Dating, sex, bad marriages and even stealing pepper mills. Life after 60 is hardly boring as portrayed in the short story anthology “20 Over 60” (Regal House, Oct. 6).
In a counterpoint to today’s media obsession with longevity and youth, the collection offers lively snapshots of later life from literary heavy hitters, such as Paul Theroux and Joyce Carol Oates, and lesser known writers, like Rebecca Keller and Eileen Pollack.
The book is edited by a husband-and-wife team, Beth Weinhouse and David Galef, who did another anthology — “20 Over 40” — in 2006.
“When we did ’20 Over 40,’ we said, ‘Ha ha, we would never do “20 Over 60,” ‘ and couldn’t even imagine being that old,” Weinhouse, 69, said. But when they approached 60, their perspective shifted.
“We found ourselves living interesting and robust lives and not seeing that reflected in fiction,” she said. “The stereotype was always the wise old lady or someone with declining health.”
“That realization led to the idea of showcasing this later stage of life as vibrant and fulfilling,” Galef, 67, added.
The Montclair, NJ, couple read “hundreds” of stories — perusing literary journals and short story collections, tapping their network of writers for recommendations and posting a call for submissions through the Authors Guild — before settling on the 20 in the book. Ultimately, the collection mostly steers clear of themes of death, disease and decline.
“They’re simply depictions about living life after 60,” Weinhouse said.
Oates’ ”The Disappearing” is about a wife who questions her marriage of many years after her husband begins disappearing for hours at a time. Theroux’s “First Love,” centers on the touching relationship between a grandfather and his grandson. The grandfather recalls his first love as he helps the boy navigate his school-age crush. Pollack’s “Naughty” is saucier, about a woman who discovers the man she meets online has an affinity for kinky sex.
While the editor pair believe stereotypes of aging as a punishment haven’t disappeared, they think attitudes have improved.
“Look at Madonna, who is in her 60s and performed at the VMAs,” Weinhouse said. “She is still seen as an active rockstar and would never play the role of elderly grandmother.”
Their best evidence, however, may be their own lives.
“We have lots of friends of all ages, we travel a lot, we go out, and we enjoy each other, Weinhouse said.
Galef added, “Beth and I have a definitely spicy life here and there, even in the bedroom.”
