The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village

De: Joanna Nell

Narrado por: Deidre Rubenstein

Joanna Nell's life-affirming debut is a moving, funny, heartwarming tale of love and community in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Grace and Frankie

The life of 79-year-old pensioner PEGGY SMART is as beige as the décor in her retirement village. Her week revolves around aqua aerobics and appointments with her doctor. Following a very minor traffic accident, things have turned frosty with her grown-up children and she is afraid they are trying to take away her independence.

The highlight of Peggy's day is watching her neighbour Brian head out for his morning swim. She dreams of inviting the handsome widower - treasurer of the Residents' Committee and one of the few eligible men in the village - to an intimate dinner. But why would an educated man like Brian, a chartered accountant no less, look twice at Peggy? As a woman of a certain age, she fears she has become invisible, even to men in their eighties.

But a chance encounter with an old school friend she hasn't seen in five decades - the glamorous fashionista ANGIE VALENTINE - sets Peggy on an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

'Lively and whimsical ... with some serious points to make about ageing, love, community and friendship' Sydney Morning Herald

'This heartwarming story about growing old gracefully - and disgracefully ... is a funny, witty and thoroughly enjoyable read for all ages' Daily Telegraph

'I haven't been this entranced by a character since Eleanor (Oliphant, of course). This book is a joy - it's a celebration of age instead of an apology for it, and a reminder that life is always an adventure if you let it be. I loved this uniquely endearing book' KELLY RIMMER

'I loved it! I want to be Peggy when I'm older. With many laugh-out-loud moments, this book is sure to make you see "getting old" in a different light. A refreshing, funny, realistic and warm read' FIONA PALMER

'The perfect blend of funny and moving: had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story' NATASHA LESTER

Reseñas de la Crítica

The perfect blend of funny and moving. Peggy Smart had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story

I loved it! I want to be Peggy when I'm older. With many laugh-out-loud moments, this book celebrate life in the later years and is sure to make you see "getting old" in a different light. A refreshing, funny, realistic and warm read

It is a hoot! I don't think I've laughed out loud at a book as much since I read Marian Keyes' Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married. Regardless of your age, I can highly recommend you snuggle up with Peggy Smart and her band of old-timers who have a lot to teach us about growing old, and it's not about doing it gracefully

I loved this warm and witty story of an older woman learning to stand up for herself, and found myself cheering for her to succeed. A terrific feel-good read

It was so refreshing to read about characters at this stage of their lives. It touched my heart and will have real staying power in the hearts and minds of readers

Review

This is a funny, witty and thoroughly enjoyable read for all ages.

This is an enjoyable, easy read

This novel is bound to be the feel-good book of Christmas giving as it is a book to love whether you are in your late teens or into a new century. Guaranteed to be a word-of-mouth hit well into 2019

The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village is an uplifting look at growing old 'disgracefully' and not letting society (or your own flesh and blood!) make you think you can't do what you want to...even at almost 80 years old!

In Joanna's book, age is irrelevant unless you area cheese, and her characters navigate their trials and tribulations with a collective spirit and a refreshing disdain for their disapproving onlookers.

an uplifting story about aging, spiced up with a dash of mystery, sex, fast cars and brandy. You might have to wear sensible shoes but you can still enjoy champagne.

This novel shows that older people still enjoy sexual relationships; that friendship is vitally important; and that accumulated life experiences allow them to face their certain future with huge dignity.

This novel shows that older people still enjoy sexual relationships; that friendship is vitally important; and that accumulated life experiences allow them to face their certain future with huge dignity.

A nice book to motivate oneself

So nicely read! And the plot fills one with hope - not with exuberance maybe, but with that steady hope that allows you to look calmly and positively at your future. There's a lot of inspiration in this book. It's not particularly full of novel ideas, but good for some light reading. Sometimes I got bored, but every time a new problem arose and I wanted to follow it together with the characters, who are all very convincing.

Oh My Gosh, She Is Me!

Peggy is me. Right down to the inside-out blouse! I didn't discover mine until I was already at a family get-together at my son and daughter-in-laws home. We've discussed my lack of filter and social faux pas and decided to approach the embarrassing situations with laughter. I must say, so far it's easier for me to laugh at myself than it is for my son and daughter-in-law. I lost interest with the romance angle. I know some ladies still yearn for the attention, my next door neighbor was one of them. I'm not. So, for me, the first half of the book was fun. I pretty much half-listened to the rest. Thank goodness there was no sex.
Was there?

Fun

This was a fun book to listen to. It was sad sometimes, but mostly I feel it was about aging without losing your sense of humor

Very entertaining

Thoroughly enjoyed the characters. The feisty ones made me laugh. Portrayed the retirement home atmosphere accurately as well as all the issues a senior/pensioner deals with.

Fun and uplifting

Loved the story of seniors having a blast!

I’m going to do it myself before it’s too late!