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mkat303's review
2.0
It was ok. Good enough that I'm going to read her sequel. I liked the narrator, partly because I enjoy reading about other women who live in Berkeley. But the book kind of went all over the place, and I wound up skimming parts.
jaeclectic's review
4.0
I decided to read this after seeing the play (of the same name, based on the book). A lot of the story was familiar from the play, but you can see where certain things were simplified, omitted, or amplified for the stage.
It's a good read and an easy one, for the most part fairly light although with some quite dark moments (for instance, a description of child sex abuse that is graphic, but not lingered over).
For myself, I find Jane Juska's story rather inspirational, and although I thought the play was fabulous, I'm glad I took the extra time to get the truest version of it.
It's a good read and an easy one, for the most part fairly light although with some quite dark moments (for instance, a description of child sex abuse that is graphic, but not lingered over).
For myself, I find Jane Juska's story rather inspirational, and although I thought the play was fabulous, I'm glad I took the extra time to get the truest version of it.
tinavenusreads's review
1.0
Ugh! That's about all I can say about this book. The premise was cute--it's the memoir of a woman who decided that even though she was older (66) she still wanted intimacy, so she puts out a personal ad for someone to talk to and be intimate with. But it's hard to read a memoir about a person you dislike so completely.
She jumped topics so frequently, talked about multiple men in the same sentence, and didn't explain people enough for me to keep them straight. She quoted authors too much, talked about her younger years, in which (I thought) she was a terrible wife and mother, doped up on drugs all the time, but then she expects me to sympathize because she missed the touch of a man? No, thank you. Get over yourself.
She jumped topics so frequently, talked about multiple men in the same sentence, and didn't explain people enough for me to keep them straight. She quoted authors too much, talked about her younger years, in which (I thought) she was a terrible wife and mother, doped up on drugs all the time, but then she expects me to sympathize because she missed the touch of a man? No, thank you. Get over yourself.
canadianbookworm's review against another edition
1.0
Took a while to read as I kept losing interest.
Didn't really end up liking many people, including the author.
Didn't really end up liking many people, including the author.
caterinaanna's review against another edition
3.0
Don't be fooled/ put off (delete according to taste) by the summary/blurb. There is not a lot of explicit detail, and much of the book is less about the year itself than about how the author got there and what she found out/remembered/realised about herself as a result of her adventures. Even though I'm a good twenty years younger, I recognised some of the doubts and insecurities she describes - then I looked at the jacket photo and biography and realised I have even more reason for them than she. I admire her bravery and determination: some things went wrong, but at least she went out and tried.
kwitshadie's review against another edition
4.0
Candid and courageous, this is a cautionary tale of sex vs love. Don't settle for sex when what you really want is love, no matter what your age.
satyridae's review against another edition
1.0
I liked the sequel better. I think Juska learned about writing by writing this book. A lot of background history that didn't do much but take up space. It was interesting, but mostly whiny and sad. Maybe if I had read them in order, I would have been happier.
likejennybutwithad's review against another edition
3.0
Things i liked about this book:
Learning about attitudes to sex in the 50/60s
Seeing that just because someone is older they still are sexual
Seeing that men no matter what age are still the same.
Learning about attitudes to sex in the 50/60s
Seeing that just because someone is older they still are sexual
Seeing that men no matter what age are still the same.
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