Sex for the over Sixties? Not a Lot! (A Round-Heeled Woman - Jane Juska)

Member Name: skidd

Product:	A Round-Heeled Woman - Jane Juska
Date:	31/08/07 (445 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: well written, candid. sometimes amusing

Disadvantages: self deprecating style detracts from the merits of the work

“Before I turn 67 - next March – I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me.” So ran Jane Juska’s personal ad. in her favourite journal, “ The New York Review of Books” and it is here that her tale begins. The term “ round-heeled woman” apparently means a woman of easy virtue. This together with the subtitle, “My Late–Life Adventures in Sex and Romance” suggests a titillating read, especially for ladies of a certain age, but does this live up to such a promising opening?

A friend handed this book to me as a gift after she had felt unable to get to grips with it and I was more than happy to take over the task for, at the risk of making younger readers feel uneasy if not disgusted, I felt it might be a worthwhile and revealing read, highlighting the continuing sexual needs of women who may be considered well past their prime. Moreover, for me, any woman with a devotion to Trollope, my own favourite nineteenth century writer, must have a great deal to recommend her. To some extent the book did fulfil my expectations but, by the end, I had very mixed feelings!

If the book had been restricted to Juska’s subsequent adventures in following up the 63 replies to her ad., it might have made for a more sensational read but this would have stretched to no more than a pamphlet. The vast majority of the narrative concerns episodes from her life story, details of many dysfunctional relationships - her constant quest for her father’s approval , her loveless marriage, her perceived failure as a single mother – plus her somewhat angst ridden analyses of her own psychological hang ups, battles with her weight, dissatisfaction concerning her appearance especially her oversized bust, drink and drug problems and apparent total lack of self esteem.

All these anxieties and frailties sit uneasily beside her obvious intelligence and self possession as a woman who taught English for forty years in high school, college and even in a prison. She demonstrates great empathy and insight into human nature especially when referring to incidents in her teaching career and her relationships with students and with women friends. In all these respects she presents as a totally well rounded individual.

With such a dichotomy in her character, were her sexual adventures doomed to failure from the start? Indeed her forays hardly count as adventures, a couple never get as far as bed, one is classed as a love affair although they never meet and the handful that do get physical are quite “straightforward” and barely deviate from the missionary approach apart from a few oral episodes. Indeed these experiences are described in the most candid and earthy manner and one cannot fail to admire her openness. However each encounter is invariably followed by disappointment, doubts about her own sexual responses, the humiliation of rejection or even, in one instance, the misery of unrequited love. All are recounted with brutal honesty and it is difficult to judge whether this woman is rather naïve or just totally lacking in self respect.

The only conclusion which seems feasible is that Juska is really seeking men’s approbation and love and chooses, consciously or subconsciously, to disguise this need as an urge for sexual adventure. The closest she comes to admitting this is when she alludes to her loneliness and the need for companionship towards the end of the story.

The book is quite well written as one would expect from an English teacher, although the structure leaves something to be desired as it roams quite randomly through her life and past relationships and experiences in between her sexual diversions in a manner which can be a little confusing. There are some lovely descriptive passages especially about Berkley where she lives and her visits to New York, a city with which she has her own love affair. Her visit to the Berg Collection in New York Public Library where she handles one of Trollope’s original manuscripts and the excitement and exhilaration she experiences as a result is one of the most memorable passages in the book. There are heart warming aspects such as her description of her relationship with her mother, some amusing incidents mostly regarding her teaching experiences and some readable anecdotes including her minor successes in bringing a measure of literary appreciation to some prison inmates. Nevertheless, I have to say, I struggled with this woman who obviously has so much to offer, such a sense of adventure, honesty, talent and courage but who is seemingly so inept in handling many close relationships, demonstrates so little pride in herself and is so blatantly needy.

Would I recommend it? This is a difficult question but on balance I would with reservations. It is a remarkable and brave work in many respects and Juska’s complete frankness about her own foibles, weaknesses and womanly desires can be refreshing and engaging. However her self deprecating approach, which is rather poignant and endearing at first, is so constant and repetitive that it becomes boring and detracts from the merits of the work. But maybe this is a personal reaction which is founded deep in my own psyche and says more about the reviewer than the writer! There is now a sequel to the work entitled “ Unaccompanied Women” and I am still undecided as to whether I will venture into Juska’s further exploits.

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“A Round Heeled Woman" was first published in the UK in 2003 . The paperback version, published by Vintage in 2004, is presently available from Amazon at £3.50 (reduced from £7.99) ISBN 978-0099466703

Summary: Recommended with some reservations.