Talk of The Villages Florida - Rentals, Entertainment & More
Talk of The Villages Florida - Rentals, Entertainment & More
#1
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Finally Read "Leisureville"
I finally decided to read "Leisureville" be Andrew Blechman and these are my impressions.
1. Andrew Blechman seems to be a bright man who has young children and his own lifestyle in Massachusettes. However, he seemed to me to come across as slightly more than miffed, that his next door neighbors that he admired, wanted to move to TV. Therefore, he had a built in bias not to like TV, as much as he may protest, that he was objective. 2. I don't think he really did a lot of research into TV as oppossed to other communities that he labels, "age restricted". I found that lumping all communities into one big pile, to be shortsighted. He will never rival Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize winner for "Team of Rivals, The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln), for doing the research necessary, to get things right. 3. Hanging with Mr Midnight, and a couple of other people didn't give him a proper perspective of how all of the others villagers live their lives. He tends to view TV, as a Sodom and Gomorrah type place. Three stories that are indicative of all villagers, NOT!!!!! 4. Wanting to interview Gary Morse and not getting the chance, as Gary is reclusive, seemed to bend his nose out of shape. He is not a fan of the developer and expounds on chapter 190, and his control of the media. States that only Republicans, can elected in his form of goverment... blah, blah,blah..... 5. Blechman can not see or agree with a community that does have a mix of ages and expounds that is it dicriminatory for anyone over the age of 55, can really do this legally. There are many young people in the villages, as they need to work in retail establishments, Is it a 50/50 mix? NO!!! 6. He faults all the other developments that didn't support schools, and didn't want to pay taxes for that purpose, as their children were grown. I don't know if TV High School was built when he visited but he missed the mark on this issue. He failed to mention that TV residents do a lot of charity work and support all of our grandchildren in their visiting and enjoying TV. He painted other communities that were built in AZ, with mean spirted people and again lumps villagers into the same pile. 7. Being in his 30's or 40"s, he cannot imagine a world without children. On this point, I heartily agree with him. I found this book filled with vitirole, and was basically mean spirited. Since a friend of mine had a copy, I read it, but would never keep it in my house. I'd rather throw it the garbage, where it belongs. Makes a good paperweight and or door stop if one is a saver of all books bought.
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"It doesn't cost "nuttin", to be nice". MOM I just want to do the right thing! Uncle Joe, (my hero). |
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#2
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I have to agree with what you said after actually paying for the book and regretting that decision. Some of the information is outdated since it was written. At the point we read the book, we had never been to The Villages and we were attempting to educate ourselves on every aspect. We learned quickly this book was not filled with the information we were looking for, with the exception of explaining the Districts, Bonds, Chapter 190, and other government type information. After reading the book we had better questions for our sales person when we arrived in The Villages for our preview. I would put the book under the steering wheel of the car when I'd sit outside the church to pick our grandson up from pre-school!
This may sound harsh, and for that I will apologize, but we looked at ourselves and around The Villages, and simply couldn't grasp the concept of the people we saw as being anyone featured in the book. We then realized, The Villages is a large town with a population of over 100,000 and logically the Mr. Midnight's will live in every town. Mr. Blechman found the minority of those individuals and based his book. |
#3
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I have read it twice and found the facts to be interesting regarding age restricted communities, some of the history of TV, Sun City, etc. His opinions are like everyone's, some interesting, some agreeable, some silly, and some simply wrong, but knowing that I still found the book an interesting read. I didn't think it was particularly well written, and I felt that some of his characters were embellished for shock value, but still would recommend it to anyone interested in TV. BTW, I am a big fan of The Villages and did not find it at all offensive, though I am not easily offended.
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Oldcoach Ed "You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails" "Be yourself - everyone else is taken" |
#4
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My Mom just got it for her July 9 birthday as a gift from my older brother. He may regret that choice of books though. I may take another look at the book when my Mom is done with it if she does not throw it in the toilet. |
#5
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He had his 15 minutes of fame along time ago...........................
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The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it. George Orwell. “Only truth and transparency can guarantee freedom”, John McCain |
#6
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Never read the book. I would guess a little money was made and I wouldn't be too surprised if a sequel or "revised" copy comes out in the future.
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Most people are as happy as they make up their mind to be. Abraham Lincoln |
#7
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Some others should e-mail him too and try to get him to look at a wider group of people here in the Villages and on TOTV. http://www.andrewblechman.com/ 20 minutes before my movie started, I once heard some thumping against the wall when I was sitting in the Aud 1., at Old Mill Playhouse just under the projection camera. I thought, one of the couples among the employees must be romantically involved as that was the kind of thumping I heard. But, it could have been many other things and I have seen a large number of movies at OMP in that auditorium 1 and have never heard that kind of thumping again. Blechman's picture of the Villages is like mine of just that amorous break being representative of every afternoon at the OMP. It's racy and it gets your attention. But, usually this does not occur. |
#8
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Maybe he will set his facts to be more of the truth, and not base it on the minority of the people he chose to embellish his story lines.
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"It doesn't cost "nuttin", to be nice". MOM I just want to do the right thing! Uncle Joe, (my hero). |
#9
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- - - - - - - Yep. He was miffed. I, too, thought his miffdom showed through in his writing. I figured he had his eye on that neighbor couple as free babysitters. And then they up and moved to The Villages. How dare they. Last edited by Laurie2; 07-14-2014 at 03:40 PM. Reason: Correction |
#10
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I read it when I got interested in TV. Found it mildly interesting, but could sniff his biased viewpoint from a mile away.
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Wanda Village of Collier Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before. ~Mae West |
#11
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The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it. George Orwell. “Only truth and transparency can guarantee freedom”, John McCain |
#12
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Too many people in The Villages are concerned by anything they perceive as an "Attack" on their lifestyle and their new community. Almost all authors begin from a position of bias. Andy was not writing an impartial news article (as if there is still such a thing).
Andy wrote from a very strong position that perception IS reality. Any and all of the situations in Leisureville can be found in The Villages if you look hard enough. If you arrive in The Villages looking for nirvana, that is what you are likely to perceive. If you are looking for a bunch of seniors running away from home to finish out their years in an adult Disney atmosphere, that ye shall also find. No animosity, just perspective.
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Real Name: Steven Massy Arrived at TV through Greenwood, IN; Moss Beach, CA; La Grange, KY; Crystal River, FL; The Villages, FL |
#13
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I do not think you would hear this unless the movie has not started yet and you are sitting near the back. Maybe it was someone sorting heavy boxes??? No moaning though like with the clip (PG) linked above. I have never been in that projection area and do not know if there even is one now the way movie theaters are set up so I could have been something else. Not sure if the private viewing box in the Aud. 1 at OMP even has a wall wear someone in the movie theater would hear any heavy knocks. Last edited by Taltarzac725; 07-14-2014 at 03:08 PM. |
#14
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Blechman's first book was "Pigeons", I'm thinking Leisureville sold a few more copies.
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Loving life in the Village of PattyLand Y'know that part of your brain that tells you "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" I think I'm missing it. |
#15
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Closed Thread |
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