[Trish Crocker]

Steve bought me a Kindle for Christmas so I downloaded Leisureville. What do you think of it? (the book..not the Kindle )

[graciegirl]

I think...it has a great deal of truth and a great deal of other stuff to sell the book.

Which it has. I imagine almost all of us have one.

But...I don't think there is a Mr. Midnight.

Or someone would have talked about him on TOTV.

[rubicon]

au contraire mon ami there is a Mr. Midnight

[graciegirl]

C'est vrait???

[logdog]

I have Leisureville on my Nook Tablet and found it very interesting. It has a great deal of information about the history and development of retirement communities in general and TV in particular. The relatively young author is pretty heavy handed in pushing his belief that TV residents have selfishly abandoned their communities, chose to no longer contribute to society and are guilty of age discrimination by refusing children in their midst. If you can get past that, it's a pretty good read. It's a book that I've saved and will probably reread soon.

[eweissenbach]

I read it back in March and enjoyed it. Thought the author took a lot of literary liberties, and probably fabricated some things for entertainment value, but did enjoy the history and much of the narrative. I thought his premise was flawed but glad he wrote the book. Here is the thread I started back in March...
Just finished reading "Liesureville"

[JimJoe]

I enjoyed it too.. but one point he made I do not understand at all... he claims people move to TV to avoid supporting schools.. did he even look at a tax bill in tv.. there clearly is a large school tax.
JK

[Trish Crocker]

There is something that I can't quite understand. The Morse family had vision, built this wonderful community. According to the book, businesses stayed away initially because they were concerned about not making it in Central Florida, consequently the Morse family started a lot of the businesses or were instrumental in getting them there. Why then is there so much resentment? It seems to me that they epitomize the freedom to succeed that we value so much. I'm not saying that there is resentment on this forum, quite the contrary, but I have sensed it here and especially in the book. I for one am darn glad that they accomplished what they did and can't wait to get my share of the kool-aid!

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by Trish Crocker;***468

There is something that I can't quite understand. The Morse family had vision, built this wonderful community. According to the book, businesses stayed away initially because they were concerned about not making it in Central Florida, consequently the Morse family started a lot of the businesses or were instrumental in getting them there. Why then is there so much resentment? It seems to me that they epitomize the freedom to succeed that we value so much. I'm not saying that there is resentment on this forum, quite the contrary, but I have sensed it here and especially in the book. I for one am darn glad that they accomplished what they did and can't wait to get my share of the kool-aid!

AMEN to that Trish Crocker!!! It's what's known as the American Dream...what the Morse family did! I heard a local person say that T.V. brought alot to this area as it was so 'depressed' and it gave it a lift to it's economy!!! That being said....I'm glad that the Morse's did what they did and we have the privilege of being a part of it, by living here. I haven't read the book but may sometime---I can't comment on that part til I do!!

[KayakerNC]

Take the book with a grain of salt....actually a LOT of grains of salt!
Still...the history of the Morse family and the whole "adult community" concept was, for me, the most interesting part of the book.
But.
Mr Midnight is my hero.

[Tom Hannon]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC;***490

Take the book with a grain of salt....actually a LOT of grains of salt!
Still...the history of the Morse family and the whole "adult community" concept was, for me, the most interesting part of the book.
But.
Mr Midnight is my hero.

Could you be the mysterious Mr. Midnight? His ID is secret. He could be any body who lives in the Villages. It could just as well be KayakerNC ...or could it be The Shadow?

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by Tom Hannon;***491

Could you be the mysterious Mr. Midnight? His ID is secret. He could be any body who lives in the Villages. It could just as well be KayakerNC ...or could it be The Shadow?

Nope, not me. DW would not approve....actually she would be very disapproving. We are talking hospitalization at the very least.

[graciegirl]

Only the shadow knows, but goodness he must buy that stuff by the case!

[Pturner]

Mr. Midnight was a classic literary typecast. I enjoyed the TV history and was amused by the author's immature resentment of retirement communities, wondering if he would one day grow out of it and live in one.

[Tom Hannon]

Originally Posted by Pturner;***527

Mr. Midnight was a classic literary typecast. I enjoyed the TV history and was amused by the author's immature resentment of retirement communities, wondering if he would one day grow out of it and live in one.

Not sure if Andrew Beachman (I think is the authors name) would be happy about driving 20 mph. But he may someday become one of us. Year's ago, when my parents moved to retire in Florida, I said "Anybody that lives in a Florida retirement community was either out of their mind or brain dead." Here I am, loving every minute of it. If Mom and Dad could see me know...