Jimi Hendrix Turns Eighty

It's 2023, and Guy Fontaine is an unwilling new resident at Mission Pescadero, an assisted-living facility outside San Francisco. It doesn't take him long to realize that his fellow residents have reverted to the lifestyles they embraced in the sixties, complete with sex, drugs, and rock and roll (with a little Viagra thrown in for good measure). The Mission Pescadero staff, and the world outside, would like nothing more than to forget these aging hippies, but the residents want-no, demand-to be treated with respect and dignity. And they'll fight for it. When one resident's prohibited cat is discovered by Mission Pescadero's domineering administrator, the resulting confrontation mushrooms into an epic battle between authority and anarchy, complete with twenty-four-hour media coverage and the involvement of California's governor, Drew Barrymore. As tensions escalate, Guy finds himself cast as an unlikely radical in a drama he doesn't understand.

By turns outrageous, hilarious, and, ultimately, touching, Tim Sandlin's new novel is a fascinating exploration of how the baby boomers are facing their own mortality. Jimi Hendrix Turns Eighty is Sandlin at his iconoclastic best.

It's 2022 and the old time hippies of California (with a few others thrown in) are now back together, this time in an assisted-living home. It's been a long time since the summer of love, but you wouldn't know it by the antics of the residents: sex, drugs, and rock n' roll still rule the day. The only problem? The woman who runs the joint rules it with an iron fist, even to the point of having her boy toy staff doctor over medicate some of the residents to keep them in line. Well, as she soon finds out, these elderly hippies have one last rebellion left in their bones. Sandlin keeps the pace fast with short chapters and lots of dialogue. Funny stuff, but also some good musing on aging.

If you like this book, there is another comic novel called INTO THE SUNSET (written by Donald Capone) that also takes place in an assisted-living home. Much different plot, though, about a young man who disguises himself as an elderly gent to live in one of these communities. Very funny too, also with something to say about aging.

I've read everything that Tim Sandlin has published. But if this were the book that introduced me to his work, it's unlikely that I would have risked reading any of his other novels. There is no compassion in the book, and very little humor. A great idea, perhaps, that never got past the 'that might be interesting' stage. I'm hoping Mr. Sandlin and Pete Dexter for that matter, get back to form.

It's been a long while since I've read/re-read Sandlin. I've the 3 volume "GroVant" series, first editions. (Loved them). I have an actual Library in my home; quite exclusive. I read 3-6 books a week, but only purchase and store a small percentage of what I read. I read this book on my Kindle, BUT, after reading, have ordered a hard copy to include in my library! Yes, in my opinion, it's THAT GOOD, in my opinion!!!

Why? Sandlin definitely, and with sensitivity and heart, captures the essence of real life within an "assisted living" community. I couldn't help but think, while reading, that he must have experienced and understood what he'd personally experienced with/for a loved one living in an assisted living environment. What else? He must have experienced or at least,somehow, understand the mind set and priorities and sensitivites of folks who were once "young and vibrant" during the 60's and early 70's. Sandlin captured and encapsulated those folk's essence and their souls. He really did, in this novel. I wholly recommend this novel for ANY reader, and especially for "baby boomer" readers.

When you're looking for some easy, fun reading, try this book. What a fun story....lots of great characters and adventures placed in a Continual Care Retirement facility.

Guy Fontaine is an Okie (although not from Muskogee) who, in 2022, finds himself in assisted living on the California coast with the 70- and 80-year olds of Haight Ashbury and the Summer of Love. It only takes him a few days to learn to appreciate the finer points of sex, drugs and rock `n roll. But he's still a Heartlander, not bound by ideas of peace, love and harmony when the facility's director decides to euthanize a cat. As the assisted community reverts to commune, the music blares, the bras come off, the Viagara appears and the Man is at the gate. It's a hoot-and-a-half. The humor rings true and there is no patronizing these dudes. I appreciate that.