Never Too Late for Love

Infobox Book |
name = Never Too Late for Love


image_caption = Cover to Stonehouse edition of Never Too Late for Love
author = Warren Adler
country = USA
language = English
genre = Fiction/Short Stories
publisher = Homestead
release_date = November 1995
media_type = Hardcover/Paperback/E-Text
pages = 288 pages
isbn = ISBN 0-943972-45-0 (Paperback)
preceded_by = The Sunset Gang

"Never Too Late for Love" is a Short Story collection by Warren Adler

Plot introduction

A second volume of centering around the Sunset Village retirement community in Florida dealing with life, love, and death.

Plot summary

"Yiddish", now retitled "Never Too Late For Love", is accompanied by the previously published, "Poor Herman", "The Angel of Mercy", "The Braggart", "An Unexpected Visit", and "The Home". The collection also includes the following new stories of the Sunset Village community:

"You'd Be Surprised How We're Related" - Sarah Shankowitz has been receiving mail addressed to her, but the letters are certainly not for her. Then phone calls come in, asking for a Mrs. Nathaniel Shankowitz, but again, it is not the current Mrs. Nathaniel Shankowitz. As it turns out, two women with the same name are living at community. While they are not related by blood, their histories are tied in a way that neither had expected.

"A Widow is a Very Dangerous Commodity" - Murray Gold just buried his wife and before he knows it, all her single friends are flocking around him, offering dinners, relieving him of chores, and generally doing everything they can to make his life easier. But as Murray will find out, it isn't out of respect for his wife, but for their own agenda. He's single now, on the market, so to speak, and they all are looking to sink their hooks into him.

"Poker With the Boys" - a group of childhood friends continue a game of poker throughout their lives, starting in Brooklyn and ending in Sunset Village. They play through marriages and hardships, but always have the game to keep them going into the next day.

"Tell Me That I'm Young" - Looking to save some money, twenty-three year old Bruce Sonnenschein and his wife move into the Sunset Village condo his parents left him after they died. Sheila, his wife, is not so keen over it, as she's alone most of the time while he is on the road. Their neighbors get to her. Her marriage may be falling apart, but Sheila finds solace in a very unlikely place.

"Tying Up Loose Ends" - Wanting to live the rest of his days with a clear conscience, Arnold Gold decides to tell his wife of all his indiscretions over the years. He provides the names of every woman he has cheated on his wife with. For him, it is necessary to say it all and allow whatever happens next to happen.

"He's Going to Marry a Shiksa" - Heshy and Pat learn that marrying outside of their religion is a lifelong struggle. First, they have to deal with their parents' complaints, and even in later life, the Sunset community is not so tolerate. It has to be made into an issue anywhere they go, despite their wishes for it not to be. But the fact they stay together through it all is testament to their love.

"Why Can't You Be Like the Solomon Brothers?" - Lily and Bernie Morrison just want their grown sons to get along. But the brothers do not even talk to each other anymore. The parents enlist the help of the Solomon brothers, who live in the community and are the absolute epitome of brotherly love. Lily and Bernie want the whole family together and happy to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They believe the Solomon Brothers hold the secret to a successful relationship, but it is possible that the Solomons' secret is something else entirely.

"Just Once" - Rose feels rejuvenated when someone leaves her a note saying she's cute. She begins to reminisce about her sexual awakening with her husband. Having never been with anyone else, Rose starts to entertain the thought. Another note prompts her to meet her mysterious admirer. She has to decide if deceiving her husband is something she’s capable of doing.

"At Least You Have Your Bingo" - When Jack married Barbara, he didn’t realize how much his mother-in-law would be a presence in his life. She was over their house every day, making his life miserable. Even in retirement, she was there. Jack finds himself an outlet in a widow while telling his wife that he is off playing Bingo.

Major themes

Love and infidelity factor in greatly in this collection of stories. These characters may be old, but blood still runs in their veins. They want to be loved. And if that love cannot come from a spouse, it will come from elsewhere.

Friendship is another essential theme, whether it is a life-long relationship or a last minute companionship. All that matters is a connection with another human being.

The thread of family carries throughout. Multiple generations interact at Sunset Village, as they all have their individual histories and their children's futures.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

In 1991, PBS presented a three-hour miniseries based on the collection. "The Home" was adapted in this miniseries.

External links

* [http://www.warrenadler.com/title-nevertoolate.shtml Official Website]
* [http://www.warrenadler.com/title-nevertoolate-sample.shtml Read "You'd Be Surprised How We're Related"]