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
Happy Birthday!
My suggestions: anything by Damon Galgut.
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
Happy Birthday! 40 is the new 30 indeed.
It’s the decade to read everything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and / or Milan Kundera.
there is a number of MAarquez I ve not read again ,all the best stu
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.
great I ve not heard of bufalino ,so will try that one ,all the best stu
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) 🙂
I really must try her the bottle factory is one that keeps crossing my path as a must read ,all the best stu
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.
Should say, now that you’re 40
you might as well enjoy the ride.
Happy Birthday Stu.
love your poem ,many thanks stu
Happy birthday, Stu!
thanks Amanda
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.
we are on a healthy eating thing at the moment ,great to see its not to late to make my mark ,thanks stu
Happy birthday Stu.
Thanks Heather ,all the best stu
Stu, happy happy birthday! I think the gems of literature will find you.
I hope to find loads sure there are some great translations out there that have fallen from view ,all the best stu
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!
thanks ,melk great news hope to post in next day or so have read a few stories ,all the best stu
Happy Birthday Stu.
Giorgio Bassani – would be my suggestion, if you haven’t read him yet. If you have – Cesare Pavese.
I ve npot I will try him thanks Caroline ,all the best stu
Ha….I remember getting all reflective when I turned 40, too 🙂
Best of luck in your new start of life.
Rob
thanks rob ,looking forward to new discoverys and challenges ,alll the best stu
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.
hthanks ,all the best stu
Happy birthday Stu. We never get younger
Thanks Nana ,all the best stu
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 🙂
I usually do lol but love finding gems I ve missed ,thanks boof
Hapi, birthday stu.
thanks Geosi
Happy birthday Stu 🙂 I will have to think about what I might recommend for you to read!
tThanks and look forward to your choices Amy ,all the best stu
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!
well not sure in wisdom but sure we have similar taste sometimes Jackie so sure be some you like ,all the best stu
Happy birthday, Stu. Welcome to your 40s! I’ve got a couple of years on you.
why thanks Kim ,looking forward to them now Im here ,all the best stu
Happy belated birthday, Stu! I hope it was great 🙂 My birthday is coming up on Saturday- yay, March!
all best people born in march I think ,all the best stu
Happy belated birthday, Stu 🙂 May good books continue to come your way!
thanks Emily ,all the best stu
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)
thanks Judith ,all the best stu
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!
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!
Thats ok thanks Vishy ,all the best stu