Her new novel, the cleverly and aptly titled fear of dying, is a truthtellers dream. She has been married to kenneth burrows since august 5, 1989. 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. 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. 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 was born on march 26, 1942 in new york city, new york, usa as erica weisman. My familys love affair with thirtyeight dalmatians and mercy street. It was a best seller, and apparently many suffer the same phobia. 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 jong author, fear of dying one to one youtube. Published in 1973, erica jongs fear of flying was a sensation. I see that the greatest thing about getting older is how your judgment changes. Although throughout reading fear of dying i was trying to find jongs response to being called a feminist writer.
Erica jong webchat as it happened books the guardian. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jong s longtime fans and delight her new readers. Fear of dying is a big, bawdy, beautifullywritten romp through online hookups, female friendships, children grappling with adulthood and parents negotiating with death. 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. Fear of dying is a big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jongs longtime fans and delight her new readers. 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 jong on fear of dying at the 2019 awp book fair. Erica jong on fear of dying im 73, and my writing is better than its ever been. Author erica jong at her apartment in new york, ny on october 03, 20. With astonishing images on every page, erica jong gives us a veiled spiritual autobiography. Alcoholics are, above all, lonely, fearful pepole who make a fetish of loneliness, who think theyweare too good to be part of. Before there was fifty shades of grey, there was erica. American poet, novelist and controversial voice of secondwave feminism, erica jong has a new area of interest.
Published in 1973, at the height of what we called womens liberation, fear of flying was praised and reviled and read for its unabashed. 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. Isadora wing, the protagonist from fear of flying, reappearsolder and wiseras vanessas best friend. The iconic, bestselling author delivers her first book in ten years and the sequel to the groundbreaking novel, fear of flying. Erica jongs fear of dying defies the sunset of sex. In conversation with linda gray sexton, author, bespotted. Erica jong on fear of dying retirement made simple. Author erica jong, who wrote the 1973 bestseller fear of flying, has a new book, fear of dying. Fear of flying author is unzipped, unabashed and unrepentant. Like glitch or not, we seem to need a power greater than ourselves. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jongs longtime fans and delight her new. Fear of dying is the perfect, spirited, funny bookend to erica jong s classic, fear of flying.
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. Questioning herself with deep honesty, erica jong continues to open the sealed doors of our lives. 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. 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. Erica jong is still sexing up her satire with fear of dying. She is an actress and writer, known for fear of flying, celebrity 1998 and younger 2015. Her worldwide bestseller, fear of flying opened the doors for writers. 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.
Praise for fear of dying erica jong has done it again. 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. Im freer, i have these beautiful grandchildren and a daughter who adores me, finally. Buy fear of dying by erica jong from amazons fiction books store. Four decades ago, erica jong revolutionized the way we look at love, marriage and sex. Fear of dying by erica jong 2015, hardcover for sale. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will satisfy jongs longtime fans and delight her new readers. 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. 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.
Jong is also the author of seven awardwinning collections of poetry. This program is part of the clubs good lit series, sponsored by the bernard osher foundation. 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. Erica jongs new book, fear of dying, strikes a chord. In it, jong and her alter egos face lifes most difficult. Fear of dying proves erica jongs sustained relevancy.
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. 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. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Fear of dying is big, warmhearted, generous book that will. Why erica jong decided to take on mortality in fear of dying. Julie klam, bestselling author of friendkeeping and you had me at woof erica jong fans, rejoice. Author erica jong famously explored female sexuality in 1973s fear of flying. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
This novel is a wonderful, readable blend of entertainment and wisdom. In this lighthearted, sexy, and wise romp of a novel, jong explores some deep truths about aging, family, love, and marriage after sixty. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. In 1973, fear of flying was the book we needed, now the book we need is fear of dying. 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. The author of fear of flying has made a career of busting taboos no matter who gets caught in the. Her recent book fear of dying charts the sexual adventures of vanessa. Now with fear of dying, erica jong has done it again but in the context of a more mature, experienced life. Fear of dying is a daring and delightful look at what it really takes to be human and female in the 21st century. We seem to need enormous shadows of divinity stalking us. 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.
Fear of dying is a less radical book than its predecessor, coming at a less radical time. In it, jong and her alter egos face lifes most difficult challenges, head on and all at once. 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. But now her parents are dying and her husbands had a heart attack and shes reconsidering the choices shes made. 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 the perfect, spirited, funny bookend to erica jongs classic, fear of flying. Do you want me to tell you something really subversive. 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.
September 6, 2015 author erica jong famously explored female sexuality in 1973s fear of flying. More than 40 years ago, erica jong introduced isadora wing, who astonished readers in fear of flying. Fear of dying left its sticky fingerprints on my core. 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. 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. With astonishing images on every page, erica jong gives.
Vanessa wonderman is a gorgeous former actress in her 60s who finds herself balancing between her dying parents. Martins press, erica jong writes of a 60yearwoman whose life unravels after placing an ad for sex on an online site. Four decades ago, erica jong revolutionized the way we look at love. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fear of. Im a grownup, insists vanessa wonderman, the 60yearold protagonist of erica jongs ninth novel.
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