Daniel Friedman’s Don’t Ever Get Old is one of the most
original novels I’ve read in a very long time.
It takes the reader on a whirlwind ride that is not only highly
disturbing and downright sad but also managed to have me in hysterics much of
the time. You’ll feel every emotion
while reading this and probably be a little sad when it ends too.
Eighty-seven year old
Baruch “Buck” Schatz is our narrator, and boy, is he ever a cranky one. Buck has long ago retired from his detective
job, having gained “legendary” status at the station, and just wants to live
quietly with his wife, Rose, and his ever-present Lucky Strikes. After he is called to the deathbed of someone
he knew a long time ago, he unwittingly goes, only to be told something that
shocks him to the core. What ensues is a
mad-dash caper to get his hands on Nazi gold, and most importantly, the
ex-guard hiding in plain sight in America.
This is anything but easy, with non-stop murders being committed along
the way.
While Don’t Ever Get Old has an unforgettable cast of supporting
characters, it is Buck who is the star.
His words are never minced, and many times, you’re not going to believe
what comes out of his mouth. But if you
read between the lines, you clearly see that he truly has a heart of gold. This has “movie” written all over it, so
let’s hope it’s as well-written and entertaining as the book.
