Gerald Nardella Impresses With 1960s Coming-of-Age Novel

What did it feel like to be a teenager in a small town in the Sixties? Montana author Gerald Nardella offers readers more than a glimpse of the period in his short novel “Playing Hurt” (Dorrance Publishing, 2015).
 
Published to generally positive reviews from Amazon customers, Goodreads users, and book critics, “Playing Hurt” presents itself as a memoir-like story about growing up in a small town that offers little opportunities and few role models for teenagers. The novel takes its premise from the fear, insecurities, and uncertainties the author experienced in his teenage years.
 
“Playing Hurt” revolves around a group of teenagers living in a small town back in a time when there was not much for them to do except football (as with many other small towns across America) or drive around in their cars. The author presents a pretty accurate description of what it was like to be a teenager during that time, in a narrative that overflows with themes of peer pressure, abuse, sexuality, misogyny, and masculinity.
 
Given that, readers are forewarned: there are several adult subjects and strong language that certain readers will find offensive. Nevertheless, such elements make “Playing Hurt” an authentic portrayal of teenage angst facing most teenagers about to leave high school.
 
Gerald Nardella’s “Playing Hurt” was last displayed at the recently concluded National Education Association (NEA) Expo 2018 on June 30 to July 1, 2018, in Minneapolis, MN.
 
Copies are available at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/PLAYING-HURT-Gerald-L-Nardella/dp/1480918768/) and Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/playing-hurt-gerald-nardella/1122001346)
 
Playing Hurt
Written by Gerald Nardella
Published by Dorrance Publishing
Published date: September 1, 2015
Paperback: $13.00
 
About the Author
Gerald L. Nardella was born and raised in Livingston, Montana, and he served in the U.S. Army. He married Peggy, his high school sweetheart, in 1962. They have two children: Michael and Terri. Gerald received a degree in accounting from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1968. He worked for a national CPA firm before starting his own CPA practice in Billings in 1974. Gerald enjoys golfing, reading, and working on the family cabin in the Crazy Mountains.
 

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