Last Call

by Laura Pedersen

Last CallLaura PedersenHaving descended from a long line of indomitable, good-humored Scots, Hayden MacBride sees no reason to take his own death lying down. In fact, he now spends his days crashing funerals for the free food and insight into the Great Beyond. Then he meets Rosamond, a nun playing hooky from the Holy Orders. Hayden is smitten the instant her heavy silver cross smacks him in the face when she leaps up to do the wave at a ball game. Luckily, Rosamond has picked the right person to teach her how to live . . . and to love–because nobody does both better than Hayden MacBride.However, Rosamond’s years in the convent have not prepared her for the oddball characters of Hayden’s world. There’s his ever-fretful, vigilant daughter, Diana, the “Dutchess o’ the Sidelong Glance”; his sweet grandson Joey, struggling to break free of his mother’s overprotective embrace; Hayden’s bagpipe-blowing cronies; the Greyfriars Gang; neighbor Bobbie Anne, a “working girl” full of good advice and tender mercies; and Hank, the sexy architect contemplating the priesthood–a big mistake in Hayden’s book. For Hayden thinks that Hank should be married to his daughter and raising Joey. And he has an elaborate plan to make Hank see things his way. . . .In an uproariously funny novel of love, laughter, and one man’s final call at the riotous watering hole called life, Laura Pedersen proves that miracles are all around us–when we open our eyes and our hearts to embrace them.“This book will make you laugh and cry and like a good friend, you’ll be happy to have made itsacquaintance.” –LORNA LANDVIK Author of Angry Housewives Eating Bons Bons Praise for Laura PedersenLast Call“Laura Pedersen’s wry, bittersweet story charts the unlikely romance between a dying yet still vibrant man and a nun whose faith has abandoned her. While much is lost in this gentle tale, much is gained too, and by the novel’s end, the characters are granted the kind of wisdom and acceptance for which we all continue to long.”–YONA MCDONOUGH Author of The Four Temperaments Beginner’s Luck “Laura Pedersen delivers . . . If this book hasn’t been made into a screenplay already, it should be soon. Throughout, you can’t help but think how hilarious some of the scenes would play on the big screen.”–The Hartford Courant“Funny, sweet-natured, and well-crafted . . . Pedersen has created a wonderful assemblage of . . . whimsical characters and charm.”–Kirkus Reviews“This novel is funny and just quirky enough to become a word-of-mouth favorite. . . . Pedersen has a knack for capturing tart teenage observations in witty asides, and Hallie’s naïveté, combined with her gambling and numbers savvy, make her a winning protagonist.”–Publishers Weekly“A breezy coming-of-age novel with an appealing cast of characters.”–Booklist“A fresh and funny look at not fitting in.”–Seventeen magazine

Genres: Book Club, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Laura Pedersen was born in Buffalo, New York (one of "God's frozen people") in 1965, at the height of The Folk Music Scare. (For details of misspent youth see essay at 'Is there a Nurse in the Church?'). After finishing high school in 1983 she moved to Manhattan and began working on The American Stock Exchange, a time when showing up combined with basic computation skills could be parlayed into a career. She chronicled these years in her first book, Play Money.

Having vowed to become anything but a journalist and with no conception of what a semicolon does, Laura spent the better part of the 1990s writing for The New York Times.

In 1994 President Clinton honored her as one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans. She has appeared on TV shows including Oprah, Good Morning America, Primetime Live, and David Letterman.

In 2001, her first novel, Going Away Party, won the Three Oaks Prize for Fiction and was published by Storyline Press. Beginner's Luck was published by Ballantine Books in 2003 and subsequently chosen for the Barnes & Noble "Discover Great New Writers" program, Borders "Original Voices," and as a featured alternate for The Literary Guild.

Pedersen's other novels include Last Call, Heart's Desire, and The Big Shuffle.

Laura lives in New York City, teaches reading and trades Yu-Gi-Oh! cards at the Booker T. Washington Learning Center in East Harlem, and is a member of the national literary association P.E.N. (poets, essayists and novelists).

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is tailor-made for one of the schmaltzier Hallmark Hall of Fame productions. I have to confess I don't know how it ends -- but the story revolves around a main character, who is larger than life and dying of cancer -- so let's assume the story comes to its natural conclusion. I made it about 100 pages in before I decided I had had enough sugary intake and called it quits.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny! One of the few books that caused my sides to ache.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be such a good book! It was the type of book that’s a lot of things...love story (more than one), loss, humor, and family shenanigans.
Diana and her son Joey have moved in with her father, Hayden MacBride, a proud Scottishman. Diana is divorced and not too lucky in love or finances. The upside is Hayden is a loving, funny, mentor, and someone to look up to grandfather to Joey. Unfortunately, he has terminal liver cancer, and at 55, the author makes him out to be older than his years. Hayden wants not only himself, but his grandson to be comfortable with his dying. So he scans obituaries and funerals, takes Joey to them and tells Diana they’re going to a baseball game.
One day, Hayden takes Joey to visit his friend Cyrus who is dying in the hospital. He was a former pharmacist who gives him pills to take when he feels it’s his time. The room next door to Cyrus is very noisy with the patient throwing things. So Cyrus tells Hayden to give her some pills to help calm her down. When he does, he asks her to check out of the hospital and come with them to a Mets game. Rosamond agrees and joins them; she happens to be a nun with lung cancer. She enjoys the game so much she asks Hayden to pick her up Friday thinking they’ll do more fun things. Hayden at first expects to take her to funerals or cemeteries but Rosamond explains she’s been a nun for so long, she wants to experience things she’s never tried and go to places she’s never been. Here begins a grand adventure of going to places in and around the city. Rosamond and Joey make pessimistic Hayden happier, and Hayden invites her to live in his home.
Hayden and Rosamond develop a relationship of friendship, embarrassing for Rosamond, but soon grows to definite love. Rosamond has become a part of the family, getting cooking tips from Diana, being falsely accused by another daughter Linda of trying to defraud her dad, and forming a bond with Joey. They adopt a poodle, Ginger, and Hayden trains her to herd ducks. The family hosts Hayden’s friends, called the Greyfriars Gang, and Rosamond introduces Diana to Hank, a man studying for the priesthood, but definitely not committed. Hayden and Rosamond enjoy a last trip together to Saint Croix, where they profess their love, then stay as much as they can together until the last day of Hayden’s life.
I was touched by the last chapter, written in Joey’s point of view twenty years later. His childhood was greatly influenced by his grandfather, and it was touching to have him attend, even though not permitted inside, the funeral of Rosamond outside the convent where she returned to.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really was not impressed with this book when I started out. Hayden MacBride has cancer but that's no reason to just lie down and wait for it to happen. He lives with his daughter and grandson and spends the majority of his time crashing funerals (for the free food). He loves to help his grandson experience as much in life as he can since the boy's mom (and his daughter) is over protective and would probably wrap him (and her dad) in bubble wrap if she could. When Hayden meets a nun from the convent who is waffling in her beliefs, they form an unlikely pair and he starts to look at things a little differently--maybe!!! Anyway, at first I thought it was just kind of silly but the farther I read I really began to connect with the various characters and wanted the best of them all. Although overall the book is funny and sweet, there is a depth to the feelings in it and there were a few "teary" moments for me. I ended up really enjoying it and would definitely read another of Ms. Pedersen's books.

[Suzi Tripp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contrived and predictable, except where it was completely not believable. No way someone who has served the church for 20 years just begs off after a day at the ball park. Nope. Just not my cup of tea.

[Clement Ng'etich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book to read. So captivating and so inspiring. How does someone who is destined to die go about his life? You have 1 year to live what do you do?
A really interesting book on how we should approach life even if dark times are to come

[Shannon Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Completely charming.

[Kenna Villa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivated!

I was totally captivated by this book.I could not put it down and it made me cry at the end. I will be looking forward to more books by this author!

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really bad. Too sugary sweet, fake, unbelievable, unrealistic. Like one of those sappy afternoon movies you quickly flip off.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the grandfather, and overall the book is entertaining and pretty funny, but I could have done with less of the religious “message”

[Rinchen]

Brief Summary:
This book is about a man named Hayden MacBride who is diagnosed with cancer. He has a daughter and a grandson. He is a very optimistic man, who doesn’t want to drag down his daughter. His daughter, Diana, spends all her spare time trying to figure out ways to save her father with any cure possible. On the other hand, Hayden spends his time crashing funerals and dragging his grandson along. He continues on with his life with wondering thoughts between the pros and cons of life.
Analysis of Character:
Hayden tries very hard to be optimistic during this time period in his life. He doesn’t want to lose everything, yet he faces reality and realizes his life isn’t going to go on forever. so he uses the times he has left to teach others which I thought was a great leason.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to everyone, it isn’t the happiest book to be reading, but it makes you realize to cherish life and live life day by day for some don’t have that chance. It’s a quick read that moves fairly quickly. It is a very interesting storyline that somewhat resembles the movie, The Bucket List.

[Lianne]

Hayden MacBride is a Scotsman who often claims he is related to Sean Connery. His recent diagnosis with terminal lung cancer has confronted him with his mortality and what he calls the Great Beyond. He drives his daughter Diana crazy when he refuses treatment. Instead, he spends a lot of time with his overprotected grandson Joey, sneaking him off to baseball games but also to funerals and wakes. In part, it is to prepare Joey for the future, but also to research death in a systematic way. In the process of these forays, he meets Rosamond, a nun who also has been diagnosed with cancer. Hayden and Joey begin to include Rosamund in their fun field trips and she has so much fun she leaves the convent and comes to live with Hayden, Diana and Joey. Although the plot sometimes feels too cute, the characters are nonetheless engaging and the resolution is poignant.

[Fletcher Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a terminally ill Hayden. He lives with a daughter Diana and grandson Joey. He is a very exuberant heavy drinking Scottish man. instead of getting all depressed with his diagnosis he goes to all kinds of funerals trying to find the best traits to a funeral. During all this he meets a Nun at the hospital who is also terminally ill. Hayden and the Nun (Rosemary) become best friends. Rosemary leaves the hospital and the convent to live with Hayden and Joey. They are merely friends. They spend all summer together having fun and exploring. Eventually Hayden and Rose go on a vacation alone. They eventually become a couple. Hayden had a way of being optimistic about his situation no matter what. He definitely made the best of the time he had left. Overall I thought this was a pretty good book.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style of this book bothered me until I got used to it and didn't notice as much. It's all descriptive present tense... A humorous book about a proud Scot who is dying of liver cancer- they make him out to be old but I think he's only 55... It's touching how he's trying to teach his 11 year old grandson how to be a man- pump gas, check the oil, and enjoy life, as well as watch out for his daughter-a single mother with horrible luck in boyfriends. I love how Rosie stays true, or rather finds, her love for God with Hayden's help. My favorite part is probably the end, when the GreyFriar's Gang comes down the street...had to grab the kleenex!

[Frances Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious, touching, and filled with great quips. I loved the characters and hated to finish this book; I wanted to continue my glimpse into their lives forever. Both of my book clubs read it and it was very much a favorite of both groups. Some members found the story a little too much of "stretch" to be believable, but others got so into the book, they suspended that kind of thought process and enjoyed the ride. A rollicking romp that illustrates the importance of making every day count and enjoying every moment with those you love. A celebration of the preciousness and the fleeting nature of life with a message very close to "gather ye rosebuds while ye may."

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to imagine a funny book about dying, but this is one. It centers on a man who is trying to teach his grandson the "important" things in life before he dies of pancreatic cancer. In the process, they "unconvert" a nun who is also dying. There is a two kleenex ending but much of the book is quite amusing.

[Alycia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this book was written by different people...there were times where the writing was so stilted that I had to force myself to push through each sentence - and other times where it felt like I was reading a romance novel. I'm not sure how it ended up in my stack of books to read - but I am not passing it on to anyone because it really wasn't that good.

[Catherine Schramm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our book club read a Man Called Ove which I enjoyed. Another member suggested this title which was similar, but which she enjoyed more. I bought this and really enjoyed it. Despite death figuring in as a major topic, it's really about a family and how they deal with life.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in her series...I liked it but I'm stopping here and not reading the next one. Not nearly as good as the first, beginners luck.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 04/06

[Marcee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't even get throught the first chapter! The writing didn't do anything for me.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good characters, but a contrived story line.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

book club

[Donna Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an unexpected joy! The quirky characters remind me of a southern novel and the author's descriptions had me laughing out loud.

[Stacie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Characters FLAT, writing flat, plot simple. Waste of time.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me laugh about death!

[Juli · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

slow, simple, could not finnish...to the goodwill!

[Carrie Z · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get past first 2 pages. Didn't bother going further LOL

[Lois]

Not interested I. Leaving a review!!!


No do not want to leave a review
So ley.me out of this page so I can continue with reading another book.good bye .