The New Old Me

My Late-Life Reinvention

By: Meredith Maran

Narrated by: Christina Delaine

For fans of Anne Lamott, Abigail Thomas, and Ayelet Waldman, a postdivorce memoir, one woman's story of starting over at 60 - in youth-obsessed, beauty-obsessed Hollywood.

For fans of Anne Lamott, Abigail Thomas, and Ayelet Waldman, a postdivorce memoir, one woman's story of starting over at 60 - in youth-obsessed, beauty-obsessed Hollywood. After the death of her best friend, the loss of her life savings, and the collapse of her once-happy marriage, Meredith Maran - whom Anne Lamott calls "insightful, funny, and human" - leaves her San Francisco freelance writer's life for a 9-to-5 job in Los Angeles. Determined to rebuild not only her savings but herself while relishing the joys of life in La-La land, Maran writes "a poignant story, a funny story, a moving story, and above all an American story of what it means to be a woman of a certain age in our time" (Christina Baker Kline, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Orphan Train).

©2017 Meredith Maran (P)2017 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Loved this book!

Her voice is so authentic & true and yet sometimes it sounded like she was telling my story. Her characters and descriptions captured the setting, the mood and tone - pitch perfect! Really enjoyed the narration too. Five stars!

Annoying - Pretty Much a Downer

What did you like best about The New Old Me? What did you like least?

Kind of a struggle to get through - Accurate portrayal of LA - but the hero is so unable to be satisfied

Would you recommend The New Old Me to your friends? Why or why not?

No - Character was "all about me" Blah Blah Blah

Inspiring Reminder

I really enjoyed this book. Maran is a great writer, kept me very entertained. I think deep down everyone has the fear that they'll have to reinvent their lives when they get older, be it from divorce or death of a partner, or even a new job. Maran showed the reality of insecurity and dispair, but also the value of friendship and reaching out when comfort is needed. I'm so grateful to have this reminder of how important friends are and how much they are willing to give when you reach out. Life goes on be it alone or not, your choice.

Disappointing

I was drawn to this book because of its catchy, wry title. The author did deliver on her story, but it seemed self-indulgent to me. Page after page of me, me,me. A main theme is how much she missed her wife, whom she never refers to by name. The endless repetition of the term " my wife" seemed an annoying affectation. Meanwhile, she never discusses becoming a lesbian after twenty years of marriage to a man, and having two children, whom she barely mentions.
There were a few amusing, sympathetic incidents and the writing is ok. I did finish the book to see how she found her way, but honestly I just didn't enjoy it.
Also, I found the narration grating. It wasn't terrible, but the narrators voice rose loudly so often for dramatic effect that I was always turning down the volume.

Maddening. Masterful.

I've listened to this book many times. Sometimes JUST to get angry at the author, lol! As an Introverts' Introvert, I am stunned by the ways of the extrovert as chronicled here. Also, I appreciate the tale of heartbreak from both sides. The narrator was believable and sold the story quite well.