Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Old Men

Author: John Isaac Jones

Narrator: Michael T Downey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-11-17

Publisher: John Isaac Jones

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

For years, the old men had been hanging around the country grocery store whiling away their days playing checkers and dominoes and talking about politics, women, drinking, and life experiences. All that time, the store owner readily approved their presence in the store and went on about his business as if they were not there. Then, one fateful morning in 1956, a new owner bought the business who was not quite as tolerant. The narrator of this story, an unnamed 13-year-old, was the son of the new owner and explains how his father dealt with the old men who hung around his store.

Members Reviews:

A lesson in respect

When the brash old men who hang out in front of the store become a nuisance to the female customers.. the new owner gives his son a lesson in couth by not tolerating the disrespect. I really enjoy listening to John Isaac Jones stories. All have a message about morals and a person's character.

The narration of this book is well done. This book does involve adult situations with some mild language. I requested this book in exchange for my honest review. I do recommend this and John's other book's.

Grumpy old men in the 1950s

Set in a small town in the 1950s, the tale is told through a boys eyes as he eagerly helps out at his fathers store. Its an old general store as we dont see too many of these days. While this tale certainly had its share of quaintness to it, I found that it also had some depth. The goings-on witnessed by this lad over a span of years give him some life lessons to contemplate as an adult.

Mr. McAdams is the leader of this little group of 4 or 5 old retired men that like to hang around the store playing dominoes or checkers and swapping stories. They use questionable language from time to time and arent always the most congenial group. Mr. Hill is the meanest of the bunch despite having a wife and son in the area. Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Wiseman (spelling?) are some of the followers making small appearances in the tale.

The old men in and of themselves arent such an issue but they treat the general store like it was their own private club house (ash trays & spittoons yuck!) and they dont take kindly to those that try to barge in on their little fun. Theres talk of politics (1956 was an election year), cursing in front of the ladies, and guffawing at customers who inadvertently drop things on their heads while reaching up to that top shelf. While there are a few ladies that appear or are mentioned, I cant recall any of them talking. Perhaps the school principal had a line and I know one of them gave an embarrassed cry. Still, it would have been nice to have at least one real female character.

I like how the store owner tries several approaches to working with the old men, who do buy from the store. Hes doing his best to walk that narrow path of making his customers happy but also keeping certain standards. His first appeal, to avoid naughty language in front of the ladies, is grudgingly acquiesced to. However, that turned out to be the first straw that would eventually break the camels back.

I really didnt expect things to go as they did with the old men but I did like being surprised. The story ends with a little reflection from the now grown son and a little followup with one of the grumpy old men. All told, its an interesting little piece that shows off the authors skill at character development through small scenes.