When Did I Stop Being 20 and Other Injustices

by Judith Viorst, John Alcorn (Illustrator)

Poetry examines the ironies of modern women growing up, from sex to sagging kneecaps

Genres: Poetry, Humor, Nonfiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1987

About the author

Judith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it about Viorst? Every time I sit down with a book of her poetry, planning just to read "a few for now," I end up reading the whole thing. I think it's just that she's so real. she tells it exactly like it is, admitting her flaws while helping us see that we all go through similar experiences. And she does it through poetry, which is refreshing.

[Heather Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this was so funny. I was cackling through so many of these poems that my husband and daughter asked me to read a couple of them aloud (which I chose carefully because be aware, this is not a kids book and there is definitely some inappropriate content for the under 17 crowd). After reading the book about her 30’s & 40’s, I see that this tells a much more well-polished story of three decades. Highly recommend for anyone needing a good laugh about real life and aging.

[Mandy Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a thrift store and had never heard of it. I read it several years ago, lent it to a friend and never got it back. I have no idea where she is now. I've always wished I still had a copy. It's a really funny, easy book to read that makes you think about where you are in life. All of this review is based on my memories of how it made me feel at the time I was reading it. I need to track down another copy and re-read it. I think all of my friends would enjoy it, though.

[Courtney LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several other of the age-poem books by Judith Voirst but I think my poetry palette has changed and I no longer appreciate the humor of these poems. I honestly found them a bit obnoxious and tiring and old-fashioned. Just not my style of poetry, I want poems that push deeper and these barely scratch the surface.

[Cheryl Licata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judith Viorst, author of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, has written several books of humorous poetry based on the aging process. I just discovered one of her books in my piles of poetry books and I knew, based on the cover, this book had to be read immediately. The topics covered in these poems range from "The Break" (leaving her parents' home) to Facing the Facts (mid-life thoughts.) From The Break comes the daughter's wanting to become independent, but with the promise, " Yes, I will be home for Sunday dinners." From "Facing the Facts" is the reminder that in the middle years of life, they'll never be able to say "and she did it so young." The illustrations are amazing and add to each of the 44 poems in this book. Other books in the series take the reader through the 50's, 60's, 70's 80's and the final book "Nearly 90. At least I guess it's the final book. Have fun with poetry!

[Terry Graybill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovering Judith Viorst’s age-themed poetry books later in life is like learning about raspberries at 30 or lobsters at 40. What a treat!

A dear friend told me that her mother's favorite poet was Judith Viorst so I followed up and found When Did I Stop Being 20 and Other Injustices. Her humor, perception and wit are just the right combination to make this book difficult (for me impossible) to put down. Many of her experiences were familiar or familiar enough, but even those that were not, were familiar from observation, from listening to friends over the years.

I look forward to her books on being 30, 40, 50 and beyond with hope and anticipation. But I plan to try to take breaks between so her words from each book can dance in my mind a bit longer.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this short collection of poems with the intent of finding a poem or two to send to someone who is having a milestone birthday. The poems are light and humorous, capturing a trials of a woman's life from early twenties to married life to mid-life. each of the forty poems is accompanied by a humorous illustration. Judith Viorst is 87 so her perspective of life for a young girl in Greenwich Village comes from sixty years ago. I would recommend this collection of poems to Judith Viorst fans.

[Rhonda K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this short set of poems published in 1987 (ish). Viorst may be a couple decades older than me, but she gets certain life stages perfectly regardless of cultural and societal changes. Had to Google the intriguing sounding prune whip which looks yummy, and which maybe just proves that the more things change, the more they stay the same. 15, 16, 34, 37 especially got me.

[Tamara York · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of poems about getting older. I enjoyed some of them, but some sections were a miss for me. It was interesting to read a different offering from the author of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (a personal favorite).

[Bailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I’ve never been married or had a mid-life crisis, I think this book describes them perfectly. How marriage isn’t the perfect thing and you start to wonder what your life is, this book is amazing!

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series of poetry books, one for each decade, by Judith Viorst. I'm so glad I discovered them now. They'd make great birthday gifts.

[Kimberly Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all-time favorite book of poetry.

[Jan Yarnot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some are really funny and I get it; some not so much. I wasn't a hippie at all though, so I can't relate to those poems. The parenthood ones are funny though.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and honest, with a sprinkle of bitterness and disillusion. I really enjoyed it!

[Sneha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the title. Didn't care for the content.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the honesty about marriage, although I can't relate to the Greenwich village life she lived before that.

[Graci · Rating 1 out of 5]

An Upper-Middle Class White Woman Wonders Why She Chose Performative Activism: Some Poems.

Gratuitous, offhand mentions of sexual violence.

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally like poetry, but these, plus their illustrations by John Alcorn, were hilarious! This despite the fact this book came out in 1987!!

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though quite dated, this is a fun look at the maturation process in women; discovering that what once was fun, what once was a priority, is no longer the case. Dating, getting married, having children and discovering that the world is a much different place than it appeared in your youth is truly an awakening that troubles many of us. I think that these poems offer somewhat of a timeless observation of this age. And I love that Judith Viorst created poetry books for every decade of an adult woman's life.

I've already read Unexpectedly Eighty: And Other Adaptations, I'm Too Young To Be Seventy: And Other Delusions, Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Life, Forever Fifty, How Did I Get to Be 40 & Other Atrocities, and It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty. While this book seems to have several poems that are repeated in subsequent editions, I really liked them all. I certainly hope she writes a book about the nineties!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I read these poems to myself (often out loud), I hardly encountered a poem that didn't make me smile, laugh, reflect, and occasionally wince. Judith Viorst's first-person poems are as insightful, self-deprecating, and poignant as they are funny, and I will definitely return to these them. I also should spend more time examining John Alcorn's whimsical drawings that accompany each poem.

Several of Viorst's poetry books focus on a single decade, so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read this book, since it contains selections from several decades.

The major downside of this book? The physical difficulty in reading it, since the left margin of the poetry text extends practically into the book binding. Hopefully her other books of poems are not so cheaply put together.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may have to give this book to all my girlfriends for Xmas. Poems about women finding themselves in an unexpected world of adulthood, husbands, and dreams blown off course. Wryly funny and terribly apt, even though the newest poem was written more than 20 years ago. Outstanding.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judith is one of my favorite authors and my favorite poet. Her style of telling a whole story in just a few lines of prose is so clever.

This book has my favorite poem by her. It's called "Money" and if you have never read it I suggest you go right now - GO - and read it.

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading this 30 years after it's written and its still relevant today. Reading about the thoughts and aspirations of the early 20s and that air of thinking how worldly you are in a humorous way.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second or third read. even at 78 and male, I thoroughly enjoy Viorst's poems and wonderful humor. Glad this dropped off the shelf when I was looking for another book. I've read Viorst's other books and enjoyed as well.

[Ruby Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book! Humorous slice of life poetry that sums up the growing pains between young adulthood and "full adulthood". Relatable, light hearted and fun. Helps you take things a little less seriously and hold space for your troubles with a little more heart.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting and relatable. Great for when you need a belly laugh!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book as much as some of Viorst's other "age related" series. There were a few cute poems, but the rest felt dry.

[Emily M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful satirical poetry.

[Samantha Grabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny and charming.