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Play On!
FINALIST, INDIES Book of the Year Award.
In pursuit of an improbable goal, Maxine gathers an eclectic band of bridge buddies from her retirement community along with a few eccentric young people for an adventure that becomes part cat-and-mouse caper and part soul-searching quest, with a series of moves worthy of a Life Master. Along the way, they confront age discrimination, the tribulations of technology, and a cunning adversary. Ultimately, however, Maxine’s greatest challenge comes from within, and in the end she has 24 hours to set things right.
Play On! celebrates the resiliency and creativity of characters who acknowledge their own mortality while embracing the life-affirming values of friendship and solidarity. Breaking through the limitations of age, they pursue their dreams with grace, great good humor, and a skilled sense of gamesmanship.
In pursuit of an improbable goal, Maxine gathers an eclectic band of bridge buddies from her retirement community along with a few eccentric young people for an adventure that becomes part cat-and-mouse caper and part soul-searching quest, with a series of moves worthy of a Life Master. Along the way, they confront age discrimination, the tribulations of technology, and a cunning adversary. Ultimately, however, Maxine’s greatest challenge comes from within, and in the end she has 24 hours to set things right.
Play On! celebrates the resiliency and creativity of characters who acknowledge their own mortality while embracing the life-affirming values of friendship and solidarity. Breaking through the limitations of age, they pursue their dreams with grace, great good humor, and a skilled sense of gamesmanship.
322 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2019
5 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Judy Dearlove
1 book7 followersOn her road to fiction writing, Judy Dearlove has enjoyed a variety of careers: English professor, technical writer, manager of ergonomic engineers, director of a college tutoring center, and novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 3, 2019
What a page turner! The witty characters of this novel kept me totally entertained. I was sure I knew the overall plot development, but the twists and turns were as frequent as a detective novel. There is a vast amount of entertainment in this tome as well as a large serving of insight into the issues of retirees living in retirement communities. I know because I am one. And the author's understanding of the motives and ambitions of retirees was outstanding.
Read it and pass it along to your friends.
Read it and pass it along to your friends.
December 30, 2019
Dearlove fully realizes the world of a retirement community in Arizona, filled with wonderful, spunky, energetic and quirky residents. From Maxine to Seabiscuit to Mimi, I fell in love with so many of the characters and the details. The plot gently pulls one in and keeps the reader engaged to the end and then sorry for that end. The world Dearlove has created is so compelling and graceful, managing to balance with humor and compassion the existential issues of aging and loss.
Play On! was poignant and fun at the same time. Dearlove's eye (and pen) for detail and relational interaction bring this story to life. I am lending it to friends and gifting it to others. I miss those folks, now that I’m done with the book. They are still wandering around in my head a bit, keeping me company and inspiring me.
There is so little written, joyfully, about aging. So little available which manages to honor both the wisdom of old age and its losses at the same time. This novel does so with grace, humor and fun, celebrating long term relationships and friendship (especially with women, because, yes.). And inspires all of us to keep going, to have fun, to take on new projects and ideas. I certainly hope there is a sequel, because I want to return.Play On!Play On!
Play On! was poignant and fun at the same time. Dearlove's eye (and pen) for detail and relational interaction bring this story to life. I am lending it to friends and gifting it to others. I miss those folks, now that I’m done with the book. They are still wandering around in my head a bit, keeping me company and inspiring me.
There is so little written, joyfully, about aging. So little available which manages to honor both the wisdom of old age and its losses at the same time. This novel does so with grace, humor and fun, celebrating long term relationships and friendship (especially with women, because, yes.). And inspires all of us to keep going, to have fun, to take on new projects and ideas. I certainly hope there is a sequel, because I want to return.Play On!Play On!
December 28, 2019
What a fun read! I felt like I knew the characters personally and know we'd be friends if we met IRL. The detailed description of the Tucson environs was spot on and it was easy to imagine myself traversing around the city following the adventurous storyline. Well done, Ms. Dearlove - can't wait to read the sequel.
December 13, 2019
Superb character development and clever plot twists make Play On! a delightful read. Maxine and her retiree sidekicks defy age and challenge logic as their adventures take them to fun, love, and friendship. Everyone needs a Maxine for a friend!
December 9, 2019
What do a pair of octogenarian besties, a gospel-singing, classic-car loving sidekick, a stressed-out financial executive, and a drag queen emcee and bouncer have in common? In Judy Dearlove's Play On!, the simple answer is: love.
But there's nothing simple about the richly layered quest the protagonists undertake, individually and together, while doing battle against a sudden threat to their way of life and a villain rivaling Cruella de Vil.
Come for the standout, quirky characters, the whip-smart dialogue, the brilliant plot twists, and the oxygen cart/walker named Seabiscuit; stay for the healing solidarity of friendship. Stay for the love.
But there's nothing simple about the richly layered quest the protagonists undertake, individually and together, while doing battle against a sudden threat to their way of life and a villain rivaling Cruella de Vil.
Come for the standout, quirky characters, the whip-smart dialogue, the brilliant plot twists, and the oxygen cart/walker named Seabiscuit; stay for the healing solidarity of friendship. Stay for the love.
March 6, 2020
This book must be 90% silly repetitive banter among the characters. The novel plays on the stereotypes of both make and female seniors living in retirement communities. Eventually, about half way through, a faint predictable plot appears. This book does not come close to living up to the praises on the back cover
August 26, 2020
Such a fun read! My mother lived in a retirement community and the author really nailed the sense of fun and hi jinx that can take place with this set. Must admit that there were many twists and turns that kept me guessing. Really enjoyed the use of such colorful language to describe the characters and settings. I even passed this book on to a friend to enjoy.
April 12, 2020
Well done :) and when I enjoy a book this much, its "reward" is a blog post all its own: https://lunawings.blogspot.com/2020/0...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews