Heeeeee’s back! I don’t know about you, but I used to love reading Dave Barry’s weekly column in my local paper, back in the day when we got the paper. I discovered his books, collections of his columns, and avidly read those too. But in recent years, we’ve drifted apart. I don’t know if he hasn’t been writing as much or if it’s the lack of a paper in my life, but although every New Year’s I google his “Year in Review,” other than that I haven’t read much new stuff in about 10 years.
So I was thrilled to see he’s back, nattering on about parenting and other topics he knows very little about, in as fine a form as ever.
This new collection is great. He takes his 13-year-old daughter to a Justin Bieber concert, he reads 50 Shades of Grey in order to find out what women really want, Mr. Language Person returns to explain grammar to us, Dave, his wife Michelle, and their daughter Sophia tour Israel, and so much more.
Dave’s gift is always to be a kind of clueless Everyman who ends each story with something unexpected. He explains that “It turns out that the noise teenage girls make to express rapturous happiness is the same noise they would make if their feet were being gnawed off by badgers.” (p 12) His take on 50 Shades of Grey (which, for the record, I have not read) is hysterical while confirming in my mind yet again the many reasons I don’t want to read it. “This is the kind of book where, instead of saying things, characters muse them, and they are somehow able to muse them matter-of-factly.” (p56)
Dave is 65 now (I know!) and contemplating his own mortality, mostly thanks to the mail he gets, and the commercials for Viagra that insist on coming on during family appropriate television. (Aside: I have been amazed at this myself) He makes a comparison chart for prescription drugs whose names sound like characters in The Lord of the Rings (p.86).
The title of You Can Date Boys When You’re Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About
You Can Date Boys When You’re Forty
Hours of fun, this latest book shows that age hasn’t slowed Dave Barry down a bit! It’s a delightful read, highly recommended.
Win it
Best of all, one of you can win a free copy for yourself. Follow the instruction in the widget to enter. Start off by leaving a comment telling me how old you were when you had your first date.
I was 17 when I had my first date.
I love Dave Barry! Would love a copy of this. Thanks!!
I was probably pretty old before my first date. I remember a lot of group dates with my parents and cousins in tow. So romantic, right?
I went on my first date when I was 12 years old.
I was 18 before I went on my first date. Late bloomer!
Dave does a LOT of stuff throughout the year. I post whatever I can find out about on a Facebook page that I manage. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145749861758/
I was 14 when I went on my first date.
*snork* at “…and other topics he knows very little about.”
I was 17 when I had my first date.
I was sixteen.
I’m a big Dave Barry Fan! I even saw his band play loudly once!
I was about 15 when I first dated, but I’m not even sure we were totally alone then!
I think I was fourteen. Maybe.
EEEEK!
Believe it or not, I was 35. Married her when I was 36. I’m now 65 and we are still in love.
hmm, maybe 18?
Would love a copy of Dave’s book!
Sweet sixteen&it
was sweet.
I was about 12. Someone drove us to the movies.
I was a senior in high school I believe. On a date with my boyfriend to Friendlys for Fribbles and fries 🙂
I was 16 when I had my first date
i love his book: dave barry does japan. my first date : 19. and it took me til 39 to get married.
I was about 15 on my first date and it really wasn’t a real date. I went with a friend and her cousin so she could date her boyfriend.
I wasn’t allowed to date until I turned 16. I was asked out for the first time at 15. Two weeks shy of my 16th birthday. I had to turn him down. I was told no.
The next time I was asked out I was 17. We went rollar skating.
I think I was about 16-17.
I was 15 when I first started dating…I was also a senior in high school at the time (skipped grades) and I felt like I was way behind everyone else!
I was 13 when I went on my first date. I watched Turner and Hooch at a movie theater with a boy. Thanks.
I had my first date when I was 17, but with our daughters, 40 sounds about right.
I was 16 when I had my first date
I was 15 an it was a double date,wasnt allowed to single date until I was16
I was 16 when I had my first date
I think I was 15 or 16….
I was around 16
I think I was 16 when I went on my first date
I think I was 15.
Without my parents knowing, 15. With my parents knowing, 16.
I must have been 17…I went to prom 🙂
I was 14 when went on first date
The first real date- I was 16. It was the best of times and the worst of times.
I went on my first date when I was 12 years old 🙂
I was 16 when I went on my first date,Thank you!
I was around 15 for my first date but my daughter will be 21.
I don’t want to read Fifty Shades of Grey either.
I was 14 when I went on my first date.
I was eighteen 🙂
I was 16 when I went on my first date.
I was 15 or 16
I was sixteen when I had my first date.
ummm 17 i believe
16 I believe! Looking back I probably wasn’t ready, but “everybody else was doing it”
don’t remember 15 or 16
18 or 19 – late bloomer! 🙂
I was 15 I believe, maybe 14
I was age 16 on my first date.
I was nineteen when I had my first date.
I was 18 years old
I had my first date when I was 13 years old 🙂
16, that was how old i was on my first date.
I was 16 years old
18 years old on my first date. i was a late bloomer. i am tony l smoaks on rafflecopter.
I was 16 when I went on my first date.
I was 12. 🙂 And it was Titanic.
I was 19 when I had my first date. It was awkward and weird. I am actually very happy that I waited as long as I did.
I was 14, and it was a double date.
43, no, but too old to remember. Does getting fondled by your teacher count?
I was 16 and he was 17. We went to the school dance together.
I was 14 when I had my first date!
I was about 15 years old.
I was seventeen.
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