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There are currently 9 member reviews
for Fear of Dying
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Shirley L. (Norco, LA)
Like a reunion with an old friend
Erica Jong is a great writer. When she and I were much younger I marveled at her adventures in Fear of Flying. We both have matured and I loved her words of wisdom about grower older and facing death. Her story was poignant, funny, sad and hopefully...just like life itself. I marked numerous passages to reread. A marvelous read.
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Virginia B. (Foster, RI)
Sex at 60
Fear fuels Erica Jong's latest book and sends Vanessa, her main character, spinning into several unpredictable situations. Jong ably expresses Vanessa's concerns and love for her dying parents and an aging husband. She is so convincing I sometimes thought I was reading a memoir, not fiction. However, Vanessa's fear drives her to seek sex outside her marriage as a way to dissolve her fear and this response seemed immature and unbelieveable.
I did appreciate reading an author whose character is closer to my age in a market where authors are often much younger and usually don't "get" older women. As expected, Jong includes a fair amount of sex but there is a balance of humor, insight, and good dialogue. This is a quick read and I would recommend it to people who have read "Fear of Flying."
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Mary S. (Springville, AL)
Fear of Dying for the Rich and Famous
This was an interesting book, and I would have enjoyed it more had the main character not been a celebrity, with famous parents and a rich husband; she had so much that it was hard to empathize with her as an aging woman. Erica Jong is a good writer, but not every problem can be solved with sex. While the subject of aging is one that I can relate to, I wish this story had been told with a little more reality.
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Nancy L. (Denver, NC)
Fear of Dying
Now I remember why I dislike Erica Jong's writing. She gets into a meaningful conversation, then slams you with sex. And not nice sex - words no one I know would use. Trying to get around that part, you continue reading. It gets better - almost understandable when you get hit again! Besides the fact that the main character is filthy rich so that her life is foreign to normal people, her language is sickening. Her fear of dying is ridiculous since she's mainly concerned about her ninety-some parents' dying.
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Joan P. (Owego, NY)
Fear of Dying
Having read "Fear of Flying" as a young woman, I was anxious to see if Erica Jong had interesting insights on the loss of youth and dying. She does. As we age we deal with the death of our parents and ultimately with our own mortality. I found some parts of the book much like the experiences we all have facing life's challenges, and then there were some parts I found outrageous and typically the old sexual Erica. As with all of her writing, you are left with food for thought.
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Teresa H. (Mechanicsville, VA)
A Reminder That Life is Short
I would not say this book is a humorous romp. I found it a rather dark look at how we define ourselves when we reach 60 in a society that is obsessed with youth. How do we prove to ourselves that we are still living the life we want as we age? It is a look at how we deal with death once we realize that no matter what we do death is going to come get us or our loved ones some day. It looks at the things that make life worth the effort. This was a good reminder that we are alive to live not just sit and fear death.
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Joyce W. (Rochester, MN)
Fear of Dying
This book should be titled fear of aging and loss of sex. It should be marketed to Jewish mothers as a beach read and comedy. I give it 2 stars. Erica Jong gives women a bad name, wallowing in self pity and martyrdom. As her father and mother are dying, her husband is recuperating (but he is 83) she goes on line to find sex. Many women have much worse problems than she, what a pathetic person.
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