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Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Life [Hardcover]

Judith Viorst , Laurie Rosenwald
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 4, 2000
From the bestselling author of Forever Fifty comes a new collection of poems that tickle, console, and offer the pleasure of instant recognition -- the perfect book for any woman anywhere in the vicinity of sixty.

Judith Viorst's "decade" books of verse -- including It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty, How Did I Get to Be Forty, and Forever Fifty -- have delighted millions of readers worldwide who relish her wit, warmth, and wisdom. Now here she is with Suddenly Sixty, a funny and touching book that speaks directly to the sixty-ish woman, inviting her to laugh about, sigh over, and come to hopeful terms with the complex issues of this decade of life.

Among the poems in this charmingly illustrated collection are those exploring the joys -- and strains -- of children and grandchildren, and the intimacy of old friends who've "known each other so long/We knew each other back when we were virgins." There are poems that tip their hat to mortality, wrestle with a husband's retirement -- "He's coming with me when I shop at the supermarket/So I won't have to shop alone. I like alone." -- and acknowledge the fact that at this stage of life we'd "give up a night of wild rapture with Denzel Washington for a nice report on my next bone density test." Offering plenty of laughs, a few tears, and cover-to-cover truths, these are poems for everyone who would "rather say never say die than enough is enough." Every woman who has reached this decade will -- rueful and smiling -- find herself in the pages of this book.


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Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Life + I'm Too Young To Be Seventy + Unexpectedly Eighty: And Other Adaptations
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Judith Viorst was born and brought up in New Jersey, graduated from Rutgers University, moved to Greenwich Village, and has lived in Washington, D.C., since 1960, when she married Milton Viorst, a political writer. They have three sons and seven grandchildren. Viorst writes in many different areas: science books, children’s picture books, adult fiction and nonfiction, poetry for children and adults, and musicals, which are still performed on stages around the country. She is best known for her beloved picture book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 80 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (October 4, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 068486763X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684867632
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.5 x 7.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judith Viorst has written many books for children, including the classics Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and its sequels, and If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Stories. She is also the author of Just in Case, illustrated by Diana Cain Bluthenthal. She lives with her husband, Milton, in Washington D.C.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
99 of 100 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Sixtyish and Sassy! October 1, 2000
Format:Hardcover
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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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars If you're 60+ ..you love this book. September 25, 2002
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you're 60 or over.....you'll be able to relate to practically every poem in this book. A great birthday present for your friends celebrating any of the "60" birthdays.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Judith Viorst has another winner! August 25, 2003
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
She's done it again! Anyone 60+ will recognize herself in Judith's spectacular verses. To get the full flavor of these poems, you have to read them out loud with all the proper inflections. I never laughed so hard or cried so much over a book as I did with this one. She hits the nail on the head when she describes life after 60!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars As usual, brilliant.
I have always admired Viorst's down to earth ability to say what needs to be said. I wasn't disappointed. Read more
Published 1 month ago by gaynell
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as engaging as Viorst's other books.
Judith Viorst has spot-on humor in her other age related books and I was especially looking forward to this one as I am facing, not too boldly, my 60th birthday this year. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Texas Mystery Lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and Hillarious
This book will be a hit with any woman who is turning sixty. It is touching and funny. It makes a great gift.
Published 1 month ago by Janice
4.0 out of 5 stars Bought for my elderly parent and glad I did
I bought this for my mother who is 92 and she is enjoying the poems as I feed them to her one or two at a time. the sentiments are dead on.
Published 3 months ago by redhead05
5.0 out of 5 stars SO TRUE
Viorst and I could be related. We really experience things in similar ways. Because I am a bit of an outlier -- she validates me!
Published 4 months ago by judith bremner
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read
I have purchased many of this author's books. Judith Viorst writes wonderful short happenings for a person having a milestone birthday. Always a great gift!
Published 5 months ago by Janis Sheftel
5.0 out of 5 stars books
I sent this book to many friends, as we turned 60. It was funny and shocking & they loved it!!!!
Published 6 months ago by Sheilahkalderon
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
Typical Judith Viorst, with delightful turns of phrase, unexpected juxtapositions of words, attention grabbing rhymes, and insightful observations about the decade.
Published 12 months ago by Helen R. Santiz
3.0 out of 5 stars Suddenly Sixty
I like this author and thought it would be funnier, my fault I didn't notice it was all different poems.
Published on April 20, 2011 by Wendy M. Stanley
1.0 out of 5 stars Are You Kidding Me?
Are you kidding me? $11.56 for the hardcover edition and $13.99 for Kindle edition. That's absolutely ridiculous!!!! Please people DO NOT pay these prices for electronic format. Read more
Published on June 17, 2010 by LeslieT
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