Now I am 40
I can get wishful for my youth
Now I am 40
I can go oh and eh when I stand once in a while
Now I am 40
I can say it wasn’t like that in my day
now I am 40
I can happily buy clothes at m&s
now I am 40
I can say what is that noise
now I am 40
I can admit I not read every book I want to
now I am 40
my life begins
now I am 40
I cansay its the new 30
now I am 40
I may listen to what people say .
As you see I turned 40 yesterday ,I want to try and find the serious books I may have missed those gems of literature that have passed me by can you help what can you suggest because
now I am 40
I can ask for help with books
Mar 19, 2012 @ 21:11:06
Happy Birthday!
My suggestions: anything by Damon Galgut.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:28:16
thanks Genni I did read one of his books must return to him it was a while ago and I did enjoy it ,all the best stu
Mar 19, 2012 @ 21:31:59
Happy Birthday! 40 is the new 30 indeed.
It’s the decade to read everything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and / or Milan Kundera.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:28:57
there is a number of MAarquez I ve not read again ,all the best stu
Mar 19, 2012 @ 21:43:59
Imagine I get back online after quite an absence to find out that it’s your birthday! Happy Birthday Stu! All the best. Recommended an obscure Italian author: Bufalino. Plus Alejo Carpentier, Clarice Lispector.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:29:39
great I ve not heard of bufalino ,so will try that one ,all the best stu
Mar 19, 2012 @ 21:46:47
Happy Birthday Stu! I would encourage you to keep reading whatever you want to, but if you can squeeze a Beryl Bainbridge in that would be great (she’s my current fave, as you’ve seen) 🙂
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:31:14
I really must try her the bottle factory is one that keeps crossing my path as a must read ,all the best stu
Mar 19, 2012 @ 21:53:46
Now that you’re 40
You can say sod all, that is serious
& cultivate the absurd
Now that you are 40
What once thought,mysterious
Is now ” just away with the birds”
Now that you’re 40
You can prepare for the slump
Where once you were naughty
Now just an old grump
But now that you’re 4 0
The corner barstool’s yours
& annoy all those not 40
Those unlived in bores
With anecdotes & wisdom
and a pile of crap jokes
That they all have to listen to
Now you’re a 40yr old bloke
Cos now that you’re 40
It’s a steep downhill slide
and that you’re 40
You might as well enjoy the ride.
Mar 19, 2012 @ 22:00:05
Should say, now that you’re 40
you might as well enjoy the ride.
Happy Birthday Stu.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:31:35
love your poem ,many thanks stu
Mar 19, 2012 @ 22:11:17
Happy birthday, Stu!
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:31:49
thanks Amanda
Mar 19, 2012 @ 23:20:34
Happy Birthday ! Enjoy all the best of your fortieth year. Forty is the get-fit decade after the Catch Up Thirties. That’s so you don’t keel over at 52 with a broken mast. Once you get on a treadmill, read.
Danny Aiello did not start acting until he was 40. Kenneth Graeme published Wind in the Willows at 49. Iconic comedian Rodney Dangerfield didn’t start stand-up until he was 42. David Mamet directed his first feature film at 40. And then there’s Jonah Barrington…
So don’t feel old — that feeling comes when your teenager or your friends’ teenagers indicate to you that they have a whole new world beyond yours, a world full of things & music & ideas & attitudes of which you were totally and I mean totally oblivious.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:33:37
we are on a healthy eating thing at the moment ,great to see its not to late to make my mark ,thanks stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 02:17:21
Happy birthday Stu.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:34:00
Thanks Heather ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 02:39:42
Stu, happy happy birthday! I think the gems of literature will find you.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:34:44
I hope to find loads sure there are some great translations out there that have fallen from view ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 05:22:15
Stu-happy birthday!
I wish I could even remember when I was 40!
oh by the way, Irish Short Story Week Year II is extended until March 31!
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:35:18
thanks ,melk great news hope to post in next day or so have read a few stories ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 06:16:18
Happy Birthday Stu.
Giorgio Bassani – would be my suggestion, if you haven’t read him yet. If you have – Cesare Pavese.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:35:58
I ve npot I will try him thanks Caroline ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 07:41:33
Ha….I remember getting all reflective when I turned 40, too 🙂
Best of luck in your new start of life.
Rob
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:36:31
thanks rob ,looking forward to new discoverys and challenges ,alll the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 08:04:09
Happy Birthday! Trying to remember what I was reading at that age – mainly Guess How Much I Love You and Peepo to my baby, I think.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:37:17
hthanks ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 09:19:47
Happy birthday Stu. We never get younger
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:38:16
Thanks Nana ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 10:07:29
Happy Birthday Stu! Welcome to the 40’s club (I’m 5 months before you as you know :))
I say: do what you want, say what you want and READ WHATEVER THE HELL YOU PLEASE 🙂
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:38:49
I usually do lol but love finding gems I ve missed ,thanks boof
Mar 20, 2012 @ 11:58:57
Hapi, birthday stu.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:39:01
thanks Geosi
Mar 20, 2012 @ 12:11:31
Happy birthday Stu 🙂 I will have to think about what I might recommend for you to read!
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:40:14
tThanks and look forward to your choices Amy ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 20:13:15
Happy Birthday! I’m sure that you have a large enough TBR pile as it is, but as I’m only 33 I don’t think I’m qualified to recommend books to a 40-year-old 😉 I’m going to bathe in your wisdom and demand recommendations from you!
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:40:56
well not sure in wisdom but sure we have similar taste sometimes Jackie so sure be some you like ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 22:36:19
Happy birthday, Stu. Welcome to your 40s! I’ve got a couple of years on you.
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:41:37
why thanks Kim ,looking forward to them now Im here ,all the best stu
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:39:04
Happy belated birthday, Stu! I hope it was great 🙂 My birthday is coming up on Saturday- yay, March!
Mar 20, 2012 @ 23:39:34
all best people born in march I think ,all the best stu
Mar 21, 2012 @ 05:01:06
Happy belated birthday, Stu 🙂 May good books continue to come your way!
Mar 21, 2012 @ 20:00:28
thanks Emily ,all the best stu
Mar 23, 2012 @ 16:51:36
Stu,
Darn!! I missed your birthday! So I send belated congratulations. This may be counterintuitive, but for me, each decade has been better and better than the one before. May the same be true for you.
I was enchanted by your poem,
Judith (Reader in the Wilderness)
Mar 27, 2012 @ 10:20:43
thanks Judith ,all the best stu
Apr 02, 2012 @ 21:29:48
How did I miss this post?! Better late than never to add my belated congratulations.
Love your poem, Stu. Witty and wry and positive, and a great anthem for all of us who are forty plus!
Apr 11, 2012 @ 05:37:58
I can’t believe I missed your birthday, Stu! Belated Happy Birthday! Hope you had a wonderful day filled with cakes and sweets, parties and presents and lots of joy and fun!
Apr 23, 2012 @ 20:17:54
Thats ok thanks Vishy ,all the best stu