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| Hodder&Stoughton 24 January My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book |
A moving, funny, heartwarming tale of love and friendship, for anyone who loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, The Keeper of Lost Things and Three Things about Elsie.
It's never too late to grow old disgracefully ...
Peggy Smart is a 79 year old pensioner who lives in the idyllically named Jacaranda Retirement Village, however, her life is anything but perfect, plagued by stubborn illness and frequent bouts of indecision, Peggy feels that her life is becoming as beige as her decor. And then, quite by chance her old school friend, Angie Valentine re-enters her life and soon Peggy's time at the retirement village is anything but dull. With a new lease of life, Peggy embraces everything about improving her life, and outlook, especially when it means she comes into contact with, Brian, a rather handsome widower.
This is a really lovely story about the way 'old age' very often becomes a weight around one's neck and, as this story so rightly proves you are never too old to have fun, make new friendships, or dare I say it, start new romances. The inhabitants of the Jacaranda Retirement Village are a really lovely lot, they made me laugh out loud in places, especially Peggy who has a charming way with words and is so reminiscent of lots of older ladies I looked after during my nursing career. She really could be anyone's neighbour, mother, granny or elderly aunt.
The author has captured the mood perfectly and the sunshine setting of Sydney really helps to create a lovely sense of atmosphere, so much so, I was really sorry to say good bye to Peggy and her pals but they left me with a lovely warm glow and also quite in tune with Peggy's philosophy, which is:
" If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one "
Joanna is a multi award winning short story writer. She writes character driven stories of self discovery for women of a certain age by creating young a heart characters who are not afraid to break the rules and defy society's expectations. She lives in Sydney, Australia, where she works as a GP with a passion for women's health and care of the elderly. She lives with her husband and two teenage children.
Twitter @Jo_nell_writer #JacarandaLadies
@HodderFiction @HodderPublicity
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