I love that we now have a wealth of nonfiction books about aging and sexuality. It seems we're finally digging our way out of the pile of old misconceptions. Besides my book, Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex After Sixty, authors like Gail Sheehy, Jane Juska, Dr. Ruth, Susan Swartz, and many others have written guidebooks, memoir, and commentary about what it's like for the Boomer generation -- who practically invented sex, after all! -- to grow older and stay vital.
I remember that when Gloria Steinem turned 40, a reporter said to her, "You don't look forty." She replied, "This is what 40 looks like!"
Now we're saying to a society that still worships youth, "This is what 50, 60, 70, 80 looks like and feels like!" And we're recording our experiences and thoughts candidly in writing.
But are we only doing it in nonfiction? Where are the contemporary novels featuring realistic, modern, full-dimensional, introspective, sexy protagonists in their later years? If you know any, please recommend some authors and titles, and please tell us what you like about these books! (Either post a comment here, or email me your comment and I'll post it for you.)
Thanks,
Joan