Customer Reviews

Runaway Grandma

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This is a well written and interesting book about a woman who decides to start her life anew at 70. Olivia is a widowed retired school teacher, whose adult children have no real interest in her as a person, but rather only value her for her financial assets. Tired of being ignored, demeaned, and used, Olivia fakes her disappearance as a possible suicide and takes off for parts unknown. After an entertaining but short interlude on the road Olivia stops at a b&b in Harmonyville Pennsylvania and decides to stay. In Harmonyville Olivia finds some of the things that were missing from her old life (a romance and several good new friends), but she also is haunted by the choice she made and the lives she left behind. Her journey is a striking exploration of the benefits and costs of pulling up your roots and starting over at a time when many are content to continue with what they have. It is a story filled with memorable characters, laughter, and tears.

Something many elders fear as they age - that their children will begin to take advantage of them for their money before they buy the proverbial farm. "Runaway Grandma" is one grandmother's way of dealing with it - by faking her own death and seeking a new life elsewhere. She attempts to settle in another state entirely, but the past has a habit of sneaking up on people can causing trouble as the past typically does. "Runaway Grandma" is highly recommended to any elderly reader who may be experiencing the same problems as the titular grandmother in this book, and for community library fiction collections.

This is a universal woman's story that once you begin, you can't put down because you keep seeing yourself, nodding in agreement. Just a few sentences into the book will explain why it was nominated for Book of the Year in Women's Issues. Carol Smallwood, Women on Poetry: Tips on Writing, Teaching and Publishing by Successful Women Poets (co-ed.) Foreword by Molly Peacock, McFarland, 2012.

I am also 70 years young, retired schoolteacher,and widowed. The title intrigued me because of those three reasons. It is a morally informative book that takes on modern issues of families. My women friends are very anxious to read it. I would highly recommend this book not only for older mothers but especially for young mothers!

Bought the used book, excellent condition'
Nice read, a little unrealistic, bought it for the W. Pa. conncection. Good summer Read.
Dorothee Foltz

Olivia feels that her son will try to have her declared incompetent and take control of her assets, so she carefully devises a plan to disappear. She ends up living in a different part of the country where she meets an older gentleman and they become great friends. This book reveals an unusual solution to a family problem. I highly recommend it.

Runaway Grandma Runaway Grandma is the story of a women who is rediscovering herself. As a therapist, I find that aging women are frequently running away from themselves, not just their families as our heroine is trying to do. This is an easy, fun read for any woman who is sorting out her future goals in life and also for the men with whom they share their lives.
Dr. Catherine Ravella
Psychotherapist

Our heroine may have been older, but she wasn't dead!!!! She had always been independent and felt useful to her family and to her community. She inherited some money which was looking good to her son.....and soon her children began to try to make decisions for her. She ran away but you probably figured that out from the title.... and using some very interesting techniques created a whole new personna..... It could have really happened. This is a good book and makes a good starting place for book discussions to talk about womens issues....from the aging standpoint.

Especially enjoy this book as author was from my area and is also a nurse.