| Assisted Loving: True Tales of Double Dating with My Dad | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 12 reviews) Sales Rank: 26848 Category: Book
Author: Bob Morris Publisher: Harper Studio: Harper Manufacturer: Harper Label: Harper Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published) Media: Hardcover Edition: 1 Number Of Items: 1 Pages: 304 Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9 Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 0061374121 Dewey Decimal Number: 306.87420922 EAN: 9780061374128 ASIN: 0061374121
Publication Date: June 1, 2008 Release Date: May 27, 2008 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
What would you do if your eighty-year-old father dragged you into his hell-bent hunt for new love? Bob Morris, a seriously single son, tells you all about it in this warm, witty, and wacky chronicle of a year of dating dangerously. A few months after the death of his wife, Joe Morris, an affable, eccentric, bridge-obsessed octogenarian, starts flapping about for a replacement. If he can get a new hip, he figures, why not a new wife? At first, his son Bob is appalled, but suspicion quickly turns to enthusiasm as he finds himself trolling the personals, screening prospects, and offering etiquette tips, chaperoning services, and post-date assessments to his needy father. Bob hopes that Joe will find a well-heeled lady?or at least one who is very patient?to get him out of his hair. But soon they discover that finding a new mate will not be as easy as they think: one date is too morose, another too liberal; one's a three-timer, another just needs an escort until Mr. Right comes along. Dad persists and son assists. Am I pimping for my father? he begins to wonder. Meanwhile, Bob suffers similar frustrations; trying to find love isn't easy in a big-city market that has little use for a middle-aged gay man with an attitude and a paunch. But with the encouragement of his father (his biggest fan and the world's "most democratic Republican") he prevails. In the end, this memoir becomes a twin love story and a soulful lesson about giving and receiving affection with an open heart. With wicked humor and a dollop of compassion, Bob Morris gleefully explores the impact of senior parents on their boomer kids and the perils of dating at any age.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
  funny and poignent August 31, 2008 When I purchased this book I thought it would be all comedy. I was pleasantly surprised that although it had its funny moments it was also filled with nostalga and caring. A loving story about a father and son and their mutual acceptance.
  This book changed the way i think about my own parents! August 28, 2008 I LOVED this book. It's written really well, but more than that..it's funny and makes you think about your own life...love...family...death.
I love the relationship that grew between this son and dad...and how the writer found his own love and life by being patient and accepting his dad's love and life.
I highly recommend this to anyone who has older parents and know that life doesn't stop when you are a senior citizen!
  Could not put this book down July 21, 2008 Absolutely entertaining, witty and poignant. I work in the elder care field and was delighted by this account of an elderly gentleman's search for romance and yes nooky. Bob Morris tells the story of his father's romantic quests with humor and empathy. A must read for anyone with a single elderly parent or anyone who has hope for a geriatric dating life!
  A Unique Father and Son Story July 14, 2008 Morris, Bob. "Assisted Loving: True Tales of Double Dating with my Dad", Harper, 2008.
A Unique Father and Son Story
Amos Lassen
The name Bob Morris may be familiar to you as he frequently writes for "The New York Times" Sunday styles section and is a commentator on NPR. He has also written two picture books, one for children and the other for adults who do not like to read. But more than that, he is the author of "Assisted Loving" a delightful new book from Harper's. It is blend of humor and social commentary which shows both the grief at the death of his mother and the new found social life of his father, Joe. Joe has no concept of social graces and his humor is racy. His hero is Dinah Shore (stumps me too). At 79 years old he is a former New York judge for the state department of motor vehicles. Bob, his son, is a gay journalist who is quite lonely and has been thrust into the position of senior advisor and chaperone to his dad's girlfriends. Among the women that Joe sees are Gracie who is extremely serviceable, Rita who is a bit on the loony side, lovely Edie, Ann who lives on low carbs and Roz who is brilliant. Bob hopes that his father will find a patient woman so that he can about his life but soon discovers that for either of them finding a mate is no easy job. Bob even begins to wonder if he is pimping foe his fad. Bob's own life is frustrating to him especially since he is a middle-aged gay man (tell me about it). His father encourages him not to give up and the memoir soon becomes a love story about two men that teaches us a good deal about the gift and receipt of affection. Bob has never had a successful relationship and he also realizes that if his father is happy, he will not be lonely and therefore Bob can have some peace and be left alone to live his own life. As the two men interact they learn a great deal about each other and they are often both surprised at how much they care for one another. Reading this book is the same as having a good time and the book says a lot about love, pain and disappointment and frustration. We learn that love does not have to be perfect and that there are times when "good love" is good enough. The book not only opens the closet door on gay love but on senior love as well.
  Aww... Or should I sai "Oi"? July 10, 2008 Cute, adorable, loveable, a great story (like eating good ice cream), with an impeccable title and chapter headings. Everyone with a senior parent (or who, like me, lost her parents early and wishes they were still around to annoy her) must read this (often) hilarious, (often) touching book. I could go on and on about its merits, but I think you get the picture. Message for BOB and IRA: Mazel Tov on your adorable menage a deux and your gayby. Also: MAKE SURE SPIELBERG SEES IT! Casting: Bob - Jason Segel from Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Richard Gere; Joseph -(unfortunately, Rodney Dangerfield is gone) but how about Don Rickles? Ira - (also, either Segel or Gere...Segel might need a little silvering of the hair). Also, I have to say, Will Ferrell would make a cute Bob; anybody funny, sweet, and able to appear beleaguered at the drop of a tuna fish sandwich.
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