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Writer's pictureHayley Walsh

Book Review - "How To Age Disgracefully' By Clare Pooley




What do you get with a bunch of unruly senior citizens, a cheeky baby girl, a teenage dad with a heart of gold, an old scruff bag of a dog, and a quiet middle-aged woman who find themselves banding together for a common cause? A damn good time, that’s what.   


Lydia takes a part-time job running a social club at the local senior citizen’s centre. Dealing with marital issues at home, she, an empty nester, is in search of a much needed distraction. Lydia imagines peaceful days of playing bingo, sipping hot cups of tea, and doing arts and crafts. She gets an unexpected surprise when she meets the members of the social group. These seniors are completely different from what she expected. 


Daphne is a force to be reckoned with, but she has been running from a secret all her life. On her seventieth birthday, she reflects back on her life. She is lonely and bored after being cooped up in her flat for a very long time, so she decides it’s high time she takes a risk. She wants to get back out into the world and make some new friends. 


Art never got his big break as an actor and tried to fill that hole in his life by developing an addiction to shop lifting. 


Daphne and Art are joined by some other colourful older characters. 


Teenage father, Ziggy’s little baby girl, attends the day care centre next door. Ziggy lives on the local council housing estate with his mother and is being harassed by a local gang of thugs. He is trying to do the best he can for his daughter. 


When the local council threatens to sell the community centre building, this eclectic bunch of people become unlikely friends. They team up together to hatch a plan to save the centre, joined by a scruffy little dog called Maggie Thatcher. Their plan involves Art literally teaching an old dog new tricks. Can they pull it off? 


I would give this book 6 stars if I could. What a fun read. I loved it. Stories featuring older characters are something I truly adore. I like to see older characters showing other generations how it's done while forming beautiful friendships, sharing their wisdom, and living life to the full. 


A merry bunch of misfits from multiple generations all facing their own problems banding together for a common cause, mostly lead astray by the more mature members of the group.



There were lots of laughs, heartfelt moments, a cute little dog, engaging characters, and so much more. What else could you possibly want in a book? A total hoot. This is the first book I have read by the author. Now I want to read more.



 

 

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