The Late Bloomer's Revolution

by Amy Cohen (Goodreads author!)

published	July 3rd 2007 by Hyperion
binding	Hardcover
isbn	1401300022 (isbn13: 9781401300029)
pages	320
description	Amy Cohen always imagined that by age thirty she would be juggling a thriving career, a devoted English husband, and two adorable children who had s...more [close] Amy Cohen always imagined that by age thirty she would be juggling a thriving career, a devoted English husband, and two adorable children who had shag haircuts and a room in their loft where they could play the drums. But at thirty-five, as she struggled to come to terms with the loss of her adored mother, she found herself “between jobs” (she’d been fired), “between boyfriends” (she’d been dumped), and “between apartments.” She didn’t know how to cook. She didn’t even know how to ride a bicycle. Amy felt as if her life was behind schedule . . . way behind. The more time passed, the more difficult it became for her to believe that she would ever come into her own. The only thing that made her feel hopeful -- and even determined -- was the idea that she might be a Late Bloomer. She kept telling herself that things would change, that everything would happen for her, just not in the time she expected. As it turns out, she was right. A sparkling and reassuring memoir, The Late Bloomer’s Revolution is funny, heartwarming, and above all, real. Filled with observations sweet, bittersweet, and laugh-out-loud funny, this delightful book will be irresistible to all who believe their greatest moments are yet to come. [close]
date added	04-02-07 edit book

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Jeff rated it:

03/18/08

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: People who like to sleep in a large bed by themselves, and by like, I mean cry themselves to sleep

There's a bit of a story behind me reading this book.
First: I like reading memoirs, at least, so I thought. I started reading memoirs years ago. I started with David Sedaris, and moved onto Sarah Vowell, and then some Augusten Burroughs, Chuck Klosterman, and some David Rackoff... all authors that I greatly admire for their writing skills. This is akin to me taking up watching basketball by watching the all the 1992 Dream Team games. It turns out not all writers have the ability to spin a ...more There's a bit of a story behind me reading this book.
First: I like reading memoirs, at least, so I thought. I started reading memoirs years ago. I started with David Sedaris, and moved onto Sarah Vowell, and then some Augusten Burroughs, Chuck Klosterman, and some David Rackoff... all authors that I greatly admire for their writing skills. This is akin to me taking up watching basketball by watching the all the 1992 Dream Team games. It turns out not all writers have the ability to spin a yarn about their lives that I find completely entertaining like the people I mentioned above. But on I went, reading people's memoirs, thinking if I knew about other people's lives, maybe I'd figure out a bit more about mine.
I picked up "NO TOUCH MONKEY" by Ayun Halliday, which I promptly gave up reading, and I picked up The Late Bloomer's Revolution, which I put down several times, but eventually got through.
Here's what attracted me to the book. The cover, a quote by David Rackoff, and it's about being single, which I was at the time of that I picked this book up.
If misery loves company, then I wanted Ms. Cohen to come over and watch old episodes of COPS with me.
A funny thing happened while I started reading the book. Someone asked me out on a date, and as she and I continued to go out and eat and see movies and hold hands, I lost interest in reading about Amy Cohen's lack of a social life (and so I put it down, and picked up No Touch Monkey). I thought The Late Bloomer's Revolution was whiney. It was sad. It was about being single, which I no longer was, thus I didn't care. Oh sure, a week prior I was all about going to bed at 9 at night, but now I was staying out late, and on occasion, going to bed with someone else, reading that book was for suckers.
Still I read on (on rare occasions). And then, in the cruelest twist of fate- Amy Cohen found the love of her life (in the book) on the very same day my date buddy and I broke up. The universe does have a funny way of balancing itself out. I wished she would go back to talking about crying herself to sleep, and going to see movies by herself. Now she was talking about making dinner for her boyfriend, and planning trips together.
I was miserable... but I found that everything Amy Cohen said was true. Being single sucks, dating sucks. And when you do think you've found someone, you become crazy about what you say, eat, smell like, how you look, how you look naked. You want to tell everyone that you're happy, but you don't want to tell anyone about dating someone in case it doesn't work out- lest you look the fool. I was a sad boy made a bit sadder by the fact that sad Amy Cohen as right about everything... even if the book isn't a funny tromp through heartache city.
In the end- well, I'm not giving away the end, but maybe a lesson is learned, and maybe it's 1:13 in the morning and I'm watching a TIVO'd Dr. Who in my pjs about to go to bed alone. ...less

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Charity rated it:

11/10/07

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: people who liked "Year of the Dog"

I really liked this book. I was in a hurry to read it, since I heard it was good, and since I also heard that Sarah Jessica Parker, who annoys the bejeesus out of me, is starring in the movie adaptation, and I wanted to find out if it was good before I began hating it on principle.

Having said all that, I was impressed with the book despite having high expectations for it. So many books these days about single women are all about their search for love, and the incompleteness of life without ...more I really liked this book. I was in a hurry to read it, since I heard it was good, and since I also heard that Sarah Jessica Parker, who annoys the bejeesus out of me, is starring in the movie adaptation, and I wanted to find out if it was good before I began hating it on principle.

Having said all that, I was impressed with the book despite having high expectations for it. So many books these days about single women are all about their search for love, and the incompleteness of life without it, and seem to aim to comfort single women out there with messages like "Sure, you'll find someone, too!" and "Don't give up on love!" and "As soon as you least expect it, Prince(ss) Charming will rescue you from the monotony and exasperation of your unsatisfying everyday life!"

I have lately grown quite tired of this. I am single, and have made very important choices that have led me to be so. I'm not embarrassed about it, and I don't feel like my life is incomplete, necessarily, and I don't need to be comforted or pitied or admired for my ability and/or willingness to live a life alone. And sometimes, I want to read a book about a woman who is not special because she finally finds someone, and she's not special because she finally realizes she's been walked all over her whole life and been a sap. I want to read about someone who is strong, and independent, and may have doubts at times, but ultimately likes where she is, and unapologetically expects that her life should and will conform to her desires and expectations without her having to make dramatic changes in her life or "break down" and let love in. And if it doesn't she's special because she has learned to roll with the punches, because she knows her life is exactly where it should be.

But sometimes even strong and independent women forget that their lives don't have to follow the script of a romantic comedy, and sometimes things happen that makes us lose our resolve, but the trick is to get up, brush yourself off, and keep going. You have to realize that you don't get a medal for it. The prize is simply that you get to keep going. Amy Cohen faces struggles, some willingly (learning to ride a bike at 35) and some unwillingly (the death of her mother) and she conveys them honestly and eloquently. It is her honesty about the pain that makes her story of overcoming it so believable and inspiring. And her wry sense of humor helps too.

So I'm glad I found this book. And this is a book I will want to read again, and so I will not be mailing this out to my friends. This book is special to me, and I think that if I had decided to be a writer, I would have written a book a lot like it. I mean, I can only hope I would have. ...less

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