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Into the Sunset
Wayne Benson doesn't require nursing care. He's not a senior citizen. He isn't even retired. But this healthy 30-year-old bachelor believes the comfortable life of The Sunset, an assisted-living retirement community, would be a soothing alternative to his hectic lifestyle. Everything he desires-gourmet meals, laundry services, camaraderie, tranquility-is available for one all-inclusive monthly fee. The only problem? He isn't the required minimum age of sixty-two. So, he dons theatrical make-up and gray wig to age himself forty years, and is accepted into The Sunset.Will everything go as smoothly as planned? Of course not! His elderly love interest becomes suspicious of his under-cover-of-darkness-only lovemaking, his neighbor wants to go to strip clubs and experiment with Viagra®, the head of security is more interested in extortion than security, and the woman who runs The Sunset may be onto his scheme. Can young Wayne survive old age?
242 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2007
12 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Donald Capone
19 books105 followersThank you to all 3,705 of you who entered my giveaway for Piper Van Winkle! The books were mailed out to the winners today, May 16th. Please leave a review. Thank you.
"Fun spin on a classic tale... Thoughtful reflections pepper the narrative, bringing a welcome depth to the story's lighter supernatural elements."
—Publisher's Weekly
Now available from Rockford the Cat Books:
Piper Van Winkle, A Sleepy Hollow Novel
by Donald Capone
17 year-old Piper is a modern-day Rip Van Winkle—except when she awakens in 2021 she hasn’t aged a day. Can she adjust to a strange new world? Will a desperate Russian spy get his hands on her blood, which he believes is the Fountain of Youth? Can the ghost of author Washington Irving return her to 1996 before it's too late?
Thrilled to be published in Prime Number Magazine. Please check out my story "Wreck Center." https://www.press53.com/issue-229-sho...
I have a new story published by River and South Review here:
https://riverandsouth.com/index.php/2...
I have a new story published by Onyx Publications. There is also an audio version followed by an interview with me (second link):
https://onyxpublications.com/get-me-t...
https://www.onyxpublications.com/Edit...
I have a story in the Westchester Review:
https://www.westchesterreview.com/don...
Donald Capone's third novel, PIP VAN WINKLE, A SLEEPY HOLLOW NOVEL, was published May 3, 2025. His second novel, JUST FOLLOW ME, was published by Pen-L Publishing in 2014 and republished by the author in 2018. His stories have appeared in Word Riot, Weekly Reader's READ magazine, Onyx Publications, as well as the anthologies Sudden Flash Youth (2011); The Westchester Review 2014, 2013 & 2020; Short on Sugar, High On Honey: Micro Love Stories (2018); See You Next Tuesday; The Ampersand volume 4; and Ten Modern Short Stories 2010. His comic novel, Into the Sunset, is available on Amazon. He also designed, and wrote the preface for, Letters Home: A Soldier's Correspondence During WWII, which was a finalist in the 2013 USA Book News Awards, History: Military category.
https://twitter.com/DonaldCapone
https://rockfordthecatbooks.com
http://www.donaldcapone.blogspot.com/
"Fun spin on a classic tale... Thoughtful reflections pepper the narrative, bringing a welcome depth to the story's lighter supernatural elements."
—Publisher's Weekly
Now available from Rockford the Cat Books:
Piper Van Winkle, A Sleepy Hollow Novel
by Donald Capone
17 year-old Piper is a modern-day Rip Van Winkle—except when she awakens in 2021 she hasn’t aged a day. Can she adjust to a strange new world? Will a desperate Russian spy get his hands on her blood, which he believes is the Fountain of Youth? Can the ghost of author Washington Irving return her to 1996 before it's too late?
Thrilled to be published in Prime Number Magazine. Please check out my story "Wreck Center." https://www.press53.com/issue-229-sho...
I have a new story published by River and South Review here:
https://riverandsouth.com/index.php/2...
I have a new story published by Onyx Publications. There is also an audio version followed by an interview with me (second link):
https://onyxpublications.com/get-me-t...
https://www.onyxpublications.com/Edit...
I have a story in the Westchester Review:
https://www.westchesterreview.com/don...
Donald Capone's third novel, PIP VAN WINKLE, A SLEEPY HOLLOW NOVEL, was published May 3, 2025. His second novel, JUST FOLLOW ME, was published by Pen-L Publishing in 2014 and republished by the author in 2018. His stories have appeared in Word Riot, Weekly Reader's READ magazine, Onyx Publications, as well as the anthologies Sudden Flash Youth (2011); The Westchester Review 2014, 2013 & 2020; Short on Sugar, High On Honey: Micro Love Stories (2018); See You Next Tuesday; The Ampersand volume 4; and Ten Modern Short Stories 2010. His comic novel, Into the Sunset, is available on Amazon. He also designed, and wrote the preface for, Letters Home: A Soldier's Correspondence During WWII, which was a finalist in the 2013 USA Book News Awards, History: Military category.
https://twitter.com/DonaldCapone
https://rockfordthecatbooks.com
http://www.donaldcapone.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 9, 2010
Great writing, but what a dilemma for me!
When some people review books they give a summary of the story. For me, I tend review the books based on how books made me feel. The author of Into the Sunset did a wonderful job with the writing; it was done in a biography manner. It came across so honest, and real I actually checked to see if this was a true story. But my problem is, I really disliked the main character, Wayne Benson, Jr. at all. Part of me didn’t even want to finish the book, because I despised Wayne so much. At one part in the book he was going to let his gas purchase total decide between the women in his life. If this is an honest view into a man’s brain, oh my goodness I so did not need to go there! There was so little consideration to others in this book, besides what Wayne Benson, Jr. could benefit from. The sex parts, oh boy do I wish I covered my eyes! The detail in the manner of how this man thinks was just too much for me.
So, in a nut shell; I did not enjoy this book. But it stirred up great emotion in me. I think only a very well written book could do that. Would I recommend this book, No. Would I read another Donald Capone book? Yes.
When some people review books they give a summary of the story. For me, I tend review the books based on how books made me feel. The author of Into the Sunset did a wonderful job with the writing; it was done in a biography manner. It came across so honest, and real I actually checked to see if this was a true story. But my problem is, I really disliked the main character, Wayne Benson, Jr. at all. Part of me didn’t even want to finish the book, because I despised Wayne so much. At one part in the book he was going to let his gas purchase total decide between the women in his life. If this is an honest view into a man’s brain, oh my goodness I so did not need to go there! There was so little consideration to others in this book, besides what Wayne Benson, Jr. could benefit from. The sex parts, oh boy do I wish I covered my eyes! The detail in the manner of how this man thinks was just too much for me.
So, in a nut shell; I did not enjoy this book. But it stirred up great emotion in me. I think only a very well written book could do that. Would I recommend this book, No. Would I read another Donald Capone book? Yes.
February 1, 2008
Don Capone’s Into the Sunset is entertaining comedy at its best. Even the madcap premise makes you smile. Thirty-year-old Wayne Benson disguises himself as a senior citizen and moves into a retirement community in Westchester to enjoy the easy life. Soon enough plenty of cleverly-plotted complications set in, and it’s a bumpy ride for Wayne, but the pages seemed to glide right by as I followed him on his adventure into premature maturity. Although Wayne is living a lie, his voice is refreshingly honest and always humorous, providing an intimate insight into a man’s view of sex, friendship, and the meaning of life. But beyond the laughs—and there were many—the novel also has genuinely moving moments. I’m very glad I read it—and that’s the highest praise any reader can give.
January 23, 2018
This is a delightful read! The story is driven by an original premise, and the comic tone and humorous situations kept me laughing throughout the book. The main character is beautifully flawed which made me root for him. Even though this is a light read, the writing is excellent, and real questions of love, commitment, happiness, aging and identity are explored. It most definitely tickled my fancy.
April 2, 2008
Wayne Benson is tired of living a complicated life. His needs are pretty simple—quiet time to write, three square meals a day (preferably prepaid and prepared for him), and comfortable surroundings. But where to find all of these things in one place? Enter The Sunset—a retirement community he once toured with his parents, prior to their move to Florida. The only problem? He’s thirty-two years too young. Enter Wayne Senior, his alter ego and aged doppelganger, courtesy of a grey wig and stage makeup, complete with cane and a stooped, halting gait (he’ll learn not to run for the bus when late).
For a time, Wayne’s plan works great. But what he hadn’t planned on was the complications of falling for a sexy fellow resident (yes, sixty can be sexy!) and becoming friends with his cranky next-door neighbor. Add a suspicious landlady and a blackmailing security guard, and things soon get way more complicated than Wayne’s former young life had ever been.
Perhaps the best part of the book for me (and so much of it was great fun) was moving through Wayne’s emotional maturation as he goes from viewing his fellow residents as obstacles to insightful, interesting people. His initial, skeptical view is evidenced by this passage:
“Eventually, the van would arrive in front of the supermarket and park. The driver would stay inside with the engine running and the A/C downgraded from arctic blast to cold front. Slowly the seniors would stir and with the help of a couple of Sunset staffers begin to vacate the vehicle. The legs of walkers and the tips of canes would emerge first, like the tentacles of some strange space creatures trying to blend in with humanity, they would descend on the store, sporting wraparound sunglasses, shawls, light-weight summer sweaters, and fistfuls of double coupons. Aisles would be congested, workers berated, and cashiers interrogated.”
Into the Sunset is a lively, engaging, romp-of-a-read, and by the end of the book, Wayne’s attitude and understanding have greatly softened—a truly older, wiser and more sanguine Wayne has emerged for us, his readers, and we welcome his rebirth into old age.
For a time, Wayne’s plan works great. But what he hadn’t planned on was the complications of falling for a sexy fellow resident (yes, sixty can be sexy!) and becoming friends with his cranky next-door neighbor. Add a suspicious landlady and a blackmailing security guard, and things soon get way more complicated than Wayne’s former young life had ever been.
Perhaps the best part of the book for me (and so much of it was great fun) was moving through Wayne’s emotional maturation as he goes from viewing his fellow residents as obstacles to insightful, interesting people. His initial, skeptical view is evidenced by this passage:
“Eventually, the van would arrive in front of the supermarket and park. The driver would stay inside with the engine running and the A/C downgraded from arctic blast to cold front. Slowly the seniors would stir and with the help of a couple of Sunset staffers begin to vacate the vehicle. The legs of walkers and the tips of canes would emerge first, like the tentacles of some strange space creatures trying to blend in with humanity, they would descend on the store, sporting wraparound sunglasses, shawls, light-weight summer sweaters, and fistfuls of double coupons. Aisles would be congested, workers berated, and cashiers interrogated.”
Into the Sunset is a lively, engaging, romp-of-a-read, and by the end of the book, Wayne’s attitude and understanding have greatly softened—a truly older, wiser and more sanguine Wayne has emerged for us, his readers, and we welcome his rebirth into old age.
June 2, 2012
This is the Amazon Book Description as of June 4, 2012:
"Wayne Benson doesn’t require nursing care. He’s not a senior citizen. He isn’t even retired. But this healthy 30-year-old bachelor believes the comfortable life of The Sunset, an assisted-living retirement community, would be a soothing alternative to his hectic lifestyle.
Everything he desires—gourmet meals, laundry services, camaraderie, tranquility—is available for one all-inclusive monthly fee. The only problem? He isn’t the required minimum age of sixty-two. So, he dons theatrical make-up and gray wig to age himself forty years, and is accepted into The Sunset.
Will everything go as smoothly as planned? Of course not! His elderly love interest becomes suspicious of his under-cover-of-darkness-only lovemaking, his neighbor wants to go to strip clubs and experiment with Viagra®, the head of security is more interested in extortion than security, and the woman who runs The Sunset may be onto his scheme. Will Wayne survive old age?"
Sound good? Unfortunately, that's not what this book is about. Sure, that is the basic premise early on, but it's really about Wayne's sexcapades with his 70 year old neighbor in the retirement home (though he's 30 and no one, not even his 70 yr old girlfriend know his age). He likes sex. He has a lot of sex. He chases women because he no matter who is in his arms, he's thinking of someone else.
The Amazon book description sounded humorous like this would be a light fun read. The actual book however... is something else entirely...
"Wayne Benson doesn’t require nursing care. He’s not a senior citizen. He isn’t even retired. But this healthy 30-year-old bachelor believes the comfortable life of The Sunset, an assisted-living retirement community, would be a soothing alternative to his hectic lifestyle.
Everything he desires—gourmet meals, laundry services, camaraderie, tranquility—is available for one all-inclusive monthly fee. The only problem? He isn’t the required minimum age of sixty-two. So, he dons theatrical make-up and gray wig to age himself forty years, and is accepted into The Sunset.
Will everything go as smoothly as planned? Of course not! His elderly love interest becomes suspicious of his under-cover-of-darkness-only lovemaking, his neighbor wants to go to strip clubs and experiment with Viagra®, the head of security is more interested in extortion than security, and the woman who runs The Sunset may be onto his scheme. Will Wayne survive old age?"
Sound good? Unfortunately, that's not what this book is about. Sure, that is the basic premise early on, but it's really about Wayne's sexcapades with his 70 year old neighbor in the retirement home (though he's 30 and no one, not even his 70 yr old girlfriend know his age). He likes sex. He has a lot of sex. He chases women because he no matter who is in his arms, he's thinking of someone else.
The Amazon book description sounded humorous like this would be a light fun read. The actual book however... is something else entirely...
June 6, 2012
Now available as a Kindle edition:
Into the Sunset
Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine gave it 3 stars in their Feb. 2008 issue:
Capone has a vivid imagination and a unique voice. Written in the first person, his book reads like an autobiography, though the younger man and much older woman plotline may make some readers uncomfortable.
Summary: Wayne Benson is a 30-year-old bachelor who's tired of working hard all day and then shopping for groceries, making dinner, doing laundry and cleaning his apartment. The answer to his prayers is The Sunset, a retirement community he toured with his parents when they were looking for a new home.
The only problem is Wayne's too young to be accepted into this type of residence. But he devises a scheme to age himself by donning theatrical make-up and a gray wig. Wayne easily settles into life as a senior citizen and finds an elderly girlfriend. What follows is a sometimes funny, sometimes sad look at old age. (REBEL PRESS, Feb., 233 pp., $15.95)
—Barb Anderson
href="http://romantictimes.com/books_review... Times
Into the Sunset
Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine gave it 3 stars in their Feb. 2008 issue:
Capone has a vivid imagination and a unique voice. Written in the first person, his book reads like an autobiography, though the younger man and much older woman plotline may make some readers uncomfortable.
Summary: Wayne Benson is a 30-year-old bachelor who's tired of working hard all day and then shopping for groceries, making dinner, doing laundry and cleaning his apartment. The answer to his prayers is The Sunset, a retirement community he toured with his parents when they were looking for a new home.
The only problem is Wayne's too young to be accepted into this type of residence. But he devises a scheme to age himself by donning theatrical make-up and a gray wig. Wayne easily settles into life as a senior citizen and finds an elderly girlfriend. What follows is a sometimes funny, sometimes sad look at old age. (REBEL PRESS, Feb., 233 pp., $15.95)
—Barb Anderson
href="http://romantictimes.com/books_review... Times
February 22, 2008
I loved the premise of INTO THE SUNSET from the moment I heard it: a young man disguises himself as his own father in order to enjoy the good food and relaxing lifestyle of a retirement community called The Sunset. What a great movie it would make! I could see the story play out on the big screen as I read about the hilarious adventures (and misadventures) of Wayne Benson, who attempted to balance a job and crush with his new life and new romance at the old folks home. We learn about both the shady underbelly of retirement living (the black market! blackmail!), as well as the surprising beauty of it--steamy sex, in addition to new love and friendship. And though the book is consistently funny, we also see the darker side of living a lie--the unexpected turmoil it brings, and its consequence. A very enjoyable read.
July 27, 2007
Fast, funny, and clever.
April 2, 2009
Fun and unusual story about a most unusual situation. Funny situations and some thought-provoking sections as well.
February 19, 2011
Every once in awhile I read a book that will never be forgotten. Into The Sunset is such a book. I adored every aspect of it from the beginning to the end at which time I had a smile on my face.
June 16, 2012
Ever since my grandma moved into a retirement home I've thought it would be the perfect place to live...fun story!!!!
July 26, 2010
Way to go, Don. So nice to read something a friend wrote. Would have given it more stars, but too many Yankee references :)
July 24, 2011
Light hearted caper of a 30-something yr old man who moves into a retirement community disguised as an elderly gentleman.
Fun and insightful. A summer read.
Fun and insightful. A summer read.
October 15, 2012
Funny old man stories
December 19, 2010
Fun stuff. Five stars
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews