Beyond Bingo: A Novel

By Joan Drummond Miller, Carolyn Livingston, Julie Houy

Book Overview

Violet, 71, spirited but increasingly forgetful; Katherine, nearly as old and twice as inhibited; and newly married, former old maid Sophie join forces to supply Kathy's dying friend Rita and her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887392849
• ISBN13: 9780887392849
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: The publisher is out of business. Contact cliv@redshift.com
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Goodnight

Like an aging jogger who needs a little time to work through arthritis-stiffened joints, this story and its characters take a while to hit their stride. The lives of the leads initially appear in languid slo-motion, but then a dying cancer patient, Rita Rich, finds she gets by with a little help from her old friends. Their quest for "medicinal marijuana" for Rita and her new friends is quite a caper! As one of these dope procuring grannies, self-dubbed "Politely Passive Terrorists," exhorts: There's more to life than thrift shops and weekly bingo games -we're going beyond bingo! It's a fun trip for all. Reviewed by TundraVision

Friendship, Humor, and Compassion

The "introductory horoscope" to this book states "Life will be unpredictable. That doesn't mean BAD unpredictable, simply irreverent toward your plans. Under the circumstances, the best way to prepare for it might be to imagine what it would be like keeping your balance while hula-dancing on the hood of a moving car." This is truly an appropriate beginning for this witty caper among three friends who inadvertantly find themselves a little over their heads trying to help a sick friend. Hilarity ensues amidst bongo brownies, a surprise in a storage locker, and adventures run amok - all driven by the questioning of society's rules and the warmth and compassion of friendship. Laugh a lot, cry a little, and have fun with this one.

Facing the future, not the past

This books celebrates the abilities inherent in everyone regardless of age, and illustrates how unused and hidden talents can be revealed and recycled at any age. The plot keeps you in suspense, while illustrating the potential for individual growth. It tells us that profound changes are still possible in spite of the trend for aging people to stop growing and to vegetate and that each of us can make valuable contributions to society and can participate in making things better for those less fortunate. It's a call to wake up, look around and get busy with life - to start new careers, contribute to and increase worth by caring and doing things for others. It celebrates facing fears and limitations, learning new things and rejoicing in the activities around us - and refusing to be "put out to pasture."I love the philosophy illustrated in this story, even though I don't agree with the advocacy for the harmlessness of marijuana and recreational drugs. It a timely vehicle for illustrating the main theme - be useful and keep growing. The authors succeed by their own example in showing that seniors can stop trying to hide the aging process, but celebrate its many strengths and values to society in general.

What a Hoot!

This book is truly charming. Three little old ladies and their experiences with marijuana...truly a kick in the pants.It gives me great hope to see that growing old doesn't have to mean giving up life's adventures and it's refreshing to hear the medical marijuana argument from a different perspective than the usual rhetoric.Politely Passive Terrorists Unite!