -Arthur Wooten, Author of the novels On Picking Fruit and Fruit Cocktail

About the Author

MICHELLE CHURCHILL is a single woman living and working in New York City. Between dates, she runs a film location business, sells real estate and is working on her first novel.http://www.michellechurchill.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (April 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440136165
• ISBN-13: 978-1440136160
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,521,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Men O'Pause" - Not In This Case, May 8, 2009

By	T. Mangne (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: I Thought I Grew Up (Paperback)

Menopause will always remain a mystery to the male of the species. As much as he may say he understands, a man just can't go there. Yes he knows that hot flashes and mood swings are involved, but the interior mental life of a woman in the throws of "the change" remain mostly terra incognito. In addition, the subject of menopause has tended to be a private issue and discussed only among women - if discussed at all.

That is until now.

Michelle Churchill's forthright, touching and, at points, laugh out loud odyssey through this phase of her life offers a seldom seen view of what a woman experiences. To be clear, this is her journey; it is not generic, but most women will find elements of commonality with her and be reassured that they are not going through menopause alone.

Finding herself almost fifty and having crashed up against the male corporate glass ceiling, Michelle changes careers, gives up smoking and caffeine, and enters menopause. All of this at once? Battle hardened generals would weep at less. Michelle's almost immediate emotional and physical response to the situation is to discover herself thrown into a form of adult adolescence. All she can think about is men and sex, and her libido kicks into super drive. This is supposed to happen to teenagers not women nearing fifty. Thinking about men is not enough, she takes action and burns up internet dating sites to get her hands (literally) on the men. She details her dating and sexcapades with great humor, candor and frustration at just how much some men can be deluded about themselves. In the process she is runs the spectrum of emotions - happy to sad and hurt, and yes the hot flashes are there. At the same time her path takes her on a much more personal adventure to rediscover who she really is and how incidents in her past have helped form her.

Her writing style is idiosyncratic and gives a personal flavor to the vignette chapters of the book. "I Thought I Grew Up" shows that a woman can get through menopause, and it's not all sadness and tears. Some of it can be hot, earthy fun.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Thought I Grew UP, May 20, 2009

By	Lisa Ingardia "Lisa" (Lisa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: I Thought I Grew Up (Hardcover)

I Thought I Grew Up is a great book to read. I laughed, I cried and I reflected to similar experiences. The last chapter is a wonderful discovery, I highly recommend this book. Single & dating women of all ages would appreciate "I Thought I Grew Up"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Thought I Grew Up, August 20, 2009

By	"Christy" (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Thought I Grew Up (Paperback)

I Thought I Grew Up had me hooked from the start. The book takes us through the author's quest to find Mr. Right through her series of internet dates while also experiencing the affects of menopause. Ms. Churchill maintains a good sense of humor as she tells us about those hot flashes and recounts some of her interesting dates. At times, I found myself laughing out loud. Other times the book was both touching and sad. As a result, I had a difficult time putting the book down. I must admit, I was a little disappointed once I finished the last chapter since I didn't want the story to end. Overall, I would definately recommend this book!