The Red Hat Society

Starting with the eight-dollar purchase of a frivolous red fedora at a thrift shop, the author has spawned a network of women who meet wearing red hats and outrageous purple dresses to celebrate their age and have fun. With over 300 groups meeting locally, traveling together, and now meeting nationally, the main idea is to care for others by promoting laughter, keeping structure to a minimum, and appreciating the marvelous possibilities that women in this age group have. The author's clubby sincerity and her charming story are so infectious that in a short time most listeners will forget about her flat reading style. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

February 16, 2004
Cooper, the Red Hat Society's founding "Queen Mother," believes middle-aged women have gotten used to going unnoticed, and this book describes how she's trying to change that. The Red Hat movement began in the late 1990s, as Cooper, a California graphic artist, began hosting 50th (and other) birthday celebrations for a few friends. Inspired by the line in Jenny Joseph's poem "Warning" that vows, "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple,/ With a red hat that doesn't go," Cooper presented each birthday girl with a red hat that jibed with her individual taste. The women loved the hats so much, they started wearing them to teas, slumber parties and even sporting events. Their gatherings attracted attention, and today, the society claims to have over 10,000 chapters across the country. And members have moved well beyond hats. These days, Cooper encourages Red Hatters to accessorize with "a fluffy red-feathered fan, or a pair of purple fishnet hose," since "it is a lot easier to act
silly when you are dressed silly!" Why the need for such folly? Cooper recommends it as an antidote to the serious loss of self-esteem many aging women face as they deal with their children leaving home, caring for elderly parents, widowhood, health crises and altered body image. It's a zany approach, to be sure, and Cooper's ideas may sound ridiculous to women at the height of their careers or those in retirement who've found alternate ways to relieve stress and express creativity. Nevertheless, this feel-good handbook, complete with anecdotes from members, could find a welcoming audience. (Apr.)

Forecast:
The third annual Red Hat Convention will be held in Dallas in April, which should drive book sales, aided by ads in
Real Simple and
People, radio giveaways and an author tour. FYI, Conari Press is publishing
My Red Hat, a gift book for "women of a certain age," by Jill Larson Sundberg, in March ($12.95 96p ISBN 1-57324-963-7).

April 15, 2004
An infant "disorganization" whose members have been catapulted into fame, thanks to some shrewd publicity, the Red Hat Society is aimed at middle-aged women, recognizing a stage in life that traditionally was downplayed or feared. Southern Californian and Queen Mom founder Cooper relates, with much humor and some sobriety, the society's beginnings and rapid growth. A Jenny Joseph poem ("when I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me") serves as the motto, signature, and impetus for members sporting red hats and purple apparel. A lot of the narrative is anecdotal; the names of local societies, for instance, range from Hot Cakes and Behattitudes to Silver Foxes and W.O.E. (Women Out of Estrogen). Just as much is inspirational; stories about the first convention (Chicago, April 2002) and shared experiences, from marriage to health, pepper the book. It is a philosophy definitely intended to celebrate milestones and express individuality, a philosophy worthy of large-scale promotion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

May 2, 2005
The Red Hat Society-named for a Jenny Joseph poem that encourages women to adopt more independence and daring as they age-continues its juggernaut with this follow-up to Cooper's bestseller, The Red Hat Society. "Queen Mother" Cooper founded the organization as a social club and support group for women over 50. Here, she collects somewhat amusing anecdotes from the 900,000 members world-wide, writing that Society members "know that there is nothing better than the sense of freedom and happiness that results from playing together." Most of the stories presented have the cheerful good humor of church bulletin gags and internet jokes. In fact, quite a few of the poems included in this volume are attributed to "author unknown, found on Internet." There are new Red Hat-friendly lyrics to well-known songs; wry anecdotes about aging, grandchildren and errant spouses; poignant stories about lost friends and family members; and several chapters devoted to the relationships between people and pets. Cooper relentlessly presents the Society in a positive light, and includes many members and chapters by name which, along with a large publicity push, should assure that this book will sell well with her favorite audience.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 11, 2005
The Red Hat Society-named for a Jenny Joseph poem that encourages women to adopt more independence and daring as they age-continues its juggernaut with this follow-up to Cooper's bestseller, The Red Hat Society. "Queen Mother" Cooper founded the organization as a social club and support group for women over 50. Here, she collects somewhat amusing anecdotes from the 900,000 members world-wide, writing that Society members "know that there is nothing better than the sense of freedom and happiness that results from playing together." Most of the stories presented have the cheerful good humor of church bulletin gags and internet jokes. In fact, quite a few of the poems included in this volume are attributed to "author unknown, found on Internet." There are new Red Hat-friendly lyrics to well-known songs; wry anecdotes about aging, grandchildren and errant spouses; poignant stories about lost friends and family members; and several chapters devoted to the relationships between people and pets. Cooper relentlessly presents the Society in a positive light, and includes many members and chapters by name which, along with a large publicity push, should assure that this book will sell well with her favorite audience.