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A Round-Heeled Woman Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of A Round-Heeled Woman


In the fall of 1999, retired high school English teacher and Berkeley resident Jane Juska placed the following ad in the New York Review of Books: "Before I turn 67 -- next March -- I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me." This surprising and charming memoir describes both what happened next and the context of her entire life: an early marriage and divorce, her devotion to her work, her assumption for a long time that sex was over for her. Although her amorous adventures, good and bad, are the hook, what I really remember from this unique book is the chapter about teaching English reading and writing in prison (San Quentin!), and her fight to gain entry to the exclusive Berg Collection -- the holy of holies collection of Anthony Trollope manuscripts and memorabilia in New York City. This is a delightful book . . . for the open-minded reader.
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The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus




Jane Juska is a sixty-six year old retired teacher who decides she has not had enough sex and so places an ad in the "New York Review of Books" stating that by time she turns sixty-seven she would like to have a lot of sex with a man. The book then chronicles her adventures and misadventures as a rotund and not especially attractive woman who has several interesting sexual dalliances with men ranging in age from thirty-three to eighty-two. The book is well-written and at times grandiloquent. The prurient scenes are strong but Juska often interpolates chapters from her "real" life, including teaching at San Quentin Prison; these "real life" episodes seem extraneous and interrupt the flow of the narrative. Juska received, I believe, sixty-seven replies, thus showing how easy it is in America for even an unattractive albeit interesting and intelligent woman to get laid.
The review of this Book prepared by Randy Williams



Chapter Analysis of A Round-Heeled Woman

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Plot & Themes

Romance    -   Yes Kind of romance:    -   searching for lover    -   boatload of casual sex without love Period of greatest activity?    -   1950+

Subject of Biography

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   teacher/professor Ethnicity    -   White Nationality    -   American

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   1 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Northeast    -   California City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York Misc setting    -   prison    -   resort/hotel Century:    -   1980's-Present

Writing Style

Book makes you feel?    -   very happy    -   like laughing Graphic sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   descript. of female anat. (the big B's)    -   actual description of hetero sex    -   descript. of female anat. (the big V) If this is a kid's book:    -   Age 16-Adult Pictures/Illustrations?    -   None How much dialogue in bio?    -   significantly more descript than dialog    -   little dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?    -   0-25% of book

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Jane Juska Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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