No, I Don’t Want to Join a Bookclub

No, I Don’t Want to Join a Book Club is an extraordinary well written novel by Virginia Ironside. The fresh style of writing and the unique views on growing old make this book stick to your hands and you find it very hard to let go. Written in a diary type of story, the subject of the book is, as the author puts it, a lesson of how to grow old disgracefully.

The main character of the book is a charming 60 year old woman who is finally doing what she wants and not what society dictates by its unseen web of rules and constrictions. The thoughts that come to her mind are so real and unique, but mostly shocking in both their charm or pragmatism and make a strong impression even from the very beginning.

Of course every detail of the reality is distorted through the eyes of the officially old but newly become granny, but that is actually the best part of it. Some of the past experiences and memories of growing up in the sixties and the hippy society of that time are sometimes brought back to life in a brief and funny manner. Also the accumulated experience in all kinds of relationships (love, family, friends) together with the optimistic and somehow naive way in which it is discussed, makes the story all the better.

All in all, a charming book about the advantages of getting old combined with a witty and very fresh style of writing that will surely open some new doors towards original ides.