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Too Young To Be Old: From Clapham to Kathmandu
When Frank starts working with old people, he rediscovers a young dream. And sets about making it come true.
As Frank Kusy turns 27 he is unexpectedly put in charge of an old people’s home in Clapham. Driven to distraction by a crazy cast of characters he seeks solace in Buddhism, only to find himself up to his ears in plasticine pigs and marathon chanting sessions. Will he make his mum happy by holding down a ‘proper’ job? Will he make her unhappy by becoming a writer? Will he get to share cheese sandwiches with Kevin in Kathmandu? And will he be forced to exchange his underpants in Japan?
As Frank Kusy turns 27 he is unexpectedly put in charge of an old people’s home in Clapham. Driven to distraction by a crazy cast of characters he seeks solace in Buddhism, only to find himself up to his ears in plasticine pigs and marathon chanting sessions. Will he make his mum happy by holding down a ‘proper’ job? Will he make her unhappy by becoming a writer? Will he get to share cheese sandwiches with Kevin in Kathmandu? And will he be forced to exchange his underpants in Japan?
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2015
197 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Frank Kusy
25 books83 followersBorn and raised in the fog-shrouded streets of 1960s London, and with more than 30 years of travel writing experience under his belt, aspiring Buddhist and incorrigible cat-lover Frank Kusy is a SUNDAY TRIBUNE RECOMMENDED AUTHOR and a four-time Gold Medal Winner on the Harper Collins Authonomy site. He has been awarded the AIA Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence for his flagship book 'Rupee Millionaires', and has been a featured author on several promotional sites, including BookBub, Pixel of Ink, Indie Book Bargains and FreeBooksy. His books have received international press acclaim, and have made the Kindle Top 100 List several times, his first published book, 'Kevin and I in India', climbing as high as #5. In April 2015 his children's book 'Ginger the Gangster Cat' won a Gold medal on the prestigious Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for 6 to 8 year olds, though this and the sequel 'Ginger the Buddha Cat' appeal as much to adults as to children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 5, 2016
After reading Frank Kusy’s “Kevin and I in India” and “Rupee Millioneers”, I was hooked. I wanted to read all of this author’s books. Unaware of the chronological sequence of the travel-memoirs, I ended up reading the books in the wrong order.
“To Young to be Old” should have been read first. Yet if I were to do it over again, I would still want to start with “Kevin and I in India”, follow with “To Young to be Old”, continue with “Off the Beaten Track”, and read “Rupee Millionaires” last.
Frank Kusy is what one might call a “free spirit”. His mother had meant well when she sent him to a Jesuit boarding school, but for a boy with Frank’s nature, this had been a very bad choice. He felt like a prisoner, and his desire for freedom surged. The result: Once finished with school and college, Frank could not hold a job, or more precisely, did not want to hold a job for any length of time. This, of course, worried his mother. So in order to please her, Frank finally settled down a bit (at least, for a while) and took a job at an old-age home. And this is what the first 143 pages of this 181-page book are about.
You might think that 143 pages telling about work in an old-age home might be boring. I can assure you, they aren’t—not when these 143 pages are written by Frank Kusy, and not when this facility is about as crazy as Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Yet this facility is not only crazy, it is also quite sad. Improving the conditions for the residents seems to be a Mission Impossible. The newbie employee has to make a decision: quit the job or seek help. Frank chooses to seek help from Buddhism. He chants asking to be put in charge of this place. And his prayers, or rather chants, are heard. He soon finds himself running the facility, and now things are changing for the better. This is for the simple reason that Frank Kusy is kind and compassionate and that he views and treats the residents not as bothersome pieces of work but as human beings. Kindness, empathy, and compassion go a long way with old people, or for that matter, with people of any age. (I sincerely consider hiring Frank should we ever become in need of a caregiver.)
It is admirable how long our free-spirited author lasts in this job. Yet he is not made to spend his entire life running an old-age home. Not only Frank himself senses this. At some time, the most adventurous of the residents tells Frank, “You are too young to be old” and advises him to go and see the world. This is how “Kevin and I in India” comes to be.
“Too Young to be Old” only brushes this 4-months trip to India and, then, gets back to London, where a relationship problem is brewing. It has Frank throwing himself more and more into the arms of Buddhism while still living with his troubled Buddhist girlfriend, Anna, who has become a burden.
In an attempt to find wisdom and enlightenment or maybe only an answer to whether or not they should continue their relationship, Frank and Anna join a British Buddhist group traveling to a seminar in Japan. It doesn’t go too well.
But there is also good news. Frank’s book “Kevin and I in India” has been accepted by a publisher. And another publisher, also interested in the book but a bit too late to make the deal, offers Frank to write a travel guide on India.
Thus, “Too Young to be Old” has kind of a happy end. Yet if you wish to learn what happens to Frank’s relationship with Anna, you need to read the sequel, that is, “Off the Beaten Track: My Crazy Year in Asia”.
My rating of “Too Young to be Old” is 4 stars (I really liked it) on Goodreads and 5 stars (I love it) on Amazon, as the rating systems of these websites differ.
I own and read the paperback, but Goodreads only lists the Kindle edition.
For anyone interested in my reviews of the other books by Frank Kusy, belonging to his travel-memoir series, here are the links:
"Kevin and I in India"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Off The Beaten Track"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Rupee Millionaires"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“To Young to be Old” should have been read first. Yet if I were to do it over again, I would still want to start with “Kevin and I in India”, follow with “To Young to be Old”, continue with “Off the Beaten Track”, and read “Rupee Millionaires” last.
Frank Kusy is what one might call a “free spirit”. His mother had meant well when she sent him to a Jesuit boarding school, but for a boy with Frank’s nature, this had been a very bad choice. He felt like a prisoner, and his desire for freedom surged. The result: Once finished with school and college, Frank could not hold a job, or more precisely, did not want to hold a job for any length of time. This, of course, worried his mother. So in order to please her, Frank finally settled down a bit (at least, for a while) and took a job at an old-age home. And this is what the first 143 pages of this 181-page book are about.
You might think that 143 pages telling about work in an old-age home might be boring. I can assure you, they aren’t—not when these 143 pages are written by Frank Kusy, and not when this facility is about as crazy as Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Yet this facility is not only crazy, it is also quite sad. Improving the conditions for the residents seems to be a Mission Impossible. The newbie employee has to make a decision: quit the job or seek help. Frank chooses to seek help from Buddhism. He chants asking to be put in charge of this place. And his prayers, or rather chants, are heard. He soon finds himself running the facility, and now things are changing for the better. This is for the simple reason that Frank Kusy is kind and compassionate and that he views and treats the residents not as bothersome pieces of work but as human beings. Kindness, empathy, and compassion go a long way with old people, or for that matter, with people of any age. (I sincerely consider hiring Frank should we ever become in need of a caregiver.)
It is admirable how long our free-spirited author lasts in this job. Yet he is not made to spend his entire life running an old-age home. Not only Frank himself senses this. At some time, the most adventurous of the residents tells Frank, “You are too young to be old” and advises him to go and see the world. This is how “Kevin and I in India” comes to be.
“Too Young to be Old” only brushes this 4-months trip to India and, then, gets back to London, where a relationship problem is brewing. It has Frank throwing himself more and more into the arms of Buddhism while still living with his troubled Buddhist girlfriend, Anna, who has become a burden.
In an attempt to find wisdom and enlightenment or maybe only an answer to whether or not they should continue their relationship, Frank and Anna join a British Buddhist group traveling to a seminar in Japan. It doesn’t go too well.
But there is also good news. Frank’s book “Kevin and I in India” has been accepted by a publisher. And another publisher, also interested in the book but a bit too late to make the deal, offers Frank to write a travel guide on India.
Thus, “Too Young to be Old” has kind of a happy end. Yet if you wish to learn what happens to Frank’s relationship with Anna, you need to read the sequel, that is, “Off the Beaten Track: My Crazy Year in Asia”.
My rating of “Too Young to be Old” is 4 stars (I really liked it) on Goodreads and 5 stars (I love it) on Amazon, as the rating systems of these websites differ.
I own and read the paperback, but Goodreads only lists the Kindle edition.
For anyone interested in my reviews of the other books by Frank Kusy, belonging to his travel-memoir series, here are the links:
"Kevin and I in India"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Off The Beaten Track"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Rupee Millionaires"
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 6, 2015
This book grabbed my attention from the first chapter as I joined Frank in his quest to find a job that his mum might approve of. The truth is he’s been a bit of a drifter and is amazed when he receives a job offer from the very eccentric owner of an old people’s home. Selected mainly because he is polite and well dressed, Frank surprises himself by being very good at it. He then recounts his often wacky experiences with a group of extremely strange and sometimes wonderful people.
Many of the anecdotes he tells are incredibly funny and heart-warming. In particular I loved the way he took the time to listen to the elder residents. His respect and real interest in their stories was something they obviously appreciated, and encouraged them to open up freely to him. One such aged gentleman is Bertie. Not satisfied with spending his golden years in a residential home, he has one last adventure up his sleeve – and disappears.
After a frantic search, Frank chases after Bertie and finally tracks him down in a Kibbutz. Completely unabashed, it is during this adventure when Bertie informs Frank that he is “too old to be young”. He should give up his job and follow his dreams instead.
During his early years Frank had been attracted by the ethics of Buddhism. He had listened to a number of speakers, learnt the basic principles and begun to chant. But he wants more. Inspired in part by Bertie’s advice he decides to leave his work in the old people’s home and travels to India to seek the birthplace of Buddhism. He meets Kevin, another traveller, on the plane and they decide to share digs and travel together. He describes his incredible adventures in India and afterwards when he travels with a group to Japan, both of which cause him to become a changed man.
Frank has found his vocation, he wants to become a travel writer. He tells us about the challenges of writing and agonies of finding a suitable publisher. Then the thrill of landing the first job he has really, truly wanted. This becomes the platform from which his subsequent memoirs follow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Frank is a wonderful story teller who effortlessly combines a terrific sense of humour and bags of charm in his writing – I really warmed to him. He comes across as someone who lacked self-confidence when he was younger, but his strength of personality helps him through the many difficult ethical and practical situations he faces. I loved the kindness he showed towards the elder residents, I loved the lengths he went to in trying to make a doomed relationship work, because he didn’t want to upset his partner. In particular I hugely admired his courage in pursuing his dreams and beginning his great travel adventures. In my opinion this super book deserves a five star rating – it’s the first of his that I have read and it won’t be the last.
Many of the anecdotes he tells are incredibly funny and heart-warming. In particular I loved the way he took the time to listen to the elder residents. His respect and real interest in their stories was something they obviously appreciated, and encouraged them to open up freely to him. One such aged gentleman is Bertie. Not satisfied with spending his golden years in a residential home, he has one last adventure up his sleeve – and disappears.
After a frantic search, Frank chases after Bertie and finally tracks him down in a Kibbutz. Completely unabashed, it is during this adventure when Bertie informs Frank that he is “too old to be young”. He should give up his job and follow his dreams instead.
During his early years Frank had been attracted by the ethics of Buddhism. He had listened to a number of speakers, learnt the basic principles and begun to chant. But he wants more. Inspired in part by Bertie’s advice he decides to leave his work in the old people’s home and travels to India to seek the birthplace of Buddhism. He meets Kevin, another traveller, on the plane and they decide to share digs and travel together. He describes his incredible adventures in India and afterwards when he travels with a group to Japan, both of which cause him to become a changed man.
Frank has found his vocation, he wants to become a travel writer. He tells us about the challenges of writing and agonies of finding a suitable publisher. Then the thrill of landing the first job he has really, truly wanted. This becomes the platform from which his subsequent memoirs follow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Frank is a wonderful story teller who effortlessly combines a terrific sense of humour and bags of charm in his writing – I really warmed to him. He comes across as someone who lacked self-confidence when he was younger, but his strength of personality helps him through the many difficult ethical and practical situations he faces. I loved the kindness he showed towards the elder residents, I loved the lengths he went to in trying to make a doomed relationship work, because he didn’t want to upset his partner. In particular I hugely admired his courage in pursuing his dreams and beginning his great travel adventures. In my opinion this super book deserves a five star rating – it’s the first of his that I have read and it won’t be the last.
October 31, 2015
I confess to having already read a couple of Frank Kusy’s travel books about India. They had me hooked, wanting more. So, when I stumbled across this new prequel book, charting (or should I say chanting because he is becoming a Buddhist?) his way through his early years in charge of an old folks home in Clapham, bursting with an absolute riot of intimate stories, I briefly wondered at the future Indian connection. It soon shone through, and the author was working up a head of steam to visit a sub-continent with which he was clearly about to fall in love heavily. Full of zany goings on, and with Frank’s trademark wordsmith skills to continually amuse and encourage one to turn to the next page, this is another tour de force. Thanks, Frank, for offering your readers and admirers an insight into your early days so that we can join up the dots to your future life experiences.
August 11, 2015
Another winner from Frank Kusy!
I received a free copy of this book to read pre-publication. I had just started it and I loved the book already-it was very easy to get into-in fact it took no getting into at all! I'm always a tad concerned when I read multiple books in a series by an author where I have loved their previous books-this is in case it wouldn't be as good and I often have to 'get into' a book a bit before I 'know'-with this I was straight in-a very easy and fun read with plenty of chuckles. It was great! Frank's other memoirs have been predominantly travel-this one is a little bit different. It does have travel but a good chunk of the action takes place in Clapham, London. Frank has had a few jobs which haven't worked out and he gets a new position running an old people's home. This makes for many interesting stories and anecdotes. As with his 'Off the Beaten Track', it was nice to see his trusty Sony Walkman pop up again; with this he had captured many memories related to him by some of the Home's residents. He puts these in his book. Later, he goes on travels and the book's end leads up to the beginning of what was to become 'Kevin and I in India'. The book has plenty of variety-and I like that. I think this will surprise Frank's loyal readers, they're getting something different. I whizzed through this, couldn't put it down and am ashamed to say that not much housework got done the weekend I was reading this-well none really! I love that there are some pictures included in the book-they are inserted in the relevant places where the mentioned people/incidents are in the book so it's great that you don't have to keep flicking hither and thither to find them. I made lots of notes and highlights on my kindle where I had really liked something and where something was really funny. There was one bit where I noted down that I laughed out loud to remember to put it in my review-I was at the hospital waiting area reading it and certainly lots of laughs and amusing bits but I unexpectedly laughed out loud at the chapter where they were putting a show on at the home-I don't know what the others in the hospital waiting room thought but I was laughing picturing Frank in No No Nanette! Hilarious! Another great book and a sure fire winner from Frank Kusy!
I received a free copy of this book to read pre-publication. I had just started it and I loved the book already-it was very easy to get into-in fact it took no getting into at all! I'm always a tad concerned when I read multiple books in a series by an author where I have loved their previous books-this is in case it wouldn't be as good and I often have to 'get into' a book a bit before I 'know'-with this I was straight in-a very easy and fun read with plenty of chuckles. It was great! Frank's other memoirs have been predominantly travel-this one is a little bit different. It does have travel but a good chunk of the action takes place in Clapham, London. Frank has had a few jobs which haven't worked out and he gets a new position running an old people's home. This makes for many interesting stories and anecdotes. As with his 'Off the Beaten Track', it was nice to see his trusty Sony Walkman pop up again; with this he had captured many memories related to him by some of the Home's residents. He puts these in his book. Later, he goes on travels and the book's end leads up to the beginning of what was to become 'Kevin and I in India'. The book has plenty of variety-and I like that. I think this will surprise Frank's loyal readers, they're getting something different. I whizzed through this, couldn't put it down and am ashamed to say that not much housework got done the weekend I was reading this-well none really! I love that there are some pictures included in the book-they are inserted in the relevant places where the mentioned people/incidents are in the book so it's great that you don't have to keep flicking hither and thither to find them. I made lots of notes and highlights on my kindle where I had really liked something and where something was really funny. There was one bit where I noted down that I laughed out loud to remember to put it in my review-I was at the hospital waiting area reading it and certainly lots of laughs and amusing bits but I unexpectedly laughed out loud at the chapter where they were putting a show on at the home-I don't know what the others in the hospital waiting room thought but I was laughing picturing Frank in No No Nanette! Hilarious! Another great book and a sure fire winner from Frank Kusy!
September 27, 2015
As a huge fan of Frank Kusy's writing, I couldn't wait for this book to come out and it certainly didn't disappoint. I'd already read the three travel memoirs written by Frank about his time spent travelling in India, that were all published prior to this one.
In this book Frank goes back to his time spent working as an administrator in an elderly residents home in Clapham. There are quite a few colourful eccentric characters, both staff and residents and Frank describes them and his encounters with them in his usual self-effacing hilarious way. As a nurse who has spent time caring for the elderly, one of the greatest gifts you can give them is time and Frank gives them plenty of this because he listens to them, but not only that he records their memories on his trusty Sony Walkman and they certainly loved to talk.
Throughout the book Frank is painfully honest about what he sees as his many faults and all described in such an entertaining way. In this book we find out more about Frank's conversion to Buddhism, that is a feature in the other books in the series.
I didn't want this book to end, it's another Frank Kusy cracker and I'm now reading his other books again to be entertained once more by the author's unique writing style.
In this book Frank goes back to his time spent working as an administrator in an elderly residents home in Clapham. There are quite a few colourful eccentric characters, both staff and residents and Frank describes them and his encounters with them in his usual self-effacing hilarious way. As a nurse who has spent time caring for the elderly, one of the greatest gifts you can give them is time and Frank gives them plenty of this because he listens to them, but not only that he records their memories on his trusty Sony Walkman and they certainly loved to talk.
Throughout the book Frank is painfully honest about what he sees as his many faults and all described in such an entertaining way. In this book we find out more about Frank's conversion to Buddhism, that is a feature in the other books in the series.
I didn't want this book to end, it's another Frank Kusy cracker and I'm now reading his other books again to be entertained once more by the author's unique writing style.
August 20, 2015
What a great new book from Frank Kusy. This gives the reader lots of background about Frank as a young man and the close family members who influenced his life. It describes in hilarious detail his time as manager of an old folk’s home in Clapham. While there he has to manage both staff and residents while coping with a very difficult and eccentric owner. I loved the way Frank listened to the old people’s stories and recognised that they had fascinating tales to tell. The book romps from Clapham to a quick rescue trip to a kibbutz!. Written in a way that draws the reader into his world we learn about Frank’s growing interest in Buddhism and how it leads him to follow his dream. It is the start of Frank’s adventures in India and is the perfect introduction to his other books. Lively and very entertaining it’s another winner.
August 18, 2015
How did it all start
Another great book from Frank Kusy. I really enjoyed this book as it lets you know how his traveling started. Never mind his relationships but what an adventure working with the elderly. From the elderly people I know in England they have such amazing stories and they definitely put Frank on the path for us to all fall in love with him--oops, I mean his books. If you haven't read Frank this is a good place to start and if you have this is even better to learn how he got there.
Another great book from Frank Kusy. I really enjoyed this book as it lets you know how his traveling started. Never mind his relationships but what an adventure working with the elderly. From the elderly people I know in England they have such amazing stories and they definitely put Frank on the path for us to all fall in love with him--oops, I mean his books. If you haven't read Frank this is a good place to start and if you have this is even better to learn how he got there.
October 5, 2015
Great book
This was a very good book......short but fun read. I will search more of this author. Humor and truth all in one
This was a very good book......short but fun read. I will search more of this author. Humor and truth all in one
April 17, 2019
Easy enjoyable read. I didn’t expect to like this book but I was soon hooked by his kindness to the elderly residents and his interest in their stories.
January 4, 2016
I'm a Frank Kusy fan so I kind of guessed I wouldn't be disappointed with this, his latest release - how right was I - 100%. Loved it. Who'd have thought as a young guy he'd be managing an old folks home - well he did - loved the fact that he managed to record (with permission) some of his conversations with a couple of the residents - funny, interesting and at times sad accounts of years 'back in the day' - he even went on a mission to find one of them - travelling from Clapham to a Kibbutz - and find the resident he did... !! Don't want to give any spoilers here - but we also find out how Frank's interest in India comes about - and the links to Buddhism - and, how he started to write his Memoirs. Again its written with thought, fun, compassion - brilliant and am happy to recommend.
April 21, 2016
A Goodreads friend who enjoyed Kusy's travel books thought this would be a good place to start for someone who is not familiar with his work. Unable to hold what he considers a "normal" job, he ends up running a nursing home with a most entertaining suite of characters. Some great folks in those places for one who will pay attention and I must admit some admiration for his clever management techniques - most developed in fear of failure. At any rate, one of the residents declared that Frank is "too young to be old", which, combined with his attempt to "master" the Buddhist religion sends him to India in search of adventure. The book is an easy short read, down to earth, and narrated by one who does not take himself too seriously. Bottom line, a fun read.
November 29, 2015
Difficult to put down
I really enjoyed this autobiographical book by Frank Kusy. His interactions with the elderly residents of the Clapham care home are filled with humour tempered with a little sadness. As with all good books , I was left wanting more.
I really enjoyed this autobiographical book by Frank Kusy. His interactions with the elderly residents of the Clapham care home are filled with humour tempered with a little sadness. As with all good books , I was left wanting more.
June 1, 2019
Recommended
This book was recommended to me, so now I am recommending it to you. At first it seems like a fast read as it really isn't all that long. But, whoa, it is a fast read but there are a lot of things going on here. This is a memoir of a young man looking for a job as ordered by his Mother. Not only does he get a job working with seniors, he ups his position by taking charge of the chaotic home. This part of the book could stand alone on it's own as it is crazy fun to imagine how he stayed sane at this job. Moving on. Frank finds himself by bringing enlightenment into his life. He travels to India, has relationship issues, and constantly doubts himself. The way Frank puts all of that into his own words makes you think about your own life. This book is funny, sad at times, crazy, and thought provoking. I noticed a lot of highlights, so apparently a lot of people besides me have something to take away from this memoir. I loved it.
This book was recommended to me, so now I am recommending it to you. At first it seems like a fast read as it really isn't all that long. But, whoa, it is a fast read but there are a lot of things going on here. This is a memoir of a young man looking for a job as ordered by his Mother. Not only does he get a job working with seniors, he ups his position by taking charge of the chaotic home. This part of the book could stand alone on it's own as it is crazy fun to imagine how he stayed sane at this job. Moving on. Frank finds himself by bringing enlightenment into his life. He travels to India, has relationship issues, and constantly doubts himself. The way Frank puts all of that into his own words makes you think about your own life. This book is funny, sad at times, crazy, and thought provoking. I noticed a lot of highlights, so apparently a lot of people besides me have something to take away from this memoir. I loved it.
November 28, 2017
I enjoyed this true story about an aimless young man who winds up working at an old folk’s home. He finds himself bonding with the numerous residents and at odds with some of the staff. At the same time, he’s figuring out what he wants in life. He goes through a few relationships and discovers Buddhism. The book cover is stunning but the story lacked depth. I wasn’t drawn in as much as I wanted to be.
September 19, 2016
This was funny from the start......I couldn't put this folksy, fast-paced autobiography down. The author writes in an easy to read style and I found myself breezing through the chapters from London to India and back again. Definitely recommended!
October 13, 2020
I had planned to read Kevin And I In India, the author's first book, but figured I should read this one first, as it's advertised as a prequel. While the author's other books seem to be travelogues or at least his misadventures in other countries, this one is more of an origin story -- how an aimless young man decided to travel the world in search of enlightenment. And while this book feels a bit unfocused and aimless at times (much like its author, actually), it's quite hilarious and heartwarming, which helps make up for some of its flaws.
Frank is looking for direction in his life... and like many who wander, he soon finds himself someplace totally unexpected -- in his case, in charge of a retirement home. Just because these people are aged, however, doesn't mean they're not full of energy, and Frank finds himself being propositioned by women old enough to be his grandmother, breaking up fights among both residents and staff, dodging his boss's wicked temper, and even having to hop a flight to Israel to find a runaway resident! Along the way, he struggles to find his path both physically and spiritually, and ends up finding himself via Buddhism... and a path that will eventually pave his way to India, and to a book.
Frank's writing tends to be a bit unfocused and uneven, jumping from topic to topic without a lot of transition or warning. It's not terrible writing, nothing special but still adequate for this book's purposes. I also caught a number of spelling errors, which tells me it definitely needed a better proofreader, if not a full-on editor to help smooth some of the transitions and help the story flow better.
Despite the flaws, however, this is a very funny book, and very sweet at times as well. Frank is able to find the humorous and absurd in difficult situations, and despite his frustrations he genuinely cares about the seniors in his care, going out of his way to make them feel welcome and appreciated. He takes the time to learn their stories, to listen to their problems, and to humor their quirks. And whether or not you believe in his Buddhist faith, his spiritual journey is also heartwarming and inspiring, as is his attempts to realize his dream of writing and publishing his book.
"Too Young To Be Old" isn't perfect, but it's highly enjoyable nonetheless. And honestly, I think I enjoyed it more than "Kevin and I in India"... but that review is for another day.
Frank is looking for direction in his life... and like many who wander, he soon finds himself someplace totally unexpected -- in his case, in charge of a retirement home. Just because these people are aged, however, doesn't mean they're not full of energy, and Frank finds himself being propositioned by women old enough to be his grandmother, breaking up fights among both residents and staff, dodging his boss's wicked temper, and even having to hop a flight to Israel to find a runaway resident! Along the way, he struggles to find his path both physically and spiritually, and ends up finding himself via Buddhism... and a path that will eventually pave his way to India, and to a book.
Frank's writing tends to be a bit unfocused and uneven, jumping from topic to topic without a lot of transition or warning. It's not terrible writing, nothing special but still adequate for this book's purposes. I also caught a number of spelling errors, which tells me it definitely needed a better proofreader, if not a full-on editor to help smooth some of the transitions and help the story flow better.
Despite the flaws, however, this is a very funny book, and very sweet at times as well. Frank is able to find the humorous and absurd in difficult situations, and despite his frustrations he genuinely cares about the seniors in his care, going out of his way to make them feel welcome and appreciated. He takes the time to learn their stories, to listen to their problems, and to humor their quirks. And whether or not you believe in his Buddhist faith, his spiritual journey is also heartwarming and inspiring, as is his attempts to realize his dream of writing and publishing his book.
"Too Young To Be Old" isn't perfect, but it's highly enjoyable nonetheless. And honestly, I think I enjoyed it more than "Kevin and I in India"... but that review is for another day.
March 27, 2017
It would be hard not to love Frank Kusy, even when you realise that you've accidentally bought a book that's completely not what you're expecting. I thought this would be another of Kusy's excellent travel experience books but 80% of the book was a fascinating account of working in an old people's home in Clapham in the 1980s. Now if you'd told me that was the topic - or rather if I'd bothered to read the synopsis - I probably would have passed on this one, but I'm glad I didn't know, as I really enjoyed reading about the crazy world of elderly care. The 20% of Frank getting into his Buddhist chanting and taking his first trip to India (that subject of his book 'Kevin and I in India') was almost a letdown after his adventures with feisty old ladies, frisky old men and the challenges of management.
Mostly I felt sad as he recounted the way that such care homes changed in just the short time he was working there from being places for frail old folk to becoming dumping grounds for the crazy and incontinent when local authorities would no longer stump up the money to help those who needed more gentle support.
The Buddhism is interesting - but not quite as interesting as I suspect it's intended to be - and the trip to Israel to rescue his wandering client is a lot of fun. But now I need more of Kusy in India.
Mostly I felt sad as he recounted the way that such care homes changed in just the short time he was working there from being places for frail old folk to becoming dumping grounds for the crazy and incontinent when local authorities would no longer stump up the money to help those who needed more gentle support.
The Buddhism is interesting - but not quite as interesting as I suspect it's intended to be - and the trip to Israel to rescue his wandering client is a lot of fun. But now I need more of Kusy in India.
July 26, 2017
This was a great book about Frank Kusy's trials and tribulations in his early work life finding himself the Administrator for an old people's home and taking encouragement from them to realise his dream of becoming a travel writer.
Frank is a great example of how you never know in life how one experience will lead to another.
Frank's writing style is one of sometimes cringe-worthy honesty but I will look forward to reading some of his other writings on his experiences.
Frank is a great example of how you never know in life how one experience will lead to another.
Frank's writing style is one of sometimes cringe-worthy honesty but I will look forward to reading some of his other writings on his experiences.
September 3, 2017
Enjoyable
The author presents very good visuals of the people he meets. He is brutally honest when describing himself as well. I would have liked more stories about the old folks home. The travels afterwards were less detailed and seemed a bit cobbled together. All in all, still an enjoyable read.
The author presents very good visuals of the people he meets. He is brutally honest when describing himself as well. I would have liked more stories about the old folks home. The travels afterwards were less detailed and seemed a bit cobbled together. All in all, still an enjoyable read.
June 19, 2017
Very funny
I really enjoyed this book and plan to read more of the author's works. He has a wry perspective on every thing and a great way with words. I would have given it five stars but the Kindle edition needed some editing for typos and grammar.
I really enjoyed this book and plan to read more of the author's works. He has a wry perspective on every thing and a great way with words. I would have given it five stars but the Kindle edition needed some editing for typos and grammar.
July 3, 2017
Entertaining read
I like the unpretentious style of Kusy writing, felt like someone I'd enjoy knowing. I'm usually not a fan autobiographical stories but I found it hard to put this one down. Well done Mr Kusy.
I like the unpretentious style of Kusy writing, felt like someone I'd enjoy knowing. I'm usually not a fan autobiographical stories but I found it hard to put this one down. Well done Mr Kusy.
September 15, 2017
From inside a senior citizens home to India, the author takes us on his spiritual & emotional growth path. He also breaks his own stereotypes about seniors with the entertaining residents. A good pace & a bit self-deprecating, well written.
August 3, 2017
Great book!
What a lovely, well written, interesting and humorous story! Such colourful characters, there is a stage play waiting to be written there!
What a lovely, well written, interesting and humorous story! Such colourful characters, there is a stage play waiting to be written there!
November 19, 2017
Ok read.
August 18, 2018
I love reading Franks books - it’s a mixture of Bill Bryson and An Idiot Abroad! However I still want to visit India even more now.
January 14, 2019
Cheerful
Jaunty journey narrating where's, whys, and hows the author came to be so, delivered with humour, nicely paced, well charactered.
Jaunty journey narrating where's, whys, and hows the author came to be so, delivered with humour, nicely paced, well charactered.
April 26, 2020
It almost makes me want to go work with seniors. If only everybody was such a character.
October 23, 2022
3.5 stars A nice, light enjoyable read, sprinkled with humour. Personally, I would have loved there to have been more detail and depth - it felt a bit like a ‘tasting menu’ and I wanted to gorge!
May 31, 2016
What fun to learn how Frank Kusy's travel adventures began. Having read several of his books on India, I often wondered how and why he chose travel writing as his passion. His dearly loved mother did her best to prepare a young and sensitive Frank for a serene life by sending him to a Jesuit boarding school. This didn't bode well with Frank's free spirit approach to life. After completing college, he was hired for various jobs, found them boring, and soon found himself unemployed. His mother worried. Wanting to please her he took a job in Clapham, England. Why Clapham? He met a girl there, so threw caution to the wind and moved in with her. Fortunately he found a challenging job to keep him thinking on his feet running an elder care facility. Besides he liked old people. The facility and conditions were looney-bins and Frank immediately set out to improve the old age home by treating residents with kindness and integrity. During one fire drill, the deputy matron locked a resident in his room because she decided they couldn't have a nutter on the loose during the chaos of a fire drill. Many comic scenes reminded me of a bumbling Peter Sellers.
Frank seeks spiritual help and solace from Buddhism and chants daily. It works. When one of the elderly residents tells him he's too young to be old and advises him to go and see the world, it rings true, and he decides to travel to India. In this fun book, the reader is also introduced to Kevin— his companion in India. Another great, fun read from Frank Kusy! Delightful! His best yet!
Frank seeks spiritual help and solace from Buddhism and chants daily. It works. When one of the elderly residents tells him he's too young to be old and advises him to go and see the world, it rings true, and he decides to travel to India. In this fun book, the reader is also introduced to Kevin— his companion in India. Another great, fun read from Frank Kusy! Delightful! His best yet!
January 23, 2016
Some memoirs and travel journals beg the question “why did the author bother?" That's never the case with Kusy’s delightful books, which leave me anxious for ever more of his tales. Here the chronicler relates his first steps toward challenging adventures and outlandish misadventures in India and the Far East. Whether introducing the reader to memorable characters in a British home for the elderly or taking you along to far-flung countries, Kusy consistently charms with his self-discovery, honesty and clever wit. He treats each person he encounters with appreciation for the uniqueness that simultaneously sets us apart and draws us all together. You can tell he genuinely loves people. For any reader new to his enjoyable writings, Too Young to be Old is a great place to begin.
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