Customer Reviews

Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Life

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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!

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.

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!!

Judith Viorst deals with aging gracefully in her truth-giving poems about Suddenly Sixty and Other Shocks of Later Life. Being of a certain age in American society brings a certain angst tempered by the wisdom of experience-if we are lucky and thoughtful. Almost every poem elicits laughter as she ruminates on a variety of topics, including men's inability to ask for directions, the difficulty in apologizing, the family vacation, retirement, or the revenge for the woman dumped.

This slim volume of prosaic poems (they are barely poems, more like very graceful essays) on encroaching senior-hood is really enjoyable. And comfortable, and comforting to read, much in the same way the classic "Golden Girls" TV show is, in a "you're not alone in this aging business, all us women are going through the same things!" way. I especially loved the "New Alphabet," which includes things like "O is for osteo, P's for porosis," and the poem about the two lovers who can't take their eyes off each other -- and it turns out the "man" is her four-year-old grandson. Thanks to Judith for reaching through the LA-nip/tuck-gym hardbody BS in this world, and telling it like it is.

I have not yet hit the landmark sixtieth birthday, but I am closing on it rather fast. It is clear to me that the best way to approach that fateful day is to laugh about it and one of the best ways to accomplish that is to read this book. In general, it pokes good clean fun at aging, although there is an occasional bitter tone when describing some of the more unpleasant aspects of life. Independent of your age, life is what we make of it and Viorst makes fun of what we all will hopefully face someday, the arrival of the sixtieth birthday. After all, the alternative really isn't a great deal of fun to contemplate

Was a birthday gift for a friend turning sixty. Judith Viorst came through again as she always has with all the children's books I've read to my class. She has a great sense of humor! This gift will, hopefully, be reread and enjoyed over and over.

I like this author and thought it would be funnier, my fault I didn't notice it was all different poems.

I just ordered this book and am sorry I did. Where is the Judith Viorst of the 70's, when my children were young and loved her work? I expected this to be a light-hearted and original look at being "the age we are now," but instead, I found a woman sour -- especially with marriage -- and to a degree with life and grown children. I would not recommend it.

it wasn't as humorous as some other books i have read on this subject