Unexpectedly Eighty: And Other Adaptations

The Decades of a Woman's Life #7

by Judith Viorst

What does it mean to be eighty? In her wise and playful poems, Judith Viorst discusses marriage, 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.

Genres: Poetry, Humor, Nonfiction, Memoir

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2010

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

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this series of poetry books by Judith Viorst by first reading I'm Too Young To Be Seventy: And Other Delusions. It was on a display of poetry books for National Poetry Month and I thought I'd check it out. I really liked it and discovered that there's a book for every generation of adult woman. Now that I've read her books about being a woman in her 80s, 70s and 60s, I will look for the next book, Forever Fifty.

Wry and witty, this is a fascinating book of poems that explores the life of a woman in her eighties. It's a quick read and offers a refreshing perspective. I can only hope that I am as vibrant and active in my eighties as she is.

[Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonder what it's like to turn 80? This book makes it seem like a unique party that's poetically fabulous 😍 Definitely something to look forward to ✅

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her books were much more funny when she and myself were much younger- not as easy to laugh about aging now!!

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short witty book of light poetry on the observations, challenges, joys and sorrows of entering one’s eightieth decade.
It is at different times playful, poignant, hilarious and moving, offering selections in which the mood changes from piece to piece.

No, this is not great literature, but it is important for every reader to find time and space in their life for things that are simply fun to read.

This is one of those books.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shel Silverstein meets Dorothy Parker meets...well, Judith Viorst. The haiku about the D.C. dinner party is classic, and would be lovely read aloud by Susan Stamberg or Cokie Roberts. Many of the rest are a good reminder about what is to come, if we are lucky enough to live a long life. If you are living that long life already, you will find a kindred soul. Viorst always tells it like it is.

[Mary Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many truths and insights, even tho' i'm not exactly in that category yet.
Judith Violist is brilliant, from her children's books that i enjoyed along with them to her "Very Married" poetry book gift from my parents long ago. So many "oh yeah, that's exactly true" feelings.

Got at library, but just ordered my own copy --altho trying to downsize.....

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Viorst again please with truth in her exquisite poetry and humor. Thank yo Judith for 50, 60, 70 and your other writings about the passage of life.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not yet eighty, but a fun book to read.

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have grown old reading Judith Viorst's poetry on aging, one book every ten years (more or less) starting with When Did I Stop Being Twenty. Fortunately for me, Judith is two decades ahead of me so I can normally get her book relevant to my situation on the discount shelf of my local used book store. This is where I got Unexpectedly Eighty, published in 2010. While I am not eighty yet, I couldn't pass up the chance to see what Life has in store for me if I survive the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The book starts off with a quote from songwriter Gordon Jenkins: "Lingering sunsets, stay a little longer." In her eighties, Judith can see the end of life looming on the horizon, but is still enjoying the simple pleasures available to octogenarians. Always with a bit of humor and nostalgia, she looks at the situation in which she finds herself at this point in time. Of course, it is an upper middle class heteronormative life that she lives filled with grandchildren, an irritating but lovable husband, and middle-aged children who have little need of her.
I think her books appeal to me because they seem like guidance from an idealized American mother that I never had. My mother was an immigrant from what is now Ukraine and her guidance, while equally funny and insightful, was quite different and not always relevant to my life.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next year, I will be "unexpectedly eighty", so I thought it might be fun to read Judity Viorst's book of poetry on just that! I enjoyed her poems on this delight of getting older. My dad always said, "Getting older is better than the alternative." So that's my belief, too. She has humorous poems on every topic from sex, love, being a three-desserts grandmother, friends, and all. She promises to not gently fade away. She talks about that things are clearly now to her...because of her cataract surgery.
A delight! Eighty isn't bad!!!

[Maya]

A snappy little book that I was glad to find at a Little Library, and picked up to learn more about what 80 feels like. Here's to sass and spunk at every age.

Update: I am coming back to edit my review with an additional comment because it has been bothering me all weekend. It sounds like the author has a life full of joy, but if at 80 years old, I am dining with friends and decide not to eat the potatoes because I am watching my waistline... oy. I have difficulty with this concept. After eight decades of life, please eat the carbs if that's what will bring you happiness.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book of poems by Judith Viorst as she reflects on getting older. While I have yet to reach this milestone, it's fun to recognize myself, my husband, or relatives in many of these astute and insightful poems. My favorite is "Stopping by My Mirror on a Sunny Morning" which cleverly takes the cadence of the Robert Frost poem, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" but alters it to discuss the feelings of how one's physical appearance changes with age. A delightful collection of poems.

[Laurie Shreffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny at Times A Little too Honest at others

I loved her feelings about being 80 including Grandchildren , Dying with her husband, her thoughts and feelings at 80, and what she thinks about the most. I found it very truthful! Sometimes it was a little too depressing and raunchy for my taste. I did enjoy most of the essays and poems though!

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this for my husband for his 80th birthday -- I'll be there in a few years! Have read all of her decades books. They are clever, poignant, and funny poems, sometimes bittersweet, often delivering tough truths in gentle but honest lines that make you chuckle at the inevitables of aging.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will simply say this: if you have not yet met Judith Viorst on a book page, don't wait a second longer. A friend gave me this book and it is an absolute delight. Now I need to do some back-tracking through the decades. Her mix of humor with truth is exceptional!

[Treasure Island Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across this little jewel of a book in the library. This continuation of Viorst's keen observations on every age and stage of life continues. This one is charming and funny about the vicissitudes of growing older.

[Ruth Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this tiny book of Ms. Viorst's insights into the aging process of human beings. She has written some really deep, thoughtful meditations on growing old. Being that I'm about the same age of the author, when I saw the title of the book, I had to read it! It's spot on!!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Judith Viorst climbs into my head when she’s ready to write a new poem. I have loved each of the books in this series and most of the things have proven to be my thoughts exactly. This one on the 80s is wonderful

[Sharen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and fun! Love Judith Viorst!

[The_J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant passing the time reading poems to Mom from a tiny lending library find.

[Patricia Eichenlaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

New insight on being unexpectedly 80. I love Judith Viorst

[Terri Gulyas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute poems that reflect on being eighty.

[Kathy Caprini Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately it’s all too true and if you don’t laugh at what she writes you’ll cry

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me so much of my great grandma Westerman, it brought me to tears. Best of the lot so far.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Viorst is a talented poet, but so many of her poems are about vanity. My favorite in this collection was the spoof of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," but even it was about vanity.

[Victoria & David Williams]

Valentine's day 2020.

[H Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read, sweet & melancholy, funny and sad…just like aging

[Gayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love Judith Viorst. She tells it like it is. By now, she's 90...so I'm eagerly awaiting her next installment.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is me looking forward to getting older and hoping it is as amusing as Judith makes it out. In one day I have gone from 20-80.

What does it mean to be eighty? In her wise and playful poems, Judith Viorst discusses marriage, 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.
Genres
Poetry
Humor
Nonfiction

[Terry Graybill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful gem in the decades poetry of Judith Viorst. You know you really enjoyed a book when you want to share just this one, oh and maybe that one. This keeps happening with these books and Unexpectedly Eighty and Other Adaptations is no exception.

A few callouts among a set of treats: "Revelation?", "An Afterlife" and "Stopping By My Mirror on a Sunday Morning". (If that last title reminds you of a certain Frost poem, you're on the right track.)

Do start with her book on the 30s and work your way along. I'm enjoying them even when they're in decades beyond my current age. What a joy to read for the first time, and I look forward to the rereading of all these books in the future.