Widowed novelist, near seventy, ex-Park Avenue girl, ex-beatnik, ex-many other things too complicated to list here, loves big parties, summers ... read full description
reviews
Feb 15, 2010
Chrissie
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A wonderful book about a difficult subject! How do you feel when your husband dies after a long happy marriage? The author is almost 70 and she had been married for almost 40 years. The book isn't about the death itself, but afterwards - how you cope with living without the other oerson. This deals with a subject that usually never appeals to me. I do not like books that deal out pat answers on how to solve problems. They couldn't possibly succeed - everyone is different. So I rarely want any ad
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Jul 31, 2008
Danna
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If you've passed Anne Roiphe's books on shelves at BookPeople and Borders like me (see Up the Sandbox! through Water from the Well...), you may already be familiar with descriptions of her feminist writings, which combine realism and romance. Roiphe is also a well-established memoir writer (1185 Park Avenue and Fruitful: A Real Mother) connecting with women readers for four decades. Her latest memoir, Epilogue, is true to her trademark duality, without detached factual research and fiction's art
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Nov 17, 2008
Janet
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One writers passage through the grief of losing her husband of 40-odd years. After tough times of loneliness, odd internet dating and friends who dissolve away (all described in wonderful detail), she discovers that she will make it on her own. Sad but not always. Lonely but not unbearably. She recognizes that altho close companionship is often a key to happiness and comfort, being on her own is enough. We are all, after all, in this alone. You an almost feel her relief at settling in with a
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Jan 27, 2009
Diane
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This memoir is the story of Anne Roiphe, a novelist, who at 69 years of age, lost her husband of almost 40 years rather unexpectedly. She was unprepared for life on her own, and she found it difficult to piece together the basics for a new life, as her grief at times seemed unbearable.
Several months after her husband's death, her daughters placed a personal ad in the New York Review of Books. They described their mother as a writer, and an attractive woman who loved the ocean and boo More...
Several months after her husband's death, her daughters placed a personal ad in the New York Review of Books. They described their mother as a writer, and an attractive woman who loved the ocean and boo More...
May 20, 2011
Edith
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There are many older women writing about their widowhood these days. Writer and journalist Anne Roiphe joins them. She comes from a privileged New York City background (see her earlier memoir "1185 Park Avenue") and is mourning the loss of her psychoanalyst husband of nearly 40 years. She is trying to deal with her need for companionship and love and is actively seeking a new man in her life while still mourning her late husband.
Anne Roiphe is a woman with many advantages- More...
Anne Roiphe is a woman with many advantages- More...
Aug 30, 2009
Epilogue, by Anne Roiphe, narrated by Lorna Raver, produced by Blackstone Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
Anne Roiphe, a journalist, uses journaling, and ultimately this book, to deal with the aftermath of her husband’s sudden death and the starting of a new life. She writes this story in vignettes. We see her balancing a checkbook for the first time, hailing a taxi, lockingher own door, going out with a man from a personal ad her daughter puts in the paper, to joining match.com More...
Anne Roiphe, a journalist, uses journaling, and ultimately this book, to deal with the aftermath of her husband’s sudden death and the starting of a new life. She writes this story in vignettes. We see her balancing a checkbook for the first time, hailing a taxi, lockingher own door, going out with a man from a personal ad her daughter puts in the paper, to joining match.com More...
May 18, 2009
David
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memoir of bereavement after her husband died. To the extent there is humor, it comes in her recounting of online dating as a 70-year old and some of the unusual men her search reels in. Does a nice job of describing her late husband, a psychoanalyst who worked with little kids and liked to watch NY Giants football on TV.
To some extent the book is repetitive -- it's more a meditation than a factual or chronological description of the year. She certainly says she feels lonely or doe More...
To some extent the book is repetitive -- it's more a meditation than a factual or chronological description of the year. She certainly says she feels lonely or doe More...
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Jun 13, 2009
Laurel-Rain
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In the first year of her life after the death of her spouse—of almost forty years—author Anne Roiphe must face all the usual phases of loss and grieving.
As she weaves together the tale of her journey, she moves back and forth, between memory—of her husband, of their life together—and new experiences of life alone.
Old friends seem unfamiliar, in their continued state of coupledom, and new friends—men she meets online at Match.com—seem alternately odd and/or discordant in t More...
As she weaves together the tale of her journey, she moves back and forth, between memory—of her husband, of their life together—and new experiences of life alone.
Old friends seem unfamiliar, in their continued state of coupledom, and new friends—men she meets online at Match.com—seem alternately odd and/or discordant in t More...
Oct 10, 2009
Catherine
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The description from the inside flap of the book was a bit deceiving. It tells the reader that Roiphe loses her husband at the age of seventy and explores new love after loss. There is that element. I got the impression--mistakenly--that the book would be similar to A Round-Heeled Woman by Jane Juska, which discussed later in life dating with a lighter touch, but with some seriousness.
This book, for me, was really about the intense emotional deepening of life after the loss of a s More...
This book, for me, was really about the intense emotional deepening of life after the loss of a s More...
Nov 23, 2008
Carrie
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A really lovely exploration of life after loss, including how much happiness and companionship we have the right to expect across the course of our lives. Although much of the book is heartbreaking in its honesty, I did giggle a little when Roiphe discusses the online dating scene for the after-fifty set. My favorite paragraph: "If the owl and the pussycat went to sea in a pea-green boat and the owl flew off, the pussycat better pick up the oars and row toward shore--she has, after all, n
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Jan 22, 2010
Steve
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I only have one thing in common w/ the NYC, Jewish feminist, but I identified w/ her strongly. This was also the only book I really have read regarding the grief from the lose of your spouse. I kind of zoned out on some of the introspection, but enjoyed when she talked about the day to day living. And I love her honesty about what she hopes she can bring herself to do when it all gets to be too much. The first dating experience w/ the pawing 70 yr old was hilarious, but after awhile she spen
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Nov 01, 2008
Deirdre
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I enjoyed this book, which I just finished in about a day. It's episodic, so it's easy to read - many brief excerpts from Roiphe's life as a new widow. The book brought to mind The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. I've always enjoyed Roiphe's other books, on feminism, marriage and being a mother.
This book was very honest, and I liked that aspect, as if she was having a conversation with the reader. She did such a good job of describing her feelings of loneliness and iso More...
This book was very honest, and I liked that aspect, as if she was having a conversation with the reader. She did such a good job of describing her feelings of loneliness and iso More...
Sep 17, 2010
Marie
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Roiphe is a poetic, gifted writer. The way she describes certain situations in her life or her feelings of grief after the death of her husband are masterful. I meant to give some example quotes from the book I liked, but I forgot and put it in the "to be returned to the library" pile.
Wikipedia describes Anne Roiphe as a feminist writer. I've never read any of her books before--and in fact I think I might check out one of her novels out of curiosity. She is the mother of th More...
Wikipedia describes Anne Roiphe as a feminist writer. I've never read any of her books before--and in fact I think I might check out one of her novels out of curiosity. She is the mother of th More...
Feb 04, 2012
Christine
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 12, 2009
Pat
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Very interesting book. Like Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, this is a book about adjusting to widowhood after years and years of a good marriage. This is not as good as Didion's book, which was superb, but good nevertheless. Roiphe seems to rush the "getting over grief" process. But we are talking about different relationships; different cultural attachments and just a generally different way of thinking. Quite interesting in its own right.
Jul 24, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
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Roiphe’s husband dies unexpectedly and she is terribly lonely. Her daughters try to help her by taking out a personal ad for her. She tries to help herself by going online and using a service. She gets calls and she goes on dates. It is all a tremendous disappointment.
Time passes and Roiphe gives up on the outside dating help. She gradually comes to find a peace in her solitariness. She decides to wait and see if love comes to her.
Time passes and Roiphe gives up on the outside dating help. She gradually comes to find a peace in her solitariness. She decides to wait and see if love comes to her.
Dec 14, 2008
Ilona
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This is an autobiography of writer Anne Roiphe's life as a widow. It is not as well-written as Joan Didion's more famous book on the same topic, but it has other strengths. She tried to meet a man through friends and online sources and describes doing this as a woman in her early 70s. I got a little tired of the insular world of NYC she lives in, but overall found it interesting and worth reading
Nov 11, 2011
"In poignant flashes of everyday moments and memories, Roiphe tells an unflinching and unsentimental story of widowhood's stupefying disquiet, of surviving love and living on." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Listen to Epilogue on your smartphone.
Listen to Epilogue on your smartphone.
Jan 30, 2012
{eri}
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Overallgood message and reflections with some parts that made me tear up. I was directed to this book after reading an excerpt from it on a blog where the poster was discussing not taking your life partner for granted. I wholeheartedly agree and the little things that the author misses about her husband really support the notion of being happy with every second you can with that person and to enjoy the little things.
Oct 16, 2009
Holly
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I was disappointed - a 70-something widow writes about dealing with her husbands death and attempting to date again. The review made it sound as if most of the book would be centered around her dating life post husband's death. She made short references to the men she went out with - dull descriptions surrounding anything to do with the dates - the place, the man, her emotions.
Instead, the book centered around her pain after her husbands death. I can read about other's pain in lif More...
Instead, the book centered around her pain after her husbands death. I can read about other's pain in lif More...
Jan 31, 2012
Xebe(tron)
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Heartbreaking and hopeful. Full of love. A biography of a woman's year of life after her husband of 39 years passes away.
Really well written and very moving. I definitely had little tear ups more than once.
If your belief in everlasting love is ever shaken this is a good reminder that it exists.
Really well written and very moving. I definitely had little tear ups more than once.
If your belief in everlasting love is ever shaken this is a good reminder that it exists.
May 07, 2010
Carol
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This is a very interesting, sensitive, well-written memoir of a woman trying to move on after losing her husband of many years. Very eloquent, sometimes bleak, but if you've ever wondered about the experience of widowhood this is your book...
Jan 13, 2009
Ann
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Anne was widowed at 70. This book is about creating a new life. Being a bit younger but also on my own, I was interested in her endeavors and decisions. Each one of us must make our own path. However, I welcome suggestions from others.
Mar 30, 2009
Jackie
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A journal-like memoir of a year post-death of a spouse.
Interior monologue of a most particular kind of West side intellectual. Both warm and cold--never giving up, and yet longing to. Every intelligent person has a plan...
Interior monologue of a most particular kind of West side intellectual. Both warm and cold--never giving up, and yet longing to. Every intelligent person has a plan...
Apr 02, 2009
Florence
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A painfully honest chronicle of the period after the death of the author's husband. She tries to find a new pattern and meaning in her life. A glimpse into the world of over seventy online matchups. Should one take a chance on starting a relationship with an 89 year old man?
Jan 22, 2012
Crystal
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This memoir was about the year following her husband's death, navigating through life in old age. Considering dating, and being on her own when she hasn't been for so long (she is in her 70's). It was very well-written and touching.
Nov 24, 2011
Jay Z
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Lady's hubby of a gazillion years kicks the bucket. Lady decides to do some senior's online dating. Lady has many awkward dates with suitably old men. Lady pontificates at length about these dates and occasionally misses her dead hubby. Jay Z reads resulting memoir, boring & irrelevent, and wants to drown herself in a puddle of sewage. The end.
Jan 26, 2009
Kate
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Anne is not quite 70 when her husband of 40 yrs dies. This is a memoir about the next 18 months or so. I really enjoyed her writing skill. Descriptions of emotions and sense of places were beautiful.
Mar 19, 2009
Natalie
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She's a genuinely good writer; I can tell. I may try another one of her books. However, on this topic, I lost interest in the book in the middle. As a widow, she talks about the loss of her husband. She elaborates on how to live without him. In this she speaks about building relationships with other men. She basically feels alone and does not want to burden her children with her lonliness. I understand her feelings and the premise of the book. But... alas, I am missing the schematic background t
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Jan 09, 2009
Barbara
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I heard Scott Simon interview Anne Roiphe on NPR and immediately went shopping for this memoir. One-third of the way through, I have not been disappointed. At times I feel I am looking in a mirror.
