Jane Juska: The Round-Heeled Woman

Reviewed by ZELA CHARLTON

Reading the cover of this book was slightly alarming, as well as intriguing: "Late-life adventures in Sex and Romance" and "Before I turn 67 — next March — I would like to have lots of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me" (personal ad in New York Review).

I just had to find out what this was all about and from the very first paragraph I was hooked by the humour and pace of this remarkable memoir. First, find out what the title means: a "round-heeled woman" is one who tips over easily, and therefore is "easy". Of course. But at 67? Why not? Leave ageism aside and read on ...

This is my age group and one of my study groups collapsed in helpless laughter as I recounted my own exploration of the personal ads; it is wonderful that at last sex for seniors can be talked about and accepted as a normal aspect of life.

We follow Juska's exploits as she answers the 63 replies to her advertisement and meets a variety of the respondents, with delightful side expeditions giving glimpses not only of small international experiences, such as eating malted-milk balls in a cinema, but also amusing insights into particularly American aspects of daily life.

This book is beautifully crafted, as befits an English teacher who genuinely loves literature as well as having sex with men, and the pace doesn't slacken as we

are carried along through Juska's life, skipping from present to past in a seamless flow that gives us an intimacy with her as a person as well as with the amorous adventures. She is honest, amusing and passionate — also decidedly raunchy.

It is not just the sex talk — much of which is very graphic indeed — but a sensuality and sheer joy in living that carried me along in a swirl of literary and musical references, catching at my mind as I rushed in the wake of Juska's words.

I have to confess I often shy away from "International Best Sellers". Not this one.

* Zela Charlton is a Whangarei artist and writer