Customer Reviews

Unaccompanied Women: Late-Life Adventures in Love, Sex, and Real Estate

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First, I give JJ credit for having the guts to put herself out there. But I'm confused: she went after sex, so why is she continually whining about not finding love? Perhaps if she put the intention of "relationship" out there with the same zeal as her initial ad, then she'd attract one. And why NOT go online??? You know, I'd like to think that with age comes some wisdom, but even I, single and about 18 years younger, don't write drunken emails or sob continually about lost love and then claim my feminist credentials. It's a bit much to see that at 71. I kept wanting to tell her to Get a Life! Enjoy the travels! Make yourself happy!

The other whine I found unattractive is the "I'm poor, so buy me..." a diamond, a house, a free dinner. When a guy tells me he'd like to buy me a gift, the LAST thing that would ever occur to me is to suggest a HOUSE. But in materialistic California (and Berkeley qualifies, despite its granola reputation) there's so much money that envy is common--and so is this sense of entitlement. JJ appears to have lost her manners. All this whining that others need to provide "stuff" for her--we all make decisions about our lives and hers was to teach, then to retire, and then to write. If I were JJ I'd figure out how to leverage my modest "fame" into enough money to buy a place myself, if it's so important to her. Or I'd have used the proceeds from my original sale, added to them and then bought a small place. Take responsibility for yourself!!!

As far as the book goes, it is all over the place. It's really more like a collection of loosely connected essays. I might have enjoyed them more if they had some coherent point and if she wasn't continually whining about her lost "loves" and her financial condition. It got old. Was disappointed in the book.

I am conflicted about Jane Juska. On the one hand, I really liked this book. Say what you will about the woman, she is no slouch in the writing department. I know she liked teaching, but by being a teacher and not a writer for her whole life, she has denied readers what would have been many great books, I'm sure. The title is misleading. "Adventures in Real Estate" the most so. She is not looking to buy a house, she's trying not to go homeless. People will scoff at that, thinking writers are millionaires, but they're not. There isn't really much sex, and a lot of times she goes off tangent, but you really don't mind since she's such a great writer (though she does construct some oddly grammatical sentences at times). She's honest, sometimes embarrasingly so, and she puts her heart and soul out there--no easy feat. That being said, she is probably one of the most pretentious writers you will ever read. She either thinks she's wonderful (everyone recognized me at Berkeley) or awful (I couldn't bear to put my photo online). Usually, though she thinks she's wonderful. She's her own worst enemy pining over a married younger man, when there are plenty of nice available men she could be with. She is also a little anti-arab, as one previous person mentioned, and she seems to put down other people do, in a very sly way that almost flies under the radar but not quite. Still, this is definitely worth reading because the woman has a way with words.

As a friend of Jane Juska's for several years and as someone who has read her two books, I want to report that I see her as a wonderful social critic. Her books are endorsements for having the strength to identify what is missing from your life and making changes--whatever your age and even if there is some risk.

Would I follow Jane's path or even want to have a relationship with a much, much younger man? No way. Can I learn from Jane's zest for life and insights into living in the moment without judgments of the flaws of others? You bet!

The fact that she writes with humor, wit and all-out honesty will make her a treasure for years to come.

I really liked Round-Heeled Woman, so I was looking forward to this book. To hear more about what the author learned and lived after the last booked left off. I expected to hear stories of triumph, of learning to be by yourself - or learning to love again. Something. Anything. I mean, surely, the author hasn't gotten anywhere in hear life since the last book - right?

Yeah.

I was so very disappointed. This book was one big whine fest about how wronged the author feels. She spends so much time pining over a very younger man that she knows she can't have. Seriously, has she learned nothing in her 60s and 70s?

If she's not whining over her lost love, she's whining that she doesn't have any money. At one point telling one of her suitors that she wants them to buy her a house or a diamond ring or something. Seriously? At first I thought she told the man this in a joking way. I certainly hope that was the case and it got lost in her writing style, but there were many places she mentioned money. It was honestly distracting and not all that appropriate in some places.

From the title, I was expecting her to talk about being by herself, being an "Unaccompanied Woman" - instead, I got a sad whiney older woman. I feel very sad for her, and even more sad for her friends that have to listen to her. I finished this book only because I waiting for that big pay off, the last few chapters that talked about her getting on with her life. I really do hope that she has gotten on with her life now. Otherwise, it's just sad.

I'm totally puzzled by all the negative reviews here. A lot of people just don't seem to "get" Juska's wry sense of humor. For example, when she talks about getting a rich husband to buy her a house -- and MAYBE she'd let him live there with her -- obviously she was joking -- duh! Yes, the book is a bit "all over the place," but I just love her writing style. She really lets you into her inner self and, to me, she feels like a friend. And, regarding her so-called "Anti-Arab" prejudice: the only men she's critical of are Iranian men, and she's had considerable experience with them, so I think she knows whereof she speaks. I do agree with those who find her situation sad, and frankly I hope I don't end up like her. But I think she writes well, and her books have resonated with lots of women -- AND I think they're very funny in parts.

I am only half way through this book, and I have to applaud Jane. If you are expecting her to be perfect, or perfectly happy, go elsewhere. At just over half her age I know many women in stale, sad marriages who embody the quote "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation". These women are every bit as pathetic as some people purport Juska to be. It's nice to hear from someone who doesn't think that marriage will make them whole, and who goes after what she wants, despite possibly getting her heart broken. Jane Juska doesn't glamorize her choices, as she has been accused of...she has had plenty of bumps as well as successes. THAT is what makes a human story. I hope that I have 1/5 of her courage when I am her age!

Boo. I rushed to buy this book without reading its reviews, just because I loved its precursor. But, as often happens with sequels, this book offered nothing new. The main, interesting story was already told in the first book, and instead the author finds herself whining about not finding love and about not having enough money to buy herself a house. Not worth reading. I still gave this book two stars simply because I like the way the author writes, in a self-deprecating humorous style, but if I were to judge solely on content, one star would do it better justice.

Reading this book was like having a good long visit with the author, whose "Round Heeled Woman" was an utter delight. Her voice comes through so strongly and engagingly; the writing is gorgeous; the stories are fascinating, the characters unforgettable--especially the main character: Jane Juska. The book's enjoyable without its references to "Round Heeled Woman," and yet it draws the reader back into "RHW" in a way that made me want to go back and read RHW again.

From the first sentence, I was hooked. Her outlook is so unusual, quirky and her style an academic/down-to-earth melange is enchanting. I enjoyed every "embarrassing" moment.

UNACCOMPANIED WOMEN: LATE-LIFE ADVENTURES IN LOVE, SEX, AND REAL ESTATE follows on the heels of Jane Juska's best-seller A ROUND-HEELED WOMAN, surveying women's fears of growing old, being alone, and never settling down. Stories of women who, like her, have yet to find love but are determined to find it provides insight, humor and irony and will make the perfect gift for any unaccompanied older woman still looking for love.

Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch