PLAYING HURT

by Gerald L. Nardella

The fear and insecurity in growing up in a small town that offers little opportunity and few role models, exacerbated by an uncertain future and pressure by emotions difficult to control, inspired Gerald L. Nardella to write this novel. Life's struggle can be lonely and painful. Gerald grew up in a small town, experiencing firsthand the insecurities from living in a broken home. Those insecurities still haunt him to this day. About the Author Gerald L. Nardella was born and raised in Livingston, Montana, and he served in the U.S. Army. He married Peggy, his high school sweetheart, in 1962. They have two Michael and Terri. Gerald received a degree in accounting from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1968. He worked for a national CPA firm before starting his own CPA practice in Billings in 1974. Gerald enjoys golfing, reading, and working on the family cabin in the Crazy Mountains.

118 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[Emelia Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those stories that starts off feeling like a simple high school football drama and then slowly turns into something much heavier and more emotional than I expected.

Brian’s last game, playing hurt because there’s “no one to replace him,” feels symbolic of everything that follows. That line from the coach, about staying in the game even when you’re injured, echoes throughout the entire story. It’s not just about football. It’s about life, pride, love, and the painful reality of growing up too fast.

What really stayed with me, though, was the ending. The baby’s birth. Brian’s heartbreak. His decision to enlist. That final reflection about playing hurt hit hard. It captures that bittersweet realization that life doesn’t stop just because you’re wounded emotionally or physically. Sometimes you move forward not because you’re okay, but because you have to.

This is a story about young love, betrayal, trauma, and consequences. It’s not light reading, but it’s emotionally charged and honest in a way that lingers after the last page.

[Lila Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book's genre relates to the concept of adolescents who are just beginning to understand the subject of sex. The most impressive aspect of Playing Hurt is its realistic depiction of the competing pressures in a relationship for both boys and girls especially when it comes to topics of sexual intercourse.

[Minnie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing Hurt is a painfully honest portrayal of the drama and social boundaries in high school in the 1960s. This more than 100-page book will be of interest to readers for a few hours. The best aspect of Playing Hurt's presentation is its genuine representation of the competing forces for both men and females.

[Shavon Smalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing Hurt is for individuals who appreciate a storyline that focuses on the difficult subject of adolescent sexual turmoil during an era that is undoubtedly harsh about the subject.  It consists of a somewhat poignant narrative but is still a treasure of a story. The story has a total of 118 pages of content.

[Carita Bledsoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is not for younger readers as it is intended for a more mature readership because it contains scenes of assault, nightclubs, and sexual relations between various characters. Each character in the storyline is portrayed as a distinctive and unique individual, making their progression through the narrative engaging and relevant to the readers.

[Galen Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest feature of Playing Hurt is its realistic representation of competing pressures in a girls' and boys' relationship. The narrative was written with the idea that the events in the book take place in the 1960s which had a completely different view on sexuality and relationships compared to what we have today.

[Tonisha Mccue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing Hurt is a brutally honest account of the high school drama and societal restrictions of the 1960s. The hardship of their senior year is followed by two youths, Brian and Deanie. The story can be enjoyable for a few scenes before moving on to a more dramatic and emotional scene that will have some readers gasp in shock.

[Shiela Reedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing tale of teenage romance that leads to pregnancy, where the characters are uncertain about what to do moving forward with their lives. As the story progresses the character's insecurities grow and it causes them to make choices that they will later regret. The book is well-written and provides an insightful look at the standards of the 1960s.

[Rina Harwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is something that should be read by a more mature audience as it features scenes of rape, strip clubs, and sexual interactions with several characters. The book's attempt in portraying the life of teenagers in the 1960s was done well and was quite entertaining to read through for a couple of hours.

[Theressa Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing Hurt is a very honest representation of high school drama and insecurities brought upon by social limits in the 1960s. The book's genre is based on the idea of adolescents who are just starting to understand the complex feelings of love and lust. The narrative is quite entertaining for even a new reader.

[Tierra Neel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book follows Brian and Deanie, two high school sweethearts, as they face the hardships of their last years, as well as circumstances outside of school that will push their fears to their breaking point. The book should only be read by adults because the subject might be somewhat graphic in certain scenes.

[Jamison Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The events take place throughout one hundred and seventeen pages, which would take an avid reader just two hours to finish. Playing Hurt is a tale for those who focus on the challenge of adolescent romance, which leads to sexual and emotional instability in a relationship that's filled with insecurities, lack of trust, and jealousy.

[Lucas Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This more than 100-page book will hold readers' interests for a few hours. The way the narrative was written makes the reader's journey through the story interesting and relatable.  The events in the book took place in the 1960s when the world has a fairly different outlook on teenage romance and pregnancy.

[Norah Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This follows two high school sweethearts as they endure the difficulties of their relationship that is full of insecurities and jealousy. The narrative's structure facilitates the reader's travel through it with entertainment and emotional relatability. This is a suggested read for lovers of teenage romance filled with dramatic scenes.

[Bruno Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrative contains 118 pages of contents. Each character in the storyline is portrayed as a separate and unique person. Brian and Deanie are two teenagers who experience their final year's difficulties. The genre of the book occurs at a period when teenage romance awareness of their sexual interactions leads to teenage pregnancy.

[Travis Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing Hurt is a familiar and sharply realistic story about high school drama and social pressures that were common back in the 1960s. It follows Brian and Deanie, two teens, as they face the challenges of their final year. The book paces its events throughout one hundred seventeen of its pages.

[Winford Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was set at a fairly distant point in human history. The story's narrative can be entertaining for a few scenes then switch to a more intense and emotional scene in the next. With over a hundred pages this book will keep readers occupied for a couple of hours.

[Brittanie Lorenzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book's genre is based on the idea of adolescents who are just starting to understand the concept of sex back in the 1960s, a time where knowledge regarding sexual interactions is becoming clearer to younger individuals. It has a rather emotional plot, yet it is still a gem of a story.

[Sheilah Niles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story within the book portrays each character as a quirky and unique individual, making their development through the story entertaining and relatable. It also gives a glimpse of what was considered to be the social norm of the time, as the book portrays the events of 1960 in great detail.

[Harrison Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing Hurt is for people who value a story that concentrates on the challenging issue of sexual instability in adolescents. The overall material of this narrative isn't for younger individuals as it consists of a lot of adult language and scenes.

[Alexia Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most compelling aspect of Playing Hurt is its realistic depiction of multiple priorities in the relationship between boys and girls back in the 1960s, particularly in the areas of teenage romance and personal insecurities. The events of the book unfold across 118 pages and are a joy to read.

[Davis Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale can be quite intriguing for new readers, especially when it is focused on the theme of romance and pregnancy in a period that is tough. Since the book shows in great detail the events of 1960, it gives an insight into what was considered the societal standard of its time.

[Zoey Rosales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Playing Hurt is a bluntly accurate reflection of the drama and cultural restrictions of high schools in the 1960s. It is for those who like a narrative about romance in adolescents as well as a focus on the sexual promiscuity of that era. Overall, an emotional yet entertaining read.

[Janelle York · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Playing Hurt is a rather honest representation of high school drama and social restrictions in the 1960s. The book should only be read by adults, because of the sensitive nature of the subjects that unfold in the story. The book is about 118 pages long and is an excellent way to pass some time.

[Philip Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing Hurt has the most outstanding quality in its realistic depiction of the opposing expectations in a relationship for both guys and girls. The book's attempt to reflect the lives of teenagers in the 1960s was effectively done and was rather amusing to read from start to finish.