Unexpectedly Eighty: And Other Adaptations (Judith Viorst's Decades)
Unexpectedly Eighty: And Other Adaptations (Judith Viorst's Decades) book cover

Unexpectedly Eighty: And Other Adaptations (Judith Viorst's Decades)

Price
$15.37
Format
Hardcover
Pages
80
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1439190296
Dimensions
6 x 0.7 x 7.5 inches
Weight
9.6 ounces

Description

About the Author Judith Viorst is the author of the beloved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day , which has sold some four million copies; the Lulu books, including Lulu and the Brontosaurus ; the New York Times bestseller Necessary Losses ; four musicals; and poetry for children and young adults. Her most recent books of poetry include What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? and Nearing Ninety .

Features & Highlights

  • Judith Viorst returns with more poems in her “Decades” poetry series detailing the highs and lows of being an octogenarian. Continuing the comedic insight from
  • I’m Too Young to be Seventy
  • , these verses of memories and advice from eighty years of love, marriage, and grandchildren are sure to bring laughs.
  • What does it mean to be eighty? In her wise and playful poems, Judith Viorst discusses love, friendship, grand parenthood, and all the particular marvels—and otherwise—of this extraordinary decade. She describes the wonder of seeing the world with new eyes—not because of revelation but because of a successful cataract operation. She promises not to gently fade away, and not to drive after daylight’s faded away either. She explains how she’s gotten to be a “three-desserts” grandmother (“Just don’t tell your mom!”), shares how memory failure can keep you married, and enumerates her hopes for the afterlife (which she doesn’t believe in, but if it does exist, her sister-in-law better not be there with her). As Viorst gleefully attests, eighty is not too old to dream, to flirt, to drink, and to dance. It’s also not too late to give up being cheap or to take up with a younger man of seventy-eight. Zesty, hopeful, and full of the pleasures of living, Viorst’s poems speak to her legions of readers, who recognize themselves in her knowing observations, in her touching reflections, and in her joyful affirmations. Funny, moving, inspirational, and true—the newest in Judith Viorst’s beloved “decades” series extols the virtues, victories, frustrations, and joys of life.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(342)
★★★★
25%
(143)
★★★
15%
(86)
★★
7%
(40)
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(-41)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Touching

Purchased for my mom. There's much truth to generations not understanding those that precede them -- until you are standing in their shoes. I didn't understand all of the dynamics of being in a strong love relationship until I was in one, nor the pain of losing a close friend to death, nor of parenthood. The poems in this collection reach to an age I watch daily, but don't and can't understand until -- hopefully -- I may reach it. That wisdom eludes me -- all of us who aren't 'there' yet. But the stories held within made my mom smile, and wistful, and perhaps touch her.

Difficult to expect a lot from a little book. I do wish it had been longer, but perhaps the knowledge and enjoyment is in the brevity, not unlike to joy one can feel not so much in the conversations but in the silence of being with another.
20 people found this helpful
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As Always

Judith has us rolling on the floor in laughter -- no take that back -- can't get up from the floor anymore.
I have followed her from the beginning and have had the same experiences during the decades. How
wonderful that she has kept each of the decades alive for us. I love reading about my 20s and 30s again and wondering how
I got this old along with Judith. Kids, if you want to know how your parents really were when they were younger -- get
all these books, so you can see how they are aging also. I highly recommend buying the whole collection and
having a day of remembrance and joy, and what to look forward to as you age. Judith, you have filled my
life with laughter, pain, joy and I love you for it.
14 people found this helpful
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Judith Viorst: She's Spiced My Every Decade!

"Unexpectedly Eighty" by Judith Viorst will not be the last in a long series of what I call "Decade" poems by Viorst. She's kept me laughing every ten years for at least forty years. I have all her "Decade" poems. In a world where hope seems to be lost and people are pulling hair and calling names, Viorst keeps us entertained and wary of our foibles and eccentricities and sameness and makes us laugh at ourselves. Sheer genius.

Brownie MacKie
14 people found this helpful
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I LOVE JUDITH VIORST

I love JUDITH VIORST, having fallen in love with her writings when I first read her "How Did I Ever Get To Be 40 And Other Atrocities", a wonderful, fun and witty look about the transition in our lives from refusing to acknowledge growing older to facing reality. Growing older is an absolute must, unless one wishes to simply give up and face the Grand Reaper at an early age. Growing older is also wonderful: We learn that the important things of life really do matter; that love does last; that our families are our truest friends, our best companions; that the joy of laughter, of looking into the face of a loved one, of listening to the songs of birds, of watermelon and ice cream, of dipping our toes into a pool of cold water on a sunny summer's day, enrich out lives beyond measure. JUDITH VIORST knows all this, and so should we.
12 people found this helpful
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Marvelous take on the age

I have read all her books on various decades from twenties on up. I was so hoping she would make it to 80 so she would write another one (as I recently turned 80) and was thrilled to see she had made it also and had written another one for this stage....Rusti Van Rooy
10 people found this helpful
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You will not feel good about being 80

I bought this book for a friend who is turning 80. That was a mistake. This book must be designed to make someone feel terrible about being 80. A couple chuckles but the rest is just terrible.
5 people found this helpful
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Wonderfully eighty!

This latest in Judith Viorst's series of decade-marking birthdays is a winner. I'm only in my seventies, but she's poetically nailed so much of how it feels to be in your dotage. I love the range of subjects--from sex to grandkids. My grandsons loved her poem about being a grandmother. I anticipate with pleasure her next book of poems about being ninety. Rock on, Judith!
5 people found this helpful
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Truly amazing!

As per usual...MAGNIFICENT
Judith Viorst hits every insight and 80's is no different.
To laugh, to cry, to ponder....it's all there!
4 people found this helpful
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Yeah, it’s good but better if you have a partner.

Pure Judith Viorst. The only problem is she approaches eighty with a partner and for those of us single or widowed a lot of it seems a bit out of reach. If you can ignore that , it’s fun.
2 people found this helpful
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Doesn't celebrate 80

I bought this as a gift but after reading it I decided against it. Not upbeat, almost depressing at times.
2 people found this helpful