No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club

Diary of a 60th Year

By: Virginia Ironside

Narrated by: Sian Phillips

Here's a delightful novel about letting go of youth and embracing the sassy curmudgeon within.

Don't harass her about parasailing or taking Italian language courses. Forget about suggesting she join a gym. Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads toward the big 6-0, but she's fine with it. She would rather do without all the moving-to-Florida-bicycling-across-Mongolia-for-the-hell-of-it hoopla that her friends insist upon. She's already led an exciting life: she came of age in the 1960s, after all. Now, with both a new grandchild and a new man on the horizon, all she wants to do is make the most of what she considers the most interesting stage of her life.

In this wonderfully astute novel, based on the author's own experiences, No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club is the funny and often poignant fictionalized diary of an older woman a decade or two past her prime and content to leave it all behind her. So don't tell her to take a gourmet cooking class, and whatever you do, don't you dare tell her to join a book club. Fresh and truly unique, moving gracefully on in years has never been more hilarious than in this forthright grandma's take on the "third phase" of life.

©2006 Virginia Ironside (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Both humorous and poignant, this will appeal to its target boomer demographic and should pull in a few younger readers as well." (Publishers Weekly)
"Ironside is pretty wonderful herself, offering a witty and, at times, poignant depiction of the challenges and freedoms that come with getting older. (Booklist)

So Humorous!!

This book is so funny and spot on that I laughed aloud probably every five (or fewer) minutes! AND, this reader is superb! Her voice is true to the age and her timing of the humor is impeccable! Please do yourself a favor and listen to this book.

I have many CRAFT moments

I am turning 60 soon so the title caught my eye. The story gave me plenty of laughs and reminders of my own life. It was a fun read.

Virginia Ironside

This story has been a fun emotional experience. I am glad I listened to it. Thank you for a little story about life experiences that most people go through.

Wonderful!

This book cracked me up. Any female who is approaching 60, is 60, or already beyond 60 should listen to this book. My morning water aerobics gal pals could not wait for me to share the latest quip. I will probably listen again. Beware: You wiill laugh out loud, so listen in private.😂🤣

Telling it like it is

The first chapter of this book reads like a conversation I'd have with my friends about getting older and how much we really prefer it to being young. The main character in this book is refreshing in her appreciation of this stage of her life. My friends and I have found that, as we get older, we've also gotten more honest about what we think about things. This book was full of that kind of honesty. It's funny, fast moving, full of love and joy. It's also sarcastic in a way that only older women can exude. It's a whole lot of fun.

Delightful book!

I laughed, cried and identified with Marie the entire book. I did not want it to end.

hysterical!

Slan Phillips deliver'sVirginia Ironside's book in a way that will have you laughing every other sentence. Her British accent does it! The story has anecdotes that all women over 60 will certainly relate to and I found myself saying "OH, that is so true!" Her relationships are so genuine and the death of her close friend had me in tears too. Loved listening to this book. Yes, it MUST be listened to. Just a FUN way to spend a few days! Thank you. I needed this one!

Perfect Birthday Gift for a 60-year-old Woman

I turned 60 this year, as does the narrator of this book, so related to her immediately. She says what she thinks and is sometimes crabby in a funny way, yet the process of aging is presented in a very positive light. I keep the discs in my car and am listening to this for I think the third time. I'm not sure a man or a younger woman would enjoy this book, but as a 60-year-old, I found it hilarious!

What An Absolute Treat..!!..5 Stars

The author is a mind reader .. or, she’s read MY diary.. ... hilarious,.. I sniggered half the time, laughed outright a fourth of the time .. and got misty eyed the other quarter of the book..
What a ride... and Sian is so delicious to listen too,.. goes down like velvety woody wine..

I’m not even close to 60, but I loved it

Such a delightful story. Lots of wit. I enjoyed the highs and the lows right alongside Mary. Some parts of the story were like looking in a mirror. I loved the person performing the story! Cute, cute, cute!