It's Hard To Be Hip Over Thirty and Other Tragedies of Married Life

My daughter recently gave me a graying original copy of "It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty and other tragedies of married life" by Judith Viorst, published first in 1968. Viorst is better known as the author of Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. The Hard to be Hip book was a surprise. I wondered what my daughter had in mind when she chose this book for me, a choice made I imagine at the library's old book give away. I still don't know what she was thinking, maybe of people in general or maybe the content of the book spoke to her about me. Viorst describes in a series of poems the progression of unHipness after marriage in the 60's. I understand these poems in ways I wish I did not understand. The youthful idealism not only present in the 60's generation is an idealism shared by Henry David Thoreau groupies, modern art lovers, and minimalists past and present. If you majored in business, hard science, ENGINEERING, or anything really "useful" in life, and hated your English, philosophy, and music/art appreciation courses --if you took any at all, Viorst may sound to you like some pot smoking, bleeding heart liberal, socialist from the 60's who recovered just in time to join the suburban crush of SUV driver's who live in your neighborhood. And mine. One of my favorites begins: Once I aspired to Humble black turtleneck sweaters And spare unheated rooms With the Kama Sutra, a few madrigals, and Great literature and philosophy. Viorst is known best for the "horrible ... day" book for children, and I think the popularity of the Alexander story is due to Viorst's ability to connect to humanity through literature and philosophy. There should be a Tao of Alexander! I am younger than Viorst bya generation but her voice resonates with me through out the HIP book. I will buy new copies of this book for friends, but only for the really HIP ones! And yes, I majored in English.

This book of poetry/short stories made me laugh. Hearing about other people's married life, in laws, etc. is just as funny as telling about my own. I was sad to realize that women have the same problems now as they did in 1970. Not knowing what this book was about when I bought it I was hoping for answers, but fortunately I got a laugh at least. Quite amusing for people interested in women's studies as well.