{"id":2564,"date":"2017-11-07T15:22:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T20:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.silvercentury.org\/2017\/11\/rules-of-the-road\/"},"modified":"2017-11-07T15:22:00","modified_gmt":"2017-11-07T20:22:00","slug":"rules-of-the-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/78.142.243.82\/~silvercentury\/2017\/11\/rules-of-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Rules of the Road"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Joan Bauer<\/span> – Penguin, 1998<\/em> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSomewhere long ago in this country it was determined that after 65 a person\u2019s brain is no longer capable of making business decisions. I think that is rot. I have more business ability at 73 than I had at 63, and I resent the implication that I am over the hill and can no longer oversee the company my husband and I built from scratch.\u201d So says Mrs. Gladstone, the intimidating, white-haired Texas widow who owns Gladstone\u2019s Shoes\u2014a company built on quality and service, with 176 stores in 37 states. Now her son, Elden, who cares nothing for quality, just wants to make a quick buck by selling out to a large conglomerate. Unfortunately, most of the stockholders agree with him.<\/p>\n

Jenna is an extra-tall, gangly 16-year-old with a divorced mom and an alcoholic dad. She\u2019s awkward with most teens but loves her part-time job selling shoes in Gladstone\u2019s Chicago store. Jenna has had her driver\u2019s license for only six months, so she\u2019s astonished when Mrs. Gladstone hires her as a chauffeur to drive from Chicago to Dallas for the annual meeting, making surprise visits to multiple shoe stores on the way. Why her? Mrs. Gladstone says Jenna reminds her of herself at that age, and she needs a driver who understands the shoe business.<\/p>\n

The two forge an unusual friendship on the road. Jenna\u2019s sales instincts make her an astute spy who can quickly assess any shoe store\u2019s marketing and service. Mrs. Gladstone is both compassionate (respecting Jenna\u2019s need for privacy after a good cry) and fierce (whacking her cane against the banister). When Mrs. Gladstone\u2019s bad hip nearly ends the journey, Jenna braves her boss\u2019s temper to calmly point out that needing help won\u2019t make her any less tough.<\/p>\n

Readers will enjoy this book\u2019s sensitive portrayal of older characters, including Mrs. Gladstone\u2019s friend Alice\u2014an equally gutsy retired model still attractive in her late 60s\u2014and Jenna\u2019s wise grandmother, whom Jenna once considered her best friend and whose loss of memory to Alzheimer\u2019s she now mourns. The book is both a study of tough love and chock-full of wry humor. It might even inspire readers to buy a good pair of shoes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cSomewhere long ago in this country it was determined that after 65 a person\u2019s brain is no longer capable of making business decisions. I think that is rot.”<\/p>\n

Read more Rules of the Road<\/span> ›<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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