You Can't Hurry Love: 2an Intimate Look at First Marriages After 40

In a convincing study that older readers will find heartening, Levin and Bellotti ( Women Who Love Too Much ) refute a widely publicized 1986 Newsweek report that single women over 40 have a greater chance of being killed by a terrorist than of getting married. Citing demographic change and contradictory statistical analyses, the book also calls extensively upon the personal testimony of many ``delayed marrieds'' to suggest that those who wait to tie the knot may have more fulfilling marriages than do younger couples. Reporting that many older single women put off marriage by choice rather than from lack of opportunity, the authors declare that these women can bring to marriage valuable lessons learned from previous relationships, realistic ideas of what they want in a spouse and a willingness to invest more fully in a relationship than younger women commonly show. Issues particular to later marriages are explored, including questions centering around career demands, finances and whether or not to have children. (Feb.)