Product Description

'Round-heeled' is an old-fashioned term for a promiscuous woman of easy virtue. It's a surprising way for a respectable English teacher of a certain age, with a passion for the novels of Anthony Trollope, to describe herself, but then that's just the first of many surprises to be found in this poignant, funny, unique memoir. Inspired by Eric Rohmer's film Autumn Tale, Jane Juska, a smart, energetic divorcee, decided she'd been celibate too long, and placed a personal ad in her favourite newspaper, The New York Review of Books. The response was overwhelming, and Juska took a sabbatical from teaching to meet some of the men who replied. And since her ad made it clear that she wasn't expecting just hand-holding, her dates zipped from first base to the full monty in record time. Juska is a totally engaging, perceptive writer, funny and frank about her exploits. It's high time someone revealed the fact that older single people are as eager for sex and intimacy as their younger counterparts. Jane Juska's brave, honest memoir will probably raise eyebrows and blood pressure, but it will undoubtedly appeal to the very large audience of grown-up readers who will be fascinated and inspired by her daring adventure.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #454425 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Review
'The best book about sex I have read in a long time', Lynne Truss, Sunday Times .'Real and raunchy!', Elle .'This is memoir that sings with passion...a seamlessly wonderful read', Independent

From the Publisher
'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.' - Small ad in the New York Review of Books

About the Author
Born in 1933, Jane Juska has taught English for more than forty years in high school, in college, and in prison. A Round-Heeled Woman, her first book, has made her an overnight celebrity. She lives in Berkeley, California.

Customer Reviews

Funny, poignant, entertaining
Received this for a Christmas present and immediately dipped into it even though I was halfway through another book. I then had to finish it before going back to the original book! Initial thoughts - what on earth have I got in common with a 60-something woman? - were replaced by genuine entertainment and empathy with the feisty protagonist as she searches for 'a man I like'. She is honest, witty, open and refreshingly candid about the sex life of the over-60s (whoever knew they had it in them?!). The overriding impression is one of total honesty - she recognises her flaws but records them anyway.
This may not be Dickens but it is a very entertaining read.

Great book! Exactly what I needed!
Rather than pretentious, I found this book beautifully written from a perspective that I truly enjoyed! So much of what the writer wrote of her past and attitudes from childhood and puberty resonated with my history, and I hope I approach 67 with the same grace, insight, and courage.

Really a delightful book!

good'ish
A very interesting book, well written but a touch pretentious. However, as a tale of a real event it was witty and incisive - a very brave woman to write about her journey to sexual fulfilment.