A review by unphilosophize
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for giving me early access to this title in return for an honest review.

This was an absolutely delightful book. This plot follows several members of the Senior Citizen's Social Club in an less well-to-do area of London. The story opens with Daphne, who has just turned seventy concocting a plan to feel young again and make friends after living alone and in isolation for the past 15 years. She decides to join the local seniors club, run by Lydia who has vastly underestimated her seniors, and meets Art, a failed actor and kleptomaniac, Ruby, a knitter, William, Art's best friend and journalist, Anna, an ex-long-haul driver with an attitude, and Pauline, who unfortunately meets her demise during their first meeting, leaving behind her dog Margert Thatcher. Together, along with the other groups that use the community center, this unlikely group teams up to save the building that helps to fortify the community.

There are many things that I enjoyed about this book. I liked that most of it's main characters are older, but their age is just a part of who they are instead of a limiting factor. There are many jokes made about their ages by themselves, in a self-deprecating sort of way, but they also are used to highlight how society view, often erroneously, our elders. All of the characters are richly written and very believable. The story was so fun and interesting, and had its reveals at just the right times.

It was just such a fun romp. I would highly recommend picking it up. You're in for a seriously enjoyable ride.