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ashkat2631's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
4.5
This was such a fun book. You have so many characters that are at different stages in life coming together. They’re all imperfect but beautiful. Some of them are nearing the end of their life and coming to terms with the mistakes they’ve made along the way. Some are dealing with current mistakes and how to figure out the best way forward. Then there’s a little dog who gets to be a part of all of their lives and bring each of them companionship that they needed.
There was literally every age group in this book, from babies to 70+ years young, and every single one of them had more life to live. They all had obstacles put in their way and they all beat them. I loved it. Super inspiring. I want to be Daphne when I’m her age 🫶🏻
hellarachel's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I love an ensemble cast. It might be my greatest weakness. (I'm still thinking about Parenthood 9 years later...) And Pooley put together a cast full of loveable characters. The balance between stories and the balance between 'good' and 'bad' was so well done. A story about folks in their 70s and 80s still full of life? Yes yes yes. This story was fluffy and fun and silly while still having serious moments of growth and real-life challenges.
I'd recommend this to anyone who needs a smile and/or a reminder that you can always change your path.
As Daphne says: "I prefer my friends to have experience, wisdom, and a few guilty secrets."
4.5 stars / and a big thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC!
I'd recommend this to anyone who needs a smile and/or a reminder that you can always change your path.
As Daphne says: "I prefer my friends to have experience, wisdom, and a few guilty secrets."
4.5 stars / and a big thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC!
unphilosophize's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for giving me early access to this title in return for an honest review.
This was an absolutely delightful book. This plot follows several members of the Senior Citizen's Social Club in an less well-to-do area of London. The story opens with Daphne, who has just turned seventy concocting a plan to feel young again and make friends after living alone and in isolation for the past 15 years. She decides to join the local seniors club, run by Lydia who has vastly underestimated her seniors, and meets Art, a failed actor and kleptomaniac, Ruby, a knitter, William, Art's best friend and journalist, Anna, an ex-long-haul driver with an attitude, and Pauline, who unfortunately meets her demise during their first meeting, leaving behind her dog Margert Thatcher. Together, along with the other groups that use the community center, this unlikely group teams up to save the building that helps to fortify the community.
There are many things that I enjoyed about this book. I liked that most of it's main characters are older, but their age is just a part of who they are instead of a limiting factor. There are many jokes made about their ages by themselves, in a self-deprecating sort of way, but they also are used to highlight how society view, often erroneously, our elders. All of the characters are richly written and very believable. The story was so fun and interesting, and had its reveals at just the right times.
It was just such a fun romp. I would highly recommend picking it up. You're in for a seriously enjoyable ride.
This was an absolutely delightful book. This plot follows several members of the Senior Citizen's Social Club in an less well-to-do area of London. The story opens with Daphne, who has just turned seventy concocting a plan to feel young again and make friends after living alone and in isolation for the past 15 years. She decides to join the local seniors club, run by Lydia who has vastly underestimated her seniors, and meets Art, a failed actor and kleptomaniac, Ruby, a knitter, William, Art's best friend and journalist, Anna, an ex-long-haul driver with an attitude, and Pauline, who unfortunately meets her demise during their first meeting, leaving behind her dog Margert Thatcher. Together, along with the other groups that use the community center, this unlikely group teams up to save the building that helps to fortify the community.
There are many things that I enjoyed about this book. I liked that most of it's main characters are older, but their age is just a part of who they are instead of a limiting factor. There are many jokes made about their ages by themselves, in a self-deprecating sort of way, but they also are used to highlight how society view, often erroneously, our elders. All of the characters are richly written and very believable. The story was so fun and interesting, and had its reveals at just the right times.
It was just such a fun romp. I would highly recommend picking it up. You're in for a seriously enjoyable ride.
heidikundin's review against another edition
4.0
Contemporary fiction isn't my typical go-to genre, but the How to Age Disgracefully synopsis sounded intriguing, so I picked it up - I'm so glad I did!
I loved seeing ageism through the eyes of some VERY capable senior citizens, and their fight to save the community center for the seniors and the daycare children was a fun ride. I especially loved Ruby's not-so-secret Banksy-style approach to turning her knitting into public yarn bombing. Every character has flaws, secrets, and some regrets after a life fully lived, and it was fun to unravel all the parts and pieces of the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved seeing ageism through the eyes of some VERY capable senior citizens, and their fight to save the community center for the seniors and the daycare children was a fun ride. I especially loved Ruby's not-so-secret Banksy-style approach to turning her knitting into public yarn bombing. Every character has flaws, secrets, and some regrets after a life fully lived, and it was fun to unravel all the parts and pieces of the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
klcrabill's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There is nothing better than a rag tag group of retirees and reading about their shenanigans. What a surprising delight this book was. I loved how the author was able to tell the story through so many characters that all tied together perfectly. Their relationships to each other and the development of the characters themselves had me shedding tears and giving cheers by the end of the book. This is a book for anyone who likes kooky characters with a lot of heart, a bit of a mystery, and a cause that they all band together to help achieve. My favorite characters might have been the side ones like Maggie the dog and Lucky. I do wish I had a bit of Daphne in me, I will have to look to channeling her no nonsense disposition in the future. Overall, I had a blast reading this book, and definitely recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.
yetanothersusan's review
4.75
What this book is not:
- an actual guide to aging disgracefully (bummer!)
What this book actually is:
- a delightful, funny, and sweet but not too sweet story of a group of people who meet through a local community center, form their own community, and cause good trouble.
This is probably my favorite made up genre: old people refusing to be old, silent, and out of the way. I loved the variety of older characters that still had something to offer to the world. I loved all the quirky characters (except Noah's dad). I loved how the older people interacted with the younger characters without treating them like little kids. How everyone comes together is the community we would all like to see. I even loved reading the author's note at the end. The only thing I didn't like was the epilogue. Most of it could have been skipped. the reader knows how things will be going forward and didn't need it cemented for them. But I guess many people that read books like this really really want to make sure the characters are okay.
Thanks to Penguin Group for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
- an actual guide to aging disgracefully (bummer!)
What this book actually is:
- a delightful, funny, and sweet but not too sweet story of a group of people who meet through a local community center, form their own community, and cause good trouble.
This is probably my favorite made up genre: old people refusing to be old, silent, and out of the way. I loved the variety of older characters that still had something to offer to the world. I loved all the quirky characters (except Noah's dad). I loved how the older people interacted with the younger characters without treating them like little kids. How everyone comes together is the community we would all like to see. I even loved reading the author's note at the end. The only thing I didn't like was the epilogue. Most of it could have been skipped. the reader knows how things will be going forward and didn't need it cemented for them. But I guess many people that read books like this really really want to make sure the characters are okay.
Thanks to Penguin Group for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
the_cat_on_a_bookcase's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sssnoo's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
How to Age Disgracefully is a brilliant read if you are looking for:
- Older characters portrayed as vibrant, wise, complex, and resourceful people.
- A lighter story that still has urgency and value.
- Ordinary people working together for a cause.
I was looking for all three when this book came to me, and I am forever grateful to the author for giving me a wonderful respite from the real world.
Thanks to NetGalley for gifting me an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.
thesegildedpages's review against another edition
5.0
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley follows a group of septuagenarians, a middle aged social club leader, a teenaged father, children, a dog, and their various hijinks that will make you laugh out loud, as they try to save their community center from demolition. This delightful story shows that age is just a number and that there you can always teach an old dog new tricks (in more ways than one)!
This was my first Clare Pooley and it will certainly not be my last! I enjoyed it so much that I was, regretfully, done within a few hours. I laughed every few pages, giddily highlighting all the little quips and hijinks as I went. The characters were well thought out, and by the end I was wishing that I had a little more time with them (and their shenanigans). While Art was the kleptomaniac of the story, they all stole my heart by the last page. Needless to say, I highly recommend preordering How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley, which comes out on June 11th.
Viking Books & Pamela Dorman Books provided a free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first Clare Pooley and it will certainly not be my last! I enjoyed it so much that I was, regretfully, done within a few hours. I laughed every few pages, giddily highlighting all the little quips and hijinks as I went. The characters were well thought out, and by the end I was wishing that I had a little more time with them (and their shenanigans). While Art was the kleptomaniac of the story, they all stole my heart by the last page. Needless to say, I highly recommend preordering How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley, which comes out on June 11th.
Viking Books & Pamela Dorman Books provided a free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.