Fear of dying is a hilarious, heart wrenching, and beautifully told story about what happens when one woman steps reluctantly into the afternoon of life. Fear of flying, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a 1973 novel by erica jong, which became famously controversial for its attitudes towards female sexuality, and figured in the development of secondwave feminism. Erica jong s fear of dying defies the sunset of sex i thought, i have to write about an older woman who is sexual, attractive and wants to reach out for life. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jongs longtime fans and delight her new readers. That is, i made her fear trilogyfear of flying 1973, fear of fifty 1994, and now fear of dyingmy bedtime reading for a week, playing catchup with a.
Author erica jong at her apartment in new york, ny on october 03, 20. Praise for fear of dying erica jong has done it again. And her prolific creator novelist, poet and feminist erica jong has other things on her mind these days, as evidenced by her new novel, fear of dying. The author of fear of flying has made a career of busting taboos no matter who gets caught in the. Buy fear of dying by erica jong from amazons fiction books store. In this lighthearted, sexy, and wise romp of a novel, jong explores some deep truths about aging, family, love, and marriage after sixty. In it, jong and her alter egos face lifes most difficult challenges, head on and all at once. Erica jongs fear of dying searches for answers to lifes. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jongs longtime fans and delight her new readers jennifer weiner moving and deeply poetic, fear of dying is a compelling novel that truly understands the process of aging. Ever since she published fear of flying in 1973, erica jong has been associated with the philosophies of the free love movement from that era. Published in 1973, erica jongs fear of flying was a sensation. She has been married to kenneth burrows since august 5, 1989. Jennifer weiner, bestselling author of who do you love moving and deeply poetic, fear of dying is a compelling novel that truly understands the process of aging.
Fear of flying author is unzipped, unabashed and unrepentant. Published in 1973, at the height of what we called womens liberation, fear of flying was praised and reviled and read for its unabashed. My familys love affair with thirtyeight dalmatians and mercy street. Erica jong on fear of dying retirement made simple. Erica jongs new book, fear of dying, strikes a chord. Its good to read the agreeable and disagreeable points on what it means to be alive from a womans perspective and in the voice that jong brings to us. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Wildly funny and searingly honest, it is a story for.
September 6, 2015 author erica jong famously explored female sexuality in 1973s fear of flying. In fear of dying, jong has indeed overcome her phobias about writing about ageing and death. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jong s longtime fans and delight her new readers. Erica jong on fear of dying at the 2019 awp book fair. This program is part of the clubs good lit series, sponsored by the bernard osher foundation. Ericas latest novel, fear of dying, brought together a career of writing, reflecting, asking questions, trying to solve the puzzle of her own life, and in turn helped shed light on the lives of so many others. Why erica jong decided to take on mortality in fear of dying. Im a grownup, insists vanessa wonderman, the 60yearold protagonist of erica jongs ninth novel. In 1973 a book was authored and then published by erica jong, fear of flying and the attempts of a woman to handle her fears. Erica jongs fear of dying defies the sunset of sex i thought, i have to write about an older woman who is sexual, attractive and wants to reach out for life. Erica jongs groundbreaking 1973 debut fear of flying ascended her into literary icon status, particularly with its at that time controversial portray of female sexuality. Erica jongs new novel fear of dying follows a woman with an ailing husband and two aging parents who decides to cope by having an extramarital affair. Before there was fifty shades of grey, there was erica.
Author erica jong famously explored female sexuality in 1973s fear of flying. Erica jong webchat as it happened books the guardian. Questioning herself with deep honesty, erica jong continues to open the sealed doors of our lives. In conversation with linda gray sexton, author, bespotted. American poet, novelist and controversial voice of secondwave feminism, erica jong has a new area of interest. Fear of dying is the perfect, spirited, funny bookend to erica jong s classic, fear of flying. In erica jongs fear of flying, published 42 years ago, isadora wing invented the notion of zipless sex, that is to say, nostrings sex with a near stranger. Vanessa wonderman is a gorgeous former actress in her 60s who finds herself balancing between her dying parents. This novel is a wonderful, readable blend of entertainment and wisdom. She says, fear of dying by erica jong is hysterical and touching, compelling and heartbreaking and makes me want even more to live joyfully forever. In it, jong and her alter egos face lifes most difficult.
Like glitch or not, we seem to need a power greater than ourselves. Erica jong was born on march 26, 1942 in new york city, new york, usa as erica weisman. More than 40 years ago, erica jong introduced isadora wing, who astonished readers in fear of flying. I see that the greatest thing about getting older is how your judgment changes. Do you want me to tell you something really subversive. When i read fear of flying back in the day, i had a joyful, laughoutloud journey of liberation that left me feeling feisty and unstoppable.
With astonishing images on every page, erica jong gives us a veiled spiritual autobiography. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fear of. Fear of dying left its sticky fingerprints on my core. She is an actress and writer, known for fear of flying, celebrity 1998 and younger 2015. Now with fear of dying, erica jong has done it again but in the context of a more mature, experienced life. In erica jongs fear of flying, published 42 years ago, isadora wing invented the notion of zipless sex, that is to say, nostrings sex with a. Erica and i were both students at the same time in the high school of music and art in new york city, but we never met as we. Her recent book fear of dying charts the sexual adventures of vanessa. Fear of dying is a less radical book than its predecessor, coming at a less radical time. Fear of dying is a daring and delightful look at what it really takes to be human and female in the 21st century. Fear of dying by erica jong 2015, hardcover for sale.
But now her parents are dying and her husbands had a heart attack and shes reconsidering the choices shes made. Her new novel, the cleverly and aptly titled fear of dying, is a truthtellers dream. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jongs longtime fans and delight her new. Her worldwide bestseller, fear of flying opened the doors for writers. Im freer, i have these beautiful grandchildren and a daughter who adores me, finally. Four decades ago, erica jong revolutionized the way we look at love, marriage and sex. Fear of flying author erica jong returns with fear of dying, in which a heroine who is 60 and seeking sexual adventure, only to be counseled caution by flyings.
Fear of dying proves erica jongs sustained relevancy. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Although i know for a fact that erica jongs newest book fear of dying is part fiction, i was deeply moved by how she not only faces her fear, but is fearless in her willingness to open her heart and soul to her readers. Jong is also the author of seven awardwinning collections of poetry. Fear of dying is a big, bawdy, beautifullywritten romp through online hookups, female friendships, children grappling with adulthood and parents negotiating with death. Erica jong, best known for her 1973 breakout novel, fear of flying which gave the world the iconic concept of ziplessness, and her followup memoir fear of fifty, is back with a new book. Alcoholics are, above all, lonely, fearful pepole who make a fetish of loneliness, who think theyweare too good to be part of. Erica jong is still sexing up her satire with fear of dying. In 1973, fear of flying was the book we needed, now the book we need is fear of dying. Isadora wing, the protagonist from fear of flying, reappearsolder and wiseras vanessas best friend. Julie klam, bestselling author of friendkeeping and you had me at woof erica jong fans, rejoice. Four decades ago, erica jong revolutionized the way we look at love. Vanessa is the heroine of erica jongs masterful new novel fear of dying, a thoughtful, whipsmart, and often hilarious look at aging, marriage, sex, and death in 21 st century america.
Erica jong is a poet, novelist, and essayist, best known for her eight new york times bestselling novels, including fear of flying which has sold 27 million. In 1973, fear of flying was the book we needed, now the book we need is fear of dying julie klam erica jong fans, rejoice. Martins press, erica jong writes of a 60yearwoman whose life unravels after placing an ad for sex on an online site. With astonishing images on every page, erica jong gives. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Erica jongs fear of dying defies the sunset of sex. The iconic, bestselling author delivers her first book in ten years and the sequel to the groundbreaking novel, fear of flying. Erica jong author, fear of dying one to one youtube. So i wonder because, you know, erica, im not afraid of dying, and i would like to understand what it is that you think is making you afraid. It was a best seller, and apparently many suffer the same phobia. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will. The casual sex that shocked readers more than 40 years ago.